General
1-1. Signals illustrated with a single arrowhead indicate that the signal is not continuously repeated; however, it may be repeated at intervals until acknowledged or the desired action is executed. Signals illustrated with double arrowheads are repeated continuously until acknowledged or the desired action is taken. Signals are illustrated as normally seen by the viewer. Some signals are illustrated in oblique, right angle, or overhead views for clarity.
Signals for Dismounted Formations
1-2. Leaders of dismounted units use hand and arm signals to control the movement of individuals, teams, and squads. (See figures 1-1 through 1-12 on pages 1-1 through 1-7.)
1-3. To signal “disperse,” extend either arm horizontally from the shoulder: wave the arm repeatedly to the front and to the side in a sweeping motion with the palm toward ground. (See figure 1-1.)
Figure 1-1. Disperse
1-4. To signal “assemble” or “rally,” raise the arm vertically overhead, palm to the front, and wave in large, horizontal circles. (See figure 1-2.)
Note. Signal is normally followed by the signaler pointing to the assembly or rally site.
Figure 1-2. Assemble or rally
1-5. To signal “join me,” “follow me,” or “come forward,” point toward the person(s) or unit(s); beckon by holding the arm horizontally to the front, palm up, and motioning toward the body. (See figure 1-3.)
Figure 1-3. Join me, follow me, or come forward
1-6. To signal “increase speed,” “double time” or “rush,” raise the fist to the shoulder; thrust the fist upward to the full extent of the arm and back to the shoulder level; do this several times rapidly. (See figure 1-4.)
Figure 1-4. Increase speed, double time, or rush
1-7. To signal “wedge formation,” extend the arms downward and to the sides at a 45-degree angle below the horizontal, palms to the front. Alternately, use the non-firing hand and point the index finger and pinky finger to the ground. All other fingers will be curled. (See figure 1-5.)
Figure 1-5. Wedge formation
1-8. To signal “vee formation,” raise the arms and extend them 45 degrees above the horizontal. Alternately, use the non-firing hand and point both the index and pinky finger up. All other fingers will be curled. (See figure 1-6.)
Figure 1-6. Vee formation
1-9. To signal “line formation,” extend the arms parallel to the ground. (See figure 1-7.)
Figure 1-7. Line formation
1-10. To signal “echelon left,” extend the right arm and raise it 45 degrees above the shoulder. Extend the left arm 45 degrees below the horizontal and point toward the ground. (See figure 1-8.)
Figure 1-8. Echelon left
1-11. To signal “echelon right,” extend the left arm and raise it 45 degrees above the shoulder. Extend the right arm 45 degrees below the horizontal and point toward the ground. (See figure 1-9.)
Figure 1-9. Echelon right
1-12. To signal “staggered column formation,” extend the arms so that upper arms are parallel to the ground and the forearms are perpendicular. Raise the arms so they fully extended above the head. Repeat. (See figure 1-10.)
Figure 1-10. Staggered column formation
1-13. To signal “column formation,” raise and extend the arm overhead. Move it to the right and left. Continue until the formation is executed. Alternately, to signal form a file or column, move the non-firing hand to touch the rim of the headgear directly in front of the face. Fingers will be extended and joined. (See figure 1-11.)
Figure 1-11. Column formation
1-14. To signal “herringbone formation,” extend the arms parallel to the ground. Bend the arms until the forearms are perpendicular. Repeat. (See figure 1-12.)
Figure 1-12. Herringbone formation
Patrolling Hand and Arm Signals
1-15. Patrolling is conducted by many type units. Infantry units patrol in order to conduct combat operations. Other units patrol for reconnaissance and security. Successful patrols require clearly understood communication signals among patrol members (see figures 1-13 through 1-35 on page 1-7 through page 1-18.).
1-16. To signal “contact left,” extend the left arm parallel to the ground. Bend the arm until the forearm is perpendicular. Repeat. (See figure 1-13.)
Figure 1-13. Contact left
1-17. To signal “contact right,” extend the right arm parallel to the ground. Bend the arm until the forearm is perpendicular. Repeat. (See figure 1-14.)
Figure 1-14. Contact right
1-18. To signal “air attack,” bend the arms at a 45-degree angle. The forearms are crossed. Repeat. (See figure 1-15.)
Figure 1-15. Air attack
1-19. To signal “chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack,” extend the arms and fists. Bend the arms to the shoulders. Repeat. (See figure 1-16.)
Figure 1-16. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attack
1-20. To signal “fix bayonets,” simulate the movement of the right hand in removing the bayonet from the scabbard and fixing it on the rifle. (See figure 1-17.)
Figure 1-17. Fix bayonets
1-21. To signal “enemy in sight,” hold the rifle in the ready position at shoulder level. Point the rifle in the direction of the enemy. Alternately, use the non-firing hand, point index finger at the enemy and thumb pointing down. All other fingers will be curled. (See figure 1-18.)
Figure 1-18. Enemy in sight
1-22. To signal “quick time,” extend the arm horizontally sideward, palm to the front, and wave the arm slightly downward several times, keeping the arm straight. Do not move the arm above the horizontal. (See figure 1-19.)
Figure 1-19. Quick time
1-23. To signal “take cover,” extend the arm at a 45-degree angle from the side, above the horizontal, palm down, and then lower the arm to the side. (See figure 1-20.)
Figure 1-20. Take cover
1-24. To request a “map check,” point at the palm of one hand with the index finger of the other hand. (See figure 1-21.)
Figure 1-21. Map check
1-25. To signal “halt,” raise hand to head level, fingers extended and joined. (See figure 1-22.)
Figure 1-22. Halt
1-26. To signal “take a knee,” following the signal for halt, lower hand from the halt position to waist level, palm facing down, fingers extended and joined. (See figure 1-23.)
Figure 1-23. Take a knee
1-27. To signal “move to the prone,” following the signal for halt or take a knee, lower the arm past waist level, palm facing down, then move forearm from waist level to a position lower than waist level repeatedly. Palm will be toward ground; fingers will be extended and joined. (See figure 1-24.)
Figure 1-24. Move to the prone
1-28. To request a pace count, tap the heel of boot repeatedly with an open hand. (See figure 1-25.)
Figure 1-25. Pace count
1-29. To call the radiotelephone operator forward, raise the hand to the ear with the thumb and little finger extended. (See figure 1-26.)
Figure 1-26. Radiotelephone operator forward
1-30. To request a headcount, tap the back of the helmet repeatedly with an open hand. (See figure 1-27.)
Figure 1-27. Head count
1-31. To signal “danger area,” draw the right hand, palm down, across the neck in a throat-cutting motion from left to right. (See figure 1-28.)
Note. This movement is the same as figure 2-18, Stop Engines, on page 2-12. The difference in
meanings is understood from the context in which it is used.
Figure 1-28. Danger area
1-32. To signal “freeze,” raise the fist to head level. (See figure 1-29.)
Figure 1-29. Freeze
1-33. To signal “move the platoon leader to the front,” use non-firing hand and place index finger to the rim of headgear. (See figure 1-30.)
Figure 1-30. Move platoon leader to the front
1-34. To signal “move the platoon sergeant to the front,” use non-firing hand to grab the collar. In the absence of a uniform collar, simulate the movement. (See figure 1-31.)
Figure 1-31. Move the platoon sergeant to the front
1-35. To signal “move the squad leader forward,” use non-firing hand and place finger on upper arm. Place the number of fingers that correspond to the appropriate squad leader. For example, two fingers means, “second squad leader forward.” (See figure 1-32.)
Figure 1-32. Move squad leader forward
1-36. All number signals will be given with the non-firing hand. For numbers greater than nine, the signal will be given as individual digits in the number. For example, the number 27 will be represented by the signal for the number, 2, followed the signal for the number, 7. (See figure 1-33.)
Figure 1-33. Number signals
1-37. To signal “stop, look, listen, smell (SLLS),” raise the open palm of the non-firing hand to ear level. (See figure 1-34.)
Figure 1-34. Stop, look, listen, smell
1-38. To signal “message acknowledged,” hold the fist out and thumb up. (See figure 1-35.)
Figure 1-35. Message acknowledged
Signals for Crew-Served Weapons
1-39. Members of crew-served weapons must communicate. Often, this is in environments where visual signals are the best means of transmitting information. (See figures 1-36 through 1-40 on page 1-18 through page 1-21.)
1-40. To signal “commence firing,” extend the arm in front of the body, palm down, and move it through a wide horizontal arc several times. For machine guns, when giving the signal again, moving the arm faster means to change to the next higher rate of fire. To slow the rate of fire, move the arm slower. This signal is primarily used for direct fire weapons. (See figure 1-36.)
Figure 1-36. Commence firing or change rate of fire
1-41. To signal the gunner to “change direction” or “change elevation,” the signaler will move his hand and arm in new direction and indicates the amount of change by the number of fingers shown to the gunner. Each finger shown represents a 1 mil or 1 meter change in direction. The signaler will extended his hand repeatedly to indicate the total amount of change. For example: the signaler represents UP EIGHT meters by moving his arm upward with five fingers showing then moving his arm upward again with three fingers showing. (See figure 1-37.)
Figure 1-37. Change direction or elevation.
1-42. To signal “move over” or “shift fire.” raise the hand (on the side toward the new direction) and move it across the body to the opposite shoulder, palm to the front; then swing the arm in a horizontal arc, extending the arm and hand to point in the new direction. For slight changes in direction, move the hand from the final position to the desired direction of movement. (See figure 1-38.)
Figure 1-38. Move over or shift fire
1-43. To signal “cease firing,” raise the hand in front of the forehead, palm to the front, and swing the hand and forearm up and down several times in front of the face. (See figure 1-39.)
Figure 1-39. Cease firing
1-44.To signal “out of action,” strike the fist of one hand several times in rapid succession against the palm of the other hand. (See figure 1-40.)
Figure 1-40. Out of action
Next Page : Chapter 2 – Hand-and-Arm Signals for Ground Vehicles