Field Medical Training Battalion – East (FMTB-E) Annex E Practice Test

Hand and arm signals rely entirely on visual cues, so you must be able to see the signal and you must know where your teammates are to direct the signal to the right person. If something blocks your line of sight—distance, obstacles, smoke, darkness, or cover—the signal may not be seen or misunderstood. Likewise, if you don’t know where team members are, you can’t target the signal correctly or anticipate who will respond, which disrupts coordination and timing.

While radios, weather, and terrain can affect communication in other ways, the most limiting factor for hand and arm signals is the fundamental need for clear visibility and awareness of teammates’ locations.