General
2-1. Signals illustrated from the hatch or top of a tactical vehicle are for illustration only or to be given while the vehicle is stationary. As per Army Regulation 385-10, personnel will not expose more than their head and shoulders (name tag defilade) except when actively engaging targets with the vehicle mounted weapons systems
Signals for Mechanized Movement Techniques
2-2. Signals for movement techniques are used by mechanized units to indicate which manner of traversing terrain will be used by a unit. (See figures 2-1 through 2-21 on page 2-1 through page 2-11.)
2-3. To signal “wedge formation,” extend the arms downward and to the sides at a 45-degree angle below the horizontal, palms to the front. (See figure 2-1.)
Figure 2-1. Wedge formation
2-4. To signal “vee formation,” raise the arms and extend them 45 degrees above the horizontal. (See figure 2-2.)
Figure 2-2. Vee formation
2-5. To signal “line formation,” extend the arms parallel to the ground. (See figure 2-3.)
Figure 2-3. Line
2-6. To signal “coil formation,” raise one arm above the head and rotate it in a small circle. (See figure 2-4.)
Figure 2-4. Coil
2-7. 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 2-5.)
Figure 2-5. Echelon left
2-8. 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 2-6.)
Figure 2-6. Echelon right
2-9. To signal “staggered column,” 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 2-7.)
Figure 2-7. Staggered column formation
2-10. 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 2-8.)
Figure 2-8. Column formation
2-11. To signal form a “herringbone formation,” extend the arms parallel to the ground. Bend the arms until the forearms are perpendicular. Repeat. (See figure 2-9.)
Figure 2-9. Herringbone formation
2-12. To signal “traveling,” extend the arm overhead and swing it in a circle from the shoulder. (See figure 2-10.)
Figure 2-10. Traveling
2-13. To signal “traveling overwatch,” extend both arms and raise them up and down. (See figure 2-11.)
Figure 2-11. Traveling overwatch
2-14. To signal “bounding overwatch,” extend one arm to a 45-degree angle. Bend the arm and tap the helmet. Repeat. (See figure 2-12.)
Figure 2-12. Bounding overwatch
2-15. To signal “fire,” drop the arm sharply from the vertical position (usually from the Are you ready signal position) to the side. When a single weapon (of a group) is to be fired, point, with the arm extended, to that particular weapon, and then drop the arm sharply to the side. Usually the signal is used as a fire command for indirect fire weapons. (See figure 2-13.)
Figure 2-13. Fire
2-16. To signal “move to the left,” extend the arm to the left and raise it up and down. (See figure 2-14.)
Figure 2-14. Move to the left
2-17. To signal “move to the right,” extend the arm to the right and raise it up and down. (See figure 2-15.)
Figure 2-15. Move to the right
2-18. To signal “advance,” “move out,” or “follow me,” face the direction of movement; hold the arm extended to the rear; swing the arm overhead and forward in the direction of movement (hold at the horizontal), palm down. (See figure 2-16.)
Figure 2-16. Advance, move out or “follow me”
2-19. To signal “dismount,” extend the arms, make two or three movements up and down, hands open toward ground. (See figure 2-17.)
Figure 2-17. Dismount
2-20. To signal “stop,” clasp the hands together, palms facing, at chin level. (See figure 2-18.)
Note. For alternate signal to stop vehicles, see figure 2-28 on page 2-15.
Figure 2-18. Stop
2-21. To signal “button up,” place both hands, one on top of the other, palms down, on top of the helmet. The arms are back and in the same plane as the body. For “unbutton,” give the button up signal, then separate the hands, moving them to each side in a slicing motion; repeat. (See figure 2-19.)
Figure 2-19. Button up or unbutton
2-22. To signal “open up,” extend the arms overhead, palms inward, then slowly lower arms to a horizontal position. (See figure 2-20.)
Figure 2-20. Open up
2-23. To signal “close up,” extend both arms parallel to the ground, palms uppermost, then move the arms upward and inward toward the head. (See figure 2-21.)
Figure 2-21. Close up
Signals to Control Vehicle Drivers and/or Crews
2-24. These are the hand and arm and light signals used to guide and direct vehicles. Flashlights are used at night to direct vehicles. Blue filters should be used whenever possible to preserve the driver’s night vision. Chemical lights also can be used and have less effect on the driver’s night vision. (See figures 2-22 through 2-36 on page 2-11 through page 2-19.)
2-25. To signal “attention,” extend the arm sideways, slightly above horizontal; palm to the front; wave the arm to and from the head several times. (See figure 2-22.)
Figure 2-22. Attention
2-26. To signal “I am ready,” or ask if a driver or vehicle is “ready,” extend the arm toward the person being signaled; then raise the arm slightly above horizontal, palm outward. (See figure 2-23.)
Figure 2-23. I am ready or ready to move or are you ready?
2-27. To signal “mount,” make two or three movements upward with the open hand, palm facing upward (See figure 2-24.)
Figure 2-24. Mount
2-28. To signal “disregard previous command” or “remain in place,” raise both arms and cross wrists above the head, palms facing out. (See figure 2-25.)
Figure 2-25. Disregard previous command or remain in place
2-29. To signal “I do not understand,” raise both arms sideward to the horizontal; bend both arms at the elbows and place both hands across the face, palms to the front. (See figure 2-26.)
Figure 2-26. I do not understand
2-30. To signal “start engine” or “prepare to move,” during daylight hours simulate cranking of engines by moving the arm, with the fist, in a circular motion at waist level; at night, move a light to describe a horizontal figure 8 in a vertical plane in front of body. (See figure 2-27.)
Figure 2-27. Start engine or prepare to move
2-31. To signal “halt” or “stop,” during daylight hours, raise the hand upward to the full extent of the arm, palm to the front and hold that position until the signal is understood. At night, move a light horizontally back and forth several times across the path of approaching traffic to stop vehicles. Use the same signal to stop engines. (See figure 2-28.)
Note. For an alternate signal to stop vehicles, see figure 2-18 on page 2-10.
Figure 2-28. Halt or stop
2-32. To signal “increase speed,” during daylight hours, raise the fist to shoulder level; thrust the fist upward to the full extent of the arm and back to shoulder level rapidly several times. At night move a light vertically several times in front of the body. (See figure 2-29.)
Figure 2-29. Increase speed
2-33. To signal “right turn” or “left turn,” during daylight hours, extend the arm horizontally to side, palm outward. At night, rotate a light to describe a circle 12 to 18 inches in diameter in the direction of the turn. (See figure 2-30.)
Figure 2-30. Right or left turn
2-34. To signal “slow down,” during daylight hours, extend the arm horizontally sideward, palm facing downward; wave the arm slightly downward several times, keeping the arm straight. Do move the arm above horizontal. (See figure 2-31.)
Figure 2-31. Slow down
2-35. To signal “move forward,” move the hands and forearms backward and forward, palms toward the chest. (See figure 2-32.)
Figure 2-32. Move forward
2-36. To signal “move in reverse,” during daylight hours, face the vehicle(s) (unit) being signaled, raise the hands to shoulder level, palms to the front. Move the hands forward and backward. At night, hold a light a shoulder level; blink it several times toward the vehicle(s). (See figure 2-33.)
Figure 2-33. Move in reverse (for stationary vehicles)
2-37. To signal “close distance between vehicles and stop,” face the vehicle(s) being signaled, extend the forearms to the front, palms inward and separated (width of the shoulder(s). Bring the palms together as the vehicle(s) approaches. The vehicle(s) must stop when the palms come together. (See figure 2-34.)
Figure 2-34. Close distance between vehicles and stop
2-38. To signal “stop engines,” extend the arm parallel to ground, hand open, and move the arm across the body, in a throat-cutting action. (See figure 2-35.)
Figure 2-35. Stop engines
2-39. To signal “neutral steer” for track vehicles, cross the wrists at the throat; point the index finger in direction of steer. Make a fist of the other hand. (See figure 2-36.)
Figure 2-36. Neutral steer (track vehicles)
Traffic Control
2-40. These signals normally are used by authorized officials (civilian and military police, and personnel at traffic control points) to direct traffic. At night, these signals are given with a flashlight or a lighted wand. (See figures 2-37 through 2-41 on page 2-19 through page 2-21.)
2-41. To signal “left and right traffic stop,” stand facing traffic with the arms raised, palms open, in the same plane as the shoulders. (See figure 2-37.)
Figure 2-37. Left and right traffic stop
2-42. To signal “front traffic stop,” stand facing traffic with arm raised, palm open. (See figure 2-38.)
Figure 2-38. Front traffic stop
2-43. To signal “rear traffic stop,” stand with the back to traffic, the arm raised, palm open. Rotate the upper body so the palm faces traffic. (See figure 2-39.)
Figure 2-39. Rear traffic stop
2-44. To signal “traffic from the right, GO,” stand with the right side facing traffic, left arm extended, palm open. The right arm is parallel to the ground and bent with the palm at shoulder level. (See figure 2-40.)
Figure 2-40. Traffic from right, GO
2-45. To signal “traffic from the left, GO,” stand with the left side facing traffic, right arm extended, palm open. The left arm is parallel to the ground with the palm at shoulder level. (See figure 2-41.)
Figure 2-41. Traffic from left, GO
Convoy Control
2-46. In addition to traffic control personnel, convoy commanders can use hand and arm signals to convey messages (see figures 2-42 through 2-45 on page 2-22 and page 2-23).
2-47. Signals given by the convoy commander will be given out of the passenger side window or relayed to personnel operating a mounted weapons system. The driver should be the last resort for relaying hand and arm signals to the convoy due to safety considerations.
2-48. To order drivers to “open up” or “increase the distance between vehicles,” extend the left arm horizontally to the side, palm to the front, then move the arm downward to a 45-degree angle below horizontal. Repeat several times. (See figure 2-42.)
Figure 2-42. Open up or increase the distance between vehicles
2-49. To order drivers to “close up” or “decrease the distance between vehicles,” extend the left arm sideward to the horizontal, palm up, and raise it to the vertical. Repeat several times. (See figure 2-43.)
Figure 2-43. Close up or decrease the distance between vehicles
2-50. To order another vehicle or vehicles to “pass and keep going,” extend the left arm horizontally to the side, palm to the front, and describe large circles to the front by rotating the arm clockwise from the elbow. (See figure 2-44.)
Figure 2-44. Pass and keep going
2-51. To order a vehicle to “move in reverse,” face the unit being signaled and raise the hand to shoulder level in front of the body, palm to the front; extend the arm forward to its full extent in a pushing motion, keeping the palm to the front. (See figure 2-45.)
Note. This is done when the commander’s vehicle has halted.
Figure 2-45. Move in reverse
Flag Signals
2-52. Flags are issued to armored and mechanized units for control purposes and as an alternate means of communication within these units. Each combat vehicle is equipped with a flag set consisting of one red, one yellow, and one green flag. Flag signals may be given by using a single flag or a combination of two or three flags, according to a prearranged code. Flag signals, when understood, are repeated and executed at once (see figures 2-46 through 2-51 on page 2-24 through page 2-27).
2-53. Flags are used to—
- Mark vehicle positions. For example, a quartering party member uses colored flags in an assembly area to mark positions.
- Identify disabled vehicles.
- Warn friendly elements of an advancing enemy. For example, an observation post uses a flag to signal a platoon to move to its fighting position.
- Control movement. Flags serve as an extension of hand and arm signals when distances between vehicles become too great.
2-54. When used alone, flag colors have the following meanings:
- Red – DANGER, or ENEMY IN SIGHT.
- Green – ALL CLEAR, READY, or UNDERSTOOD.
- Yellow – DISREGARD, or VEHICLE OUT OF ACTION.
2-55. During periods of limited visibility flashlights with colored filters or colored chemical lights may be substituted for flags.
Figure 2-46. Mount
Figure 2-47. Dismount
Figure 2-48. Dismount and assault
Figure 2-49. Assemble or close
Figure 2-50. Move out
Figure 2-51. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazard present
Firing Range Flag Signals
2-56. Signal flags are used on firing ranges for tanks or fighting vehicles to indicate the status of the range and the status of the individual vehicle. A red flag at the control point indicates that firing may be conducted, while a green flag indicates that it may not. (See figures 2-52 through 2-56 on page 2-27 through 2-29.)
Figure 2-52. All weapons clear (guns elevated)
Figure 2-53. Conducting live fire or “hot gun”
Figure 2-54. Conducting prepare-to-fire or non-firing exercises (Ammunition is uploaded and the system is on safe.)
Figure 2-55. Malfunction—weapons clear
Figure 2-56. Malfunction—weapons loaded
Next Page : Chapter 3 – Hand and Arm Signals for Aircraft