SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2017, Issue No. 21
March 21, 2017

Secrecy News Blog: https://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/

US ARMY: HAND AND ARM SIGNALS

Under ordinary circumstances, the U.S. Army relies on high-speed digital communications. But sometimes that is not an option, and soldiers must revert to more primitive methods.

"When electrical and/or digital means of communication are inadequate, or not available," a new Army publication explains, messages may be transmitted "through the use of hand-and-arm signals, flags, pyrotechnics, and other visual aids." Many of those alternate communication methods are described in Visual Signals, U.S. Army Training Circular TC 3-21.60, March 2017.

So, for example, "To signal 'chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack,' extend the arms and fists. Bend the arms to the shoulders. Repeat. (See figure 1-16.)"

Of course, hand and arm signals have limitations. For one thing, they may be misunderstood.

"Visual signals are generally contextual in nature. For example, the hand-and-arm signal for 'take cover' and 'slow down' are similar in their perspective movements, however the situation in which each is given is completely different."

Also, "The range and reliability of visual communications are significantly reduced during periods of poor visibility and when terrain restricts observation."

Finally, visual or gestural communications "are vulnerable to enemy interception and may be used for deception purposes," the new Army publication said.

TALKING ABOUT THE DEFENSE BUDGET, & MORE FROM CRS

The U.S. defense budget is comprised of several distinct components, including "base" and supplemental spending, nuclear weapons expenses, veterans benefits, and other defense-related costs.

When discussing "the defense budget," it is therefore important to specify what is being described. Depending on what is included or excluded, "total" U.S. defense spending each year can vary by hundreds of millions of dollars.

This definitional question is neatly illustrated in a new graphic from the Congressional Research Service. See How People Talk About the FY2017 National Defense Budget.

Other new and updated publications from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Defense Primer: The National Defense Budget Function (050), CRS In Focus, March 17, 2017:

Defense Primer: DOD Contractors, CRS In Focus, February 10, 2017:

Defense Primer: Procurement, CRS In Focus, February 10, 2017:

Military Transition Assistance Program (TAP): An Overview, CRS In Focus, March 15, 2017:

Supreme Court Appointment Process: Consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee, updated March 17, 2017:

Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief, updated March 17, 2017:

Sanctuary Jurisdictions and Select Federal Grant Funding Issues: In Brief, March 16, 2017:

The Decennial Census: Issues for 2020, March 16, 2017:

A Survey of House and Senate Committee Rules on Subpoenas, updated March 16, 2017:

Medicare Primer, updated March 16, 2017:

Pending ACA Legal Challenges Face Uncertain Future, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 16, 2017:

Statutory, Average, and Effective Marginal Tax Rates in the Federal Individual Income Tax: Background and Analysis, March 16, 2017:

Should the U.S. Trade Deficit be Redefined?, CRS Insight, March 17, 2017:

Moving On: TPP Signatories Meet in Chile, CRS Insight, March 16, 2017:

Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Hypervelocity Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 17, 2017:

Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 17, 2017:

Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 17, 2017:

Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 16, 2017:

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Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists.

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