Operational Terms & Graphics

Front 1

represent units and command
posts

Back 1

A rectangle is used to

Front 2

a staff is extended from the lower
left corner of the rectangle, at a right angle to the base.

Back 2

command post

Front 3

triangle

Back 3

observation or listening post

Front 4

squad

Back 4

Dot

Front 5

Section (larger than a
squad, but normally smaller
than a platoon. For
example, a machine gun
section contains 22 men

Back 5

2

Front 6

Platoon or detachment

Back 6

3

Front 7

not be used in construction of
unit symbols but will be used on overlays and
fire plan sketches at the small unit level- overlays and
fire plan sketches

Back 7

Fire Team: Not not be used in ____ but will be used on ____ at the small unit level.

Front 8

Company or battery

Back 8

.

Front 9

Battalion (or squadron in
aviation)

Back 9

.

Front 10

Regiment (or group in
aviation)

Back 10

.

Front 11

Brigade

Back 11

.

Front 12

Division or wing

Back 12

.

Front 13

Company

Back 13

.

Front 14

battalion/squadron

Back 14

.

Front 15

Regiment/Group

Back 15

.

Front 16

squad

Back 16

.

Front 17

Section

Back 17

.

Front 18

Platoon

Back 18

.

Front 19

Mechanized/Armored (tracked)

Back 19

.

Front 20

Mechanized/Armored Wheeled,cross country

Back 20

.

Front 21

Amphibious

Back 21

.

Front 22

Missile

Back 22

.

Front 23

Air Assault
modifier for ground units)

Back 23

.

Front 24

Gun system
equipped
(w/30mm
Bushmaster,
Vulcan, ZSU,
etc.)

Back 24

.

Front 25

Ski-mobile

Back 25

.

Front 26

Riverine

Back 26

.

Front 27

Attack
(modifier for
aviation units)

Back 27

.

Front 28

Infantry

Back 28

.

Front 29

Tank

Back 29

.

Front 30

Engineer

Back 30

.

Front 31

Air Defense

Back 31

.

Front 32

Maintenance

Back 32

.

Front 33

Helicopter
Unit

Back 33

.

Front 34

Mechanized
Infantry

Back 34

.

Front 35

Infantry
Mechanized
in AAVs

Back 35

.

Front 36

Motorized
Anti-Armor
(CAAT)
Riverine
Assault Craft

Back 36

.

Front 37

Artillery

Back 37

.

Front 38

Reconnaissance

Back 38

.

Front 39

Supply

Back 39

.

Front 40

Communication

Back 40

.

Front 41

Motor
Transport

Back 41

.

Front 42

Anti-Armor

Back 42

.

Front 43

Fixed-Wing
Aviation Unit

Back 43

.

Front 44

Assault
Amphibian
Vehicle Unit
(AAV)

Back 44

.

Front 45

Light Armored
Reconnaissance
(LAR)

Back 45

.

Front 46

Riverine
Assault Craft
Unit

Back 46

.

Front 47

Motorized
Stinger
(Anti-Air)
Unit

Back 47

.

Front 48

Air Assault
Infantry

Back 48

.

Front 49

Attack
Helicopter

Back 49

.

Front 50

Fixed-Wing
Attack Aviation

Back 50

.

Front 51

Marine Air Ground Task Force

Back 51

.

Front 52

Marine Expeditionary Unit
(MEU)

Back 52

.

Front 53

Marine Expeditionary Force
(MEF)

Back 53

.

Front 54

If a unit is temporarily organized or "task-organized" for
a specific operation, into a task force or company team,
a "hood" is placed over the size indicator.

Back 54

When used, (±) symbols are not used.

Front 55

Company Team: Controlled by the tank commander

Back 55

.

Front 56

Battalion Task Force: Commanded by the infantry

Back 56

.

Front 57

Basis Enemy Unit

Back 57

.

Front 58

Enemy Artillery Battery

Back 58

.

Front 59

Enemy rifle squad

Back 59

.

Front 60

Enemy Rifle
Company

Back 60

.

Front 61

Basic weapon
symbol (light)

Back 61

.

Front 62

Basic weapon
symbol (medium)

Back 62

.

Front 63

Basic weapon
symbol (heavy)

Back 63

.

Front 64

Light
rifle/automatic
weapon

Back 64

.

Front 65

Medium
rifle/automatic
weapon

Back 65

.

Front 66

Heavy
rifle/automatic
weapon

Back 66

.

Front 67

Antitank

Back 67

.

Front 68

Rocket

Back 68

.

Front 69

Indirect fire/high
trajectory

Back 69

.

Front 70

Direct fire gun

Back 70

.

Front 71

Anti-air/air
defense

Back 71

.

Front 72

Surface-tosurface
missile

Back 72

.

Front 73

Track selfpropelled

Back 73

.

Front 74

Wheeled (limited
cross-country)

Back 74

.

Front 75

Wheeled (crosscountry)

Back 75

.

Front 76

Wheeled (crosscountry)
armorprotected

Back 76

.

Front 77

Amphibious

Back 77

.

Front 78

Over-snow

Back 78

.

Front 79

Tank

Back 79

.

Front 80

Infantry fighting
vehicle

Back 80

.

Front 81

Limited crosscountry
cargo/personnel
carrier (e.g. 5-ton;
HMMWV)

Back 81

.

Front 82

60mm mortar

Back 82

.

Front 83

81mm mortar

Back 83

.

Front 84

120mm mortar

Back 84

.

Front 85

AT-4 84mm
antitank rocket

Back 85

.

Front 86

83mm SMAW

Back 86

.

Front 87

Stinger anti-air
missile

Back 87

.

Front 88

M203 grenade
launcher

Back 88

.

Front 89

Mk-19 grenade
launcher

Back 89

.

Front 90

LAV-25

Back 90

.

Front 91

Javelin Anti-Tank
Missile

Back 91

.

Front 92

TOW antitank
missile

Back 92

.

Front 93

M40A1 7.62mm
sniper rifle

Back 93

.

Front 94

SASR .50 cal
sniper rifle

Back 94

.

Front 95

105mm howitzer

Back 95

.

Front 96

155mm howitzer

Back 96

.

Front 97

Fixed-wing
attack aircraft

Back 97

.

Front 98

Attack helicopter
(Cobra)

Back 98

.

Front 99

Heavy-lift assault
helicopter (CH-53)

Back 99

.

Front 100

Medium-lift
assault
helicopter (CH-
46)

Back 100

.

Front 101

Assault
amphibious
vehicle (AAV)

Back 101

.

Front 102

M1A1 tank (the
three vertical lines
identify this as a
“heavy” tank)

Back 102

.

Front 103

Strong point

Back 103

.

Front 104

Antitank Ditch (top of
triangles is toward enemy)

Back 104

.

Front 105

Fortified line

Back 105

.

Front 106

Roadblock, completed

Back 106

.

Front 107

Unspecified wire obstacle

Back 107

.

Front 108

Single strand concertina

Back 108

.

Front 109

Antitank minefield

Back 109

.

Front 110

Booby trap

Back 110

.

Front 111

Non-headquarters units

Back 111

.

Front 112

Headquarters unit

Back 112

.

Front 113

A future or projected location for a unit is identified using a
broken/dashed line:

Back 113

.

Front 114

Groups of non-headquarters
units

Back 114

.

Front 115

Groups of headquarters
units

Back 115

.

Front 116

An assembly area is the area where a unit assembles to
prepare for further action. Assembly areas are enclosed
with a solid line and the unit symbol is placed inside the
circle. The CP symbol may be used if the CP location is
known. A future or proposed assembly area is shown with a
broken line. For example, here is the representation for an
assembly area occupied by 2d Bn, 9th Marines:

Back 116

.

Front 117

Assault position: Co K, 3d
Bn, 6th Mar

Back 117

.

Front 118

Company battle
position

Back 118

.

Front 119

Battle position,
Company K

Back 119

.

Front 120

the boundary separating 1st Marine Division from 2d
Marines

Back 120

.

Front 121

Advance
The axis of advance indicates a general direction of movement for a
unit. A commander assigned an axis of advance may deviate from
the axis; however, a major deviation must be reported. It is labeled
with a code name, letter, or unit designation.

Back 121

.

Front 122

The airborne axis of advance is the same as a ground axis of advance
except it has a twist in the shaft of the open arrow.

Back 122

.

Front 123

A passage point is a location in which one unit passes
through another unit that is in contact with the enemy or a
location where a unit withdraws through another unit
occupying rearward positions. It will be labeled with a
number or letter for identification.

Back 123

.

Front 124

A linkup point is a point at which two converging friendly
forces make physical contact. The point should be mutually
agreed upon and should be readily recognizable by both
forces.

Back 124

.

Front 125

Point
A contact point is a location where two or more units are
required to make physical contact. It is a square with a
number placed inside.

Back 125

.

Front 126

A phase line is used for the control of forward movement
and coordination of units. It should be extended across
the entire zone or sector, preferably along an easily
identifiable terrain feature or man-made object. It is
labeled with a code name, letter, or number for
identification.

Back 126

.

Front 127

A coordinating point is a designated point at which, in all types of combat, adjacent units/formations must make
contact for purposes of control and coordination.

Back 127

.

Front 128

A restrictive fire line is a line established between converging friendly forces (one or both may be moving) that prohibits fires or the effect of fires across the line without coordination with the affected force.

Back 128

Restrictive
Fire Line
(RFL)

Front 129

Zone of Action
A zone of action is a tactical subdivision of a larger area, the
responsibility of which is assigned to a tactical unit, generally
applied to offensive combat. Zones of action assigned to
subordinate units prevent interference among units operating in adjacent areas. At platoon and squad levels, the zone of
action is frequently expressed as a frontage. At company level and above, zone of action is normally defined by a line of
departure, an objective (or objectives), and a boundary on one or both flanks.

Back 129

.

Front 130

Point Target
A point target is a target of such small dimension that it
requires the accurate placement of ordnance to neutralize
or destroy it.

Back 130

.

Front 131

Linear Target
A linear target is a target whose length is
• More than 200 meters
• Less the 600 meters
Targets longer than 600 meters will require fire support
other than indirect fire or may be subdivided into multiple
targets for attack with indirect fire. A linear target is
designated on the target list or list of targets by
• Two grids
• A center grid, length, and attitude

Back 131

.

Front 132

Rectangular Target
A rectangular target is a target wider and longer than 200
meters. It is designated on the target list or list of targets
by
• Four grids
• A center grid, length, width, and attitude

Back 132

.

Front 133

Circular Target
A circular target is circular in nature or is vague as to its exact shape. It is designated by a center grid and a radius on the target list or list of targets.

Back 133

.

Front 134

Group of Targets
A group is two or more targets that are attacked simultaneously.
Groups give the maneuver commander the ability to hit different
enemy positions at the same time without having to request
individual targets. A group of targets is designated by an
alpha/numeric combination. It is depicted on a map as in the
example below.

Back 134

.

Front 135

Final Protective Fire (FPF)
The FPF is normally drawn to scale as a linear target. The
symbol used includes the
• Target number
• Designator of FPF
• System/unit to deliver the fires

Back 135

.

Front 136

Target Reference Point (TRP)
Maneuver elements use an easily identifiable TRP to orient direct-fire weapons systems. TRPs should be dually identified in
terms of the direct-fire system and the target numbering system. The symbol is the same as that for a standard target with a target number and TRP letter. Only essential TRPs are integrated into the fire plan.

Back 136

.

Front 137

Operational symbols are effective mediums of
communication because when properly employed they are

Back 137

clear, concise, and uniform.

Front 138

Operational symbols are used on

Back 138

operational graphics,
situation maps, and overlays.

Front 139

The key to constructing or interpreting operational
symbols comes from the knowledge of the

Back 139

organization of
the Marine Corps.

Front 140

1st Marine
Division

Back 140

• 1st, 5th, and 7th Marine Infantry Regiments
• 11th Marine Artillery Regiment

Front 141

2d Marine
Division

Back 141

• 2d, 6th, and 8th Marine Infantry Regiments
• l0th Marine Artillery Regiment

Front 142

3d Marine
Division

Back 142

• 3d and 4th Marine Infantry Regiments
• l2th Marine Artillery Regiment

Front 143

4th Marine
Division

Back 143

• Is a reserve division
• 23d, 24th, and 25th Marine Infantry Regiments
• l4th Marine Artillery Regiment
• 9th Marine Regiment was cadred in 1994

Front 144

Companies D, H, and M are contingency units

Back 144

to be
manned on special directive only.

Front 145

Role indicator symbols describe

Back 145

the basic role or mission of
the unit. Combined with size indicators and any applicable
unit symbol modifiers (discussed previously in this text), a detailed and informative symbol is created.

Front 146

friendly units and/or equipment

Back 146

Blue

Front 147

enemy units and/or equipment (diamond shape
or “ENY” if only one color is used)

Back 147

Red

Front 148

unknown or pending identification

Back 148

Yellow

Front 149

neutral forces and all obstacles whether
friendly, enemy, or neutral

Back 149

Green

Front 150

all friendly control measures; used as the single
color for all graphics if colors above are not available

Back 150

Black

Front 151

An overlay can be used to make changes in unit

Back 151

• Positions
• Weapons
• Movements

Front 152

A legend must only be added when

Back 152

nonstandard symbols are used.

Front 153

Targets longer than ___ will require fire support other than indirect fire or may be subdivided into multiple targets for attack with indirect fire.

Back 153

600 meters

Front 154

The difference in rectangular symbol for a barrage and an area target is the ___. That is, an area target will
have a regular target designation, and a barrage will show the unit designated to fire that particular barrage.

Back 154

numbering