Which description corresponds to the Echelon hand signal?

Which description corresponds to the Echelon hand signal?

• A. Face the unit being signaled, and extend one arm 45 degrees above the other arm 45 degrees below the horizontal, palms to the front. The lower arm indicates the direction of echelon
• B. Extend the arm in front of the body, hip high, palm down
• C. The lower arm indicates the direction of echelon
• D. Raise the arm vertically

Answer: (A)

Echelon is a diagonal, staggered formation, so the signal uses a distinctive two-arm pose that clearly communicates both the presence of echelon and which side it will form on. Face the unit you’re signaling so your signal is directed toward them. Extend one arm upward at about 45 degrees above the horizontal and the other arm downward at about 45 degrees below the horizontal, with your palms facing forward. This two-arm, angled configuration creates a clear, visible cue at a distance, and the lower arm shows the direction of the echelon (which side the formation will slope to). The other descriptions don’t fit because they don’t deliver the same unambiguous two-arm diagonal cue. A single arm at hip height with the palm down doesn’t indicate echelon, and relying only on the lower arm to show direction omits the essential two-arm pose. A vertical raise is reserved for a different command and does not convey echelon formation.

Echelon is a diagonal, staggered formation, so the signal uses a distinctive two-arm pose that clearly communicates both the presence of echelon and which side it will form on. Face the unit you’re signaling so your signal is directed toward them. Extend one arm upward at about 45 degrees above the horizontal and the other arm downward at about 45 degrees below the horizontal, with your palms facing forward. This two-arm, angled configuration creates a clear, visible cue at a distance, and the lower arm shows the direction of the echelon (which side the formation will slope to).

The other descriptions don’t fit because they don’t deliver the same unambiguous two-arm diagonal cue. A single arm at hip height with the palm down doesn’t indicate echelon, and relying only on the lower arm to show direction omits the essential two-arm pose. A vertical raise is reserved for a different command and does not convey echelon formation.