What does the effectiveness of hand and arm signals primarily rely on?

The effectiveness of hand and arm signals primarily relies on visibility and terrain because these factors directly impact the ability of team members to see and interpret signals accurately. If signals are not visible due to poor lighting conditions, obstructions, or challenging landscapes, the communication intended by those gestures can be lost.

In varying terrains, obstacles can obscure visibility, making it essential for hand and arm signals to be executed in a manner that maximizes their clarity against the backdrop. For example, the effectiveness of a signal can diminish if it’s being communicated in a dense forest versus an open field.

While clarity of gestures and the training of squad members are important, they hinge on the fundamental principle that the signals must be seen. Similarly, sound is not typically a component of hand and arm signals, as they are primarily visual cues designed to facilitate communication in noisy environments where verbal communication is not feasible. Thus, visibility and terrain are the foundational elements that determine how effectively hand and arm signals can be utilized in any operational setting.