

Neil James from the Australia Defence Association says racist behaviour is extremely rare in the Army, which has a proud record of ethnic advancement. Visual signals in the military Military arm or hand signals are typically used to communicate when Warfighters can’t speak (in person or through digital means) due to distance, safety, or security reasons during drills or in theater. One soldier, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, claimed the Army's directive was considered very problematic because the "okay" gesture was too easily mistaken as a "white power" symbol. Several Army sources have told the ABC the disciplined member was a Lieutenant Colonel at the time, although Defence has declined to comment due to "privacy reasons". It has the added benefit of placing the most experienced leader in the platoon, the. The Department has, however, confirmed one Army member has been disciplined "for contravening Defence values by making inappropriate hand gestures". FM 5-10 Basic Formations, Movement Techniques, and Hand-and-Arm Signals A-3 also simplifies C2 and movement. "Administrative action ranges from counselling through to termination of employment." "An ADF member found to be associated with extremist ideologies will be investigated and potentially face administrative action," Defence said in a statement. Unit commanders and "subordinate commanders" are instructed to initiate "suspension from duty action" if they have "sufficient material" to suspect an Army member has engaged in the activity.Ĭommanders are advised that "if, after considering evidence collected by investigation or fact finding" they're satisfied that a gesture "associated with racial hatred or extremist hate groups" has been made, "termination action is to be initiated".Īrmy Chief dodges questions on racism crackdown in his ranksĭespite the crackdown, the Defence Department has told the ABC to date "no Army member has been terminated as a result of displaying a white supremacy symbol in public". "To date, two soldiers in the last week have made a white supremacy symbol in photographs," the directive sent in March 2019 reveals. That warning came in the same month that the man charged over the Christchurch massacre made the white power symbol while being led into the dock of a New Zealand court. The ABC has obtained a document sent by Defence Forces Command last year warning any individual who engages in such behaviour has "no place in our Army". Raise the hand to the shoulder, fist closed thrust the fist upward to.

It follows the increasing global usage of the so-called "white power" hand sign, in which the thumb and index finger touch, while the other fingers of the hand are held outstretched to roughly resemble a "W" and a "P".Īccording to the Anti-Defamation League, the overwhelming purpose of the hand gesture is still to signify "OK" but is now also widely used by white supremacists. Visual Signals double time, quick time, shift fire INCREASE SPEED, DOUBLE TIME or RUSH.
MILITARY HAND SIGNALS HOW TO
The Army has issued an extraordinary directive to all unit commanders instructing them on how to deal with officers or soldiers found to be displaying racist "hand symbology" in photos.
