NG Army Exam cheat sheet

Position of attention: heels together on the same line, feet turned out equally at about 45 degrees, legs straight without stiffness, thumbs along the seams of the trousers with fingers curled, head erect and eyes straight ahead.

At the command "Present, ARMS" with a rifle, the weapon is brought diagonally across the body with the barrel up and to the left, the left hand at the balance and the right hand at the small of the stock; the head and eyes remain fixed to the front.

The preparatory command states the movement to be executed and the command of execution causes it; in "Forward, MARCH" the word Forward is preparatory and MARCH is the command of execution.

On "Parade, REST" the left foot is placed 12 inches to the left of the right foot and the hands are placed behind the body with the right hand over the left, thumbs crossed and palms outward.

In a squad or platoon formation, the element leader's position is normally the left flank of the element, so the leader can see the formation and be seen.

Eyes right is executed on the march when passing in review; the head and eyes are turned 45 degrees to the right, with the soldier looking toward the reviewing stand.

The guidon is the unit's identifying flag carried by the guidon bearer, who normally posts on the right flank of the first squad or platoon in formation.

A column movement of 90 degrees is executed with the command "Column right, MARCH" given so the command of execution falls on the foot that will become the pivot foot.

Declination diagram: grid north is the reference for military grid azimuths, magnetic north is the direction a compass needle points, and the difference between them is the magnetic declination; the G-M angle converts one to the other.

To convert a magnetic azimuth to a grid azimuth, add the G-M angle if the declination diagram shows magnetic north east of grid north; subtract it if magnetic north is west of grid north.

A military lensatic compass is read by aligning the sight line with the target, then reading the degree value under the index line on the bezel ring; the compass-to-cheek method is more accurate than the center-hold method.

Map scale 1:50,000 means one unit on the map equals 50,000 of the same units on the ground; one centimeter on the map equals 500 meters on the ground.

Grid coordinates are read right then up (eastings before northings); a four-digit coordinate locates a 1,000-meter grid square and a six-digit coordinate narrows it to a 100-meter square.

Contour lines connect points of equal elevation; contour lines close together indicate steep terrain, widely spaced lines indicate gentle slopes, and a depression is shown by hachured contour lines.

The three norths on a military map are true north, grid north, and magnetic north; the declination diagram also shows the G-M angle used to convert between grid and magnetic azimuths.

Dead reckoning is navigating from a known point by following a measured azimuth and distance; a pace count and a known starting point are the two required inputs.

The four fundamentals of marksmanship are steady position, aiming, breath control, and trigger control; these apply to rifle and pistol firing alike.

The M4/M16 series rifle fires 5.56 mm ammunition and is normally fired from the prone, supported, kneeling, or standing position, with the prone supported position the most stable.

The M9 pistol fires 9 mm ammunition and is a semiautomatic, double-action/single-action weapon with a magazine capacity of 15 rounds in the standard magazine.

The M249 squad automatic weapon fires 5.56 mm ammunition from a disintegrating metallic link belt or a magazine and provides the squad's automatic fire base.

The M240 machine gun fires 7.62 mm ammunition from a link belt and is normally employed as a medium machine gun at the platoon or squad level.

The three types of stoppages taught for the rifle are failure to fire, failure to extract, and failure to feed; immediate action is SPORTS: Slap the magazine, Pull the charging handle, Observe the chamber, Release the charging handle, Tap the forward assist, Squeeze the trigger.

Natural point of aim is achieved when the weapon settles back on target after each shot without muscular effort; it is adjusted by shifting the body, not by muscling the weapon.

Breath control is applied by firing during the natural respiratory pause, and trigger control is applied by squeezing the trigger straight to the rear without disturbing the sight picture.

Tactical combat casualty care is organized as care under fire, tactical field care, and tactical evacuation care; care under fire prioritizes returning fire and controlling life-threatening hemorrhage.

The MARCH mnemonic orders priorities: Massive hemorrhage control, Airway management, Respiration and breathing, Circulation, and Hypothermia prevention and head injury.

A tourniquet is applied high and tight on the limb, tightened until bleeding stops, and time of application is recorded; it is not loosened once applied in the field.

The three types of bleeding are arterial (spurting, bright red), venous (steady, dark red), and capillary (oozing); direct pressure with a dressing is the first response to all three.

For a casualty with an obstructed airway, the head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver opens the airway; the nasopharyngeal airway is the preferred adjunct in a casualty with a gag reflex.

A tension pneumothorax is treated by needle chest decompression at the second intercostal space on the midclavicular line or the fourth or fifth intercostal space on the anterior axillary line, per current protocol.

Hypothermia prevention includes removing wet clothing, insulating the casualty from the ground, and covering the casualty with a blanket or space blanket, even in warm weather.

The casualty card or DD Form 1380 records the care given, including tourniquet time and medications, and accompanies the casualty through evacuation.

Enlisted ranks in order: private (E-1), private (E-2), private first class (E-3), specialist or corporal (E-4), sergeant (E-5), staff sergeant (E-6), sergeant first class (E-7), master sergeant or first sergeant (E-8), sergeant major (E-9), and command sergeant major (E-9).

Warrant officer ranks run W-1 through W-5; warrant officers are technical specialists who also serve as leaders, and the senior warrant officer in a command is the command chief warrant officer.

Commissioned officer ranks run second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, and general (O-1 through O-10).

The squad is the smallest maneuver element, typically 9 to 10 soldiers led by a staff sergeant; the platoon has 2 to 4 squads, led by a lieutenant with a sergeant first class as platoon sergeant.

The company has 3 to 5 platoons plus a headquarters element and is commanded by a captain with a first sergeant as the senior enlisted advisor.

The battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a command sergeant major; the brigade is commanded by a colonel; the division is commanded by a major general.

The chain of command runs from the individual soldier through the squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader, first sergeant, and commander upward; the NCO support channel parallels it and runs through the senior NCOs.

The Army Combat Uniform (OCP) is worn with the patrol cap or helmet; the utility uniform sleeve is not rolled, and the blouse is worn outside the trousers with the trousers bloused above the boot.

Name tape is worn over the right breast pocket, the U.S. Army tape over the left breast pocket, and the rank insignia is centered on the chest; subdued insignia are worn on the utility uniform.

Hair must be neat and conservative, not fall below the eyebrows or the bottom edge of the collar, and not extend below the earlobes; sideburns end at the bottom of the ear opening.

Males may not wear earrings on duty in uniform; females may wear one pair of small, plain, gold, silver, or white pearl earrings with the service and dress uniforms.

The salute is rendered with the right hand, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm down, tip of the middle finger touching the edge of the headgear or the right eyebrow if uncovered, upper arm horizontal.

Soldiers in uniform salute all officers and warrant officers; the junior member salutes first, and the salute is held until the senior member returns it.

The Army song is "The Army Goes Rolling Along"; the official Army birthday is 14 June 1775, and the Army flag was dedicated on 14 June 1956.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military decoration, and the Soldier's Creed opens with "I am an American Soldier."

The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is federal law applying to service members; Article 15 of the UCMJ authorizes nonjudicial punishment by a commanding officer for minor offenses.

The three levels of courts-martial are summary, special, and general; a general court-martial is the highest level and can impose the most severe punishments, including death when authorized.

Article 15 punishment options include restriction, extra duty, correctional custody, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, and reprimand; the maximum depends on the rank of the imposing commander and the rank of the accused.

The three types of Article 15 are summarized, company grade, and field grade; summarized Article 15s may not impose confinement or reduction in rank.

Article 31 of the UCMJ protects a service member from compulsory self-incrimination; a suspect must be advised of the nature of the accusation and the right to remain silent and to counsel.

The Standards of Conduct govern the ethical conduct of military personnel, including rules on gifts, outside employment, and the prohibition on using public office for private gain.

A lawful order must be given by a superior, relate to military duty, and not be contrary to law or regulation; an unlawful order need not be obeyed.

The Law of War principles are military necessity, distinction, proportionality, and humanity; these govern the conduct of soldiers in combat.

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) has six events: three-repetition maximum deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, leg tuck or plank, and two-mile run.

The ACFT is scored against standards that vary by gender and age group, with a minimum score of 60 points per event required to pass.

The three-repetition maximum deadlift uses a hex bar and measures lower-body and total-body strength; the standing power throw uses a 10-pound medicine ball thrown backward overhead.

The sprint-drag-carry consists of five 50-meter shuttles: a sprint, a backward drag, a lateral shuffle, a forward carry of two 40-pound kettlebells, and a final sprint.

The two-mile run is the final ACFT event and measures aerobic endurance; pacing and negative splits are common strategies for meeting the standard.

The Army Body Composition Program uses height, weight, and waist circumference to assess body fat percentage; soldiers exceeding the standard are evaluated for enrollment.

Heat injury prevention includes acclimatization, hydration, work-rest cycles, and recognizing the signs of heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness) versus heat stroke (hot skin, confusion, collapse).

The Physical Readiness Training system emphasizes fundamental movement skills, conditioning drills, and recovery, and is the basis for unit physical training programs.

A radio net has a net control station that directs the net, and all stations on the net use the same frequency and call signs.

The phonetic alphabet begins Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

A proword is a standard word or phrase used to control radio traffic, such as ROGER (received), WILCO (will comply), OVER (response required), OUT (end of transmission), and SAY AGAIN.

The phonetic alphabet and numerals are used to spell out difficult words and to read numbers digit by digit, reducing errors on a noisy net.

A radio check determines whether a station can communicate; the response is ROGER if readable, WEAK BUT READABLE, or NOT READABLE.

The brevity codes and prowords OVER and OUT are never used together; OVER invites a response and OUT ends the transmission.

Frequency modulation (FM) radios such as the AN/PRC-152 use line-of-sight propagation, and terrain and antenna height strongly affect range.

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a station or the validity of a message, often using a challenge and reply from an authentication table.

The principles of camouflage are movement, position, shape, shine, shadow, silhouette, and spacing; the acronym is often taught as MPS3.

A fighting position should provide cover and concealment, be sited to observe and fire on likely enemy approaches, and be camouflaged with local vegetation that is changed as it wilts.

The priorities of survival are first aid, shelter, fire, signaling, water, and food; shelter and fire are prioritized over food in cold conditions.

A shelter should be sited away from dead trees, dry creek beds, and avalanche slopes; a lean-to or debris hut uses local materials and insulation from the ground.

Water from an unknown source should be purified by boiling for at least one minute, or by chemical treatment or filtration, before drinking.

A signal mirror, whistle, and ground-to-air signals are standard survival signaling methods; three of anything (fires, whistle blasts) is a recognized distress signal.

Land navigation in survival includes using the sun, stars, and terrain features; the North Star indicates true north in the Northern Hemisphere and is found by following the pointer stars of the Big Dipper.

Noise and light discipline in the field reduces detection; soldiers avoid unnecessary movement, cover reflective surfaces, and use red-lens flashlights at night.

The four fundamentals of marksmanship are steady position, aiming, breath control, and trigger control; these apply to rifle and pistol firing alike.

The M4/M16 series rifle fires 5.56 mm ammunition and is normally fired from the prone, supported, kneeling, or standing position, with the prone supported position the most stable.

The M9 pistol fires 9 mm ammunition and is a semiautomatic, double-action/single-action weapon; standard magazine capacity is 15 rounds.

The M249 squad automatic weapon fires 5.56 mm ammunition from a disintegrating metallic link belt or a magazine and provides the squad's automatic fire base.

The M240 machine gun fires 7.62 mm ammunition from a link belt and is normally employed as a medium machine gun at the platoon or squad level.

Immediate action for a rifle stoppage is SPORTS: Slap the magazine, Pull the charging handle, Observe the chamber, Release the charging handle, Tap the forward assist, Squeeze the trigger.

Natural point of aim is achieved when the weapon settles back on target after each shot without muscular effort; it is adjusted by shifting the body, not by muscling the weapon.

Breath control is applied by firing during the natural respiratory pause, and trigger control is applied by squeezing the trigger straight to the rear without disturbing the sight picture.

Tactical combat casualty care is organized as care under fire, tactical field care, and tactical evacuation care; care under fire prioritizes returning fire and controlling life-threatening hemorrhage.

The MARCH mnemonic orders priorities: Massive hemorrhage control, Airway management, Respiration and breathing, Circulation, and Hypothermia prevention and head injury.

A tourniquet is applied high and tight on the limb, tightened until bleeding stops, and the time of application is recorded; it is not loosened once applied in the field.

The three types of bleeding are arterial (spurting, bright red), venous (steady, dark red), and capillary (oozing); direct pressure with a dressing is the first response to all three.

For a casualty with an obstructed airway, the head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver opens the airway; the nasopharyngeal airway is the preferred adjunct in a casualty with a gag reflex.

A tension pneumothorax is treated by needle chest decompression at the second intercostal space on the midclavicular line or the fourth or fifth intercostal space on the anterior axillary line, per current protocol.

Hypothermia prevention includes removing wet clothing, insulating the casualty from the ground, and covering the casualty with a blanket or space blanket, even in warm weather.

The casualty card or DD Form 1380 records the care given, including tourniquet time and medications, and accompanies the casualty through evacuation.

Enlisted ranks in order: private (E-1), private (E-2), private first class (E-3), specialist or corporal (E-4), sergeant (E-5), staff sergeant (E-6), sergeant first class (E-7), master sergeant or first sergeant (E-8), sergeant major (E-9), and command sergeant major (E-9).

Warrant officer ranks run W-1 through W-5; warrant officers are technical specialists who also serve as leaders, and the senior warrant officer in a command is the command chief warrant officer.

Commissioned officer ranks run second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, and general (O-1 through O-10).

The squad is the smallest maneuver element, typically 9 to 10 soldiers led by a staff sergeant; the platoon has 2 to 4 squads, led by a lieutenant with a sergeant first class as platoon sergeant.

The company has 3 to 5 platoons plus a headquarters element and is commanded by a captain with a first sergeant as the senior enlisted advisor.

The battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a command sergeant major; the brigade is commanded by a colonel; the division is commanded by a major general.

The chain of command runs from the individual soldier through the squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader, first sergeant, and commander upward; the NCO support channel parallels it and runs through the senior NCOs.

The Army Combat Uniform (OCP) is worn with the patrol cap or helmet; the utility uniform sleeve is not rolled, and the blouse is worn outside the trousers with the trousers bloused above the boot.

Name tape is worn over the right breast pocket, the U.S. Army tape over the left breast pocket, and the rank insignia is centered on the chest; subdued insignia are worn on the utility uniform.

Hair must be neat and conservative, not fall below the eyebrows or the bottom edge of the collar, and not extend below the earlobes; sideburns end at the bottom of the ear opening.

Males may not wear earrings on duty in uniform; females may wear one pair of small, plain, gold, silver, or white pearl earrings with the service and dress uniforms.

The salute is rendered with the right hand, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm down, tip of the middle finger touching the edge of the headgear or the right eyebrow if uncovered, upper arm horizontal.

Soldiers in uniform salute all officers and warrant officers; the junior member salutes first, and the salute is held until the senior member returns it.

The Army song is "The Army Goes Rolling Along"; the official Army birthday is 14 June 1775, and the Army flag was dedicated on 14 June 1956.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military decoration, and the Soldier's Creed opens with "I am an American Soldier."

The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is federal law applying to service members; Article 15 of the UCMJ authorizes nonjudicial punishment by a commanding officer for minor offenses.

The three levels of courts-martial are summary, special, and general; a general court-martial is the highest level and can impose the most severe punishments, including death when authorized.

Article 15 punishment options include restriction, extra duty, correctional custody, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, and reprimand; the maximum depends on the rank of the imposing commander and the rank of the accused.

The three types of Article 15 are summarized, company grade, and field grade; summarized Article 15s may not impose confinement or reduction in rank.

Article 31 of the UCMJ protects a service member from compulsory self-incrimination; a suspect must be advised of the nature of the accusation and the right to remain silent and to counsel.

The Standards of Conduct govern the ethical conduct of military personnel, including rules on gifts, outside employment, and the prohibition on using public office for private gain.

A lawful order must be given by a superior, relate to military duty, and not be contrary to law or regulation; an unlawful order need not be obeyed.

The Law of War principles are military necessity, distinction, proportionality, and humanity; these govern the conduct of soldiers in combat.

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) has six events: three-repetition maximum deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, leg tuck or plank, and two-mile run.

The ACFT is scored against standards that vary by gender and age group, with a minimum score of 60 points per event required to pass.

The three-repetition maximum deadlift uses a hex bar and measures lower-body and total-body strength; the standing power throw uses a 10-pound medicine ball thrown backward overhead.

The sprint-drag-carry consists of five 50-meter shuttles: a sprint, a backward drag, a lateral shuffle, a forward carry of two 40-pound kettlebells, and a final sprint.

The two-mile run is the final ACFT event and measures aerobic endurance; pacing and negative splits are common strategies for meeting the standard.

The Army Body Composition Program uses height, weight, and waist circumference to assess body fat percentage; soldiers exceeding the standard are evaluated for enrollment.

Heat injury prevention includes acclimatization, hydration, work-rest cycles, and recognizing the signs of heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness) versus heat stroke (hot skin, confusion, collapse).

The Physical Readiness Training system emphasizes fundamental movement skills, conditioning drills, and recovery, and is the basis for unit physical training programs.

A radio net has a net control station that directs the net, and all stations on the net use the same frequency and call signs.

The phonetic alphabet begins Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

A proword is a standard word or phrase used to control radio traffic, such as ROGER (received), WILCO (will comply), OVER (response required), OUT (end of transmission), and SAY AGAIN.

The phonetic alphabet and numerals are used to spell out difficult words and to read numbers digit by digit, reducing errors on a noisy net.

A radio check determines whether a station can communicate; the response is ROGER if readable, WEAK BUT READABLE, or NOT READABLE.

The brevity codes and prowords OVER and OUT are never used together; OVER invites a response and OUT ends the transmission.

Frequency modulation (FM) radios such as the AN/PRC-152 use line-of-sight propagation, and terrain and antenna height strongly affect range.

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a station or the validity of a message, often using a challenge and reply from an authentication table.

The principles of camouflage are movement, position, shape, shine, shadow, silhouette, and spacing; the acronym is often taught as MPS3.

A fighting position should provide cover and concealment, be sited to observe and fire on likely enemy approaches, and be camouflaged with local vegetation that is changed as it wilts.

The priorities of survival are first aid, shelter, fire, signaling, water, and food; shelter and fire are prioritized over food in cold conditions.

A shelter should be sited away from dead trees, dry creek beds, and avalanche slopes; a lean-to or debris hut uses local materials and insulation from the ground.

Water from an unknown source should be purified by boiling for at least one minute, or by chemical treatment or filtration, before drinking.

A signal mirror, whistle, and ground-to-air signals are standard survival signaling methods; three of anything (fires, whistle blasts) is a recognized distress signal.

Land navigation in survival includes using the sun, stars, and terrain features; the North Star indicates true north in the Northern Hemisphere and is found by following the pointer stars of the Big Dipper.

Noise and light discipline in the field reduces detection; soldiers avoid unnecessary movement, cover reflective surfaces, and use red-lens flashlights at night.

Position of attention: heels together on the same line, feet turned out equally at about 45 degrees, legs straight without stiffness, thumbs along the seams of the trousers with fingers curled, head erect and eyes straight ahead.

At the command "Present, ARMS" with a rifle, the weapon is brought diagonally across the body with the barrel up and to the left, the left hand at the balance and the right hand at the small of the stock; the head and eyes remain fixed to the front.

The preparatory command states the movement to be executed and the command of execution causes it; in "Forward, MARCH" the word Forward is preparatory and MARCH is the command of execution.

On "Parade, REST" the left foot is placed 12 inches to the left of the right foot and the hands are placed behind the body with the right hand over the left, thumbs crossed and palms outward.

In a squad or platoon formation, the element leader's position is normally the left flank of the element, so the leader can see the formation and be seen.

Eyes right is executed on the march when passing in review; the head and eyes are turned 45 degrees to the right, with the soldier looking toward the reviewing stand.

The guidon is the unit's identifying flag carried by the guidon bearer, who normally posts on the right flank of the first squad or platoon in formation.

A column movement of 90 degrees is executed with the command "Column right, MARCH" given so the command of execution falls on the foot that will become the pivot foot.

Declination diagram: grid north is the reference for military grid azimuths, magnetic north is the direction a compass needle points, and the difference between them is the magnetic declination; the G-M angle converts one to the other.

To convert a magnetic azimuth to a grid azimuth, add the G-M angle if the declination diagram shows magnetic north east of grid north; subtract it if magnetic north is west of grid north.

A military lensatic compass is read by aligning the sight line with the target, then reading the degree value under the index line on the bezel ring; the compass-to-cheek method is more accurate than the center-hold method.

Map scale 1:50,000 means one unit on the map equals 50,000 of the same units on the ground; one centimeter on the map equals 500 meters on the ground.

Grid coordinates are read right then up (eastings before northings); a four-digit coordinate locates a 1,000-meter grid square and a six-digit coordinate narrows it to a 100-meter square.

Contour lines connect points of equal elevation; contour lines close together indicate steep terrain, widely spaced lines indicate gentle slopes, and a depression is shown by hachured contour lines.

The three norths on a military map are true north, grid north, and magnetic north; the declination diagram also shows the G-M angle used to convert between grid and magnetic azimuths.

Dead reckoning is navigating from a known point by following a measured azimuth and distance; a pace count and a known starting point are the two required inputs.

Enlisted ranks in order: private (E-1), private (E-2), private first class (E-3), specialist or corporal (E-4), sergeant (E-5), staff sergeant (E-6), sergeant first class (E-7), master sergeant or first sergeant (E-8), sergeant major (E-9), and command sergeant major (E-9).

Warrant officer ranks run W-1 through W-5; warrant officers are technical specialists who also serve as leaders, and the senior warrant officer in a command is the command chief warrant officer.

Commissioned officer ranks run second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, and general (O-1 through O-10).

The squad is the smallest maneuver element, typically 9 to 10 soldiers led by a staff sergeant; the platoon has 2 to 4 squads, led by a lieutenant with a sergeant first class as platoon sergeant.

The company has 3 to 5 platoons plus a headquarters element and is commanded by a captain with a first sergeant as the senior enlisted advisor.

The battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a command sergeant major; the brigade is commanded by a colonel; the division is commanded by a major general.

The chain of command runs from the individual soldier through the squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader, first sergeant, and commander upward; the NCO support channel parallels it and runs through the senior NCOs.

A radio net has a net control station that directs the net, and all stations on the net use the same frequency and call signs.

The phonetic alphabet begins Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

A proword is a standard word or phrase used to control radio traffic, such as ROGER (received), WILCO (will comply), OVER (response required), OUT (end of transmission), and SAY AGAIN.

The phonetic alphabet and numerals are used to spell out difficult words and to read numbers digit by digit, reducing errors on a noisy net.

A radio check determines whether a station can communicate; the response is ROGER if readable, WEAK BUT READABLE, or NOT READABLE.

The brevity codes and prowords OVER and OUT are never used together; OVER invites a response and OUT ends the transmission.

Frequency modulation (FM) radios such as the AN/PRC-152 use line-of-sight propagation, and terrain and antenna height strongly affect range.

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a station or the validity of a message, often using a challenge and reply from an authentication table.

The principles of camouflage are movement, position, shape, shine, shadow, silhouette, and spacing; the acronym is often taught as MPS3.

A fighting position should provide cover and concealment, be sited to observe and fire on likely enemy approaches, and be camouflaged with local vegetation that is changed as it wilts.

The priorities of survival are first aid, shelter, fire, signaling, water, and food; shelter and fire are prioritized over food in cold conditions.

A shelter should be sited away from dead trees, dry creek beds, and avalanche slopes; a lean-to or debris hut uses local materials and insulation from the ground.

Water from an unknown source should be purified by boiling for at least one minute, or by chemical treatment or filtration, before drinking.

A signal mirror, whistle, and ground-to-air signals are standard survival signaling methods; three of anything (fires, whistle blasts) is a recognized distress signal.

Land navigation in survival includes using the sun, stars, and terrain features; the North Star indicates true north in the Northern Hemisphere and is found by following the pointer stars of the Big Dipper.

Noise and light discipline in the field reduces detection; soldiers avoid unnecessary movement, cover reflective surfaces, and use red-lens flashlights at night.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is federal law applying to service members; Article 15 of the UCMJ authorizes nonjudicial punishment by a commanding officer for minor offenses.

The three levels of courts-martial are summary, special, and general; a general court-martial is the highest level and can impose the most severe punishments, including death when authorized.

Article 15 punishment options include restriction, extra duty, correctional custody, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, and reprimand; the maximum depends on the rank of the imposing commander and the rank of the accused.

The three types of Article 15 are summarized, company grade, and field grade; summarized Article 15s may not impose confinement or reduction in rank.

Article 31 of the UCMJ protects a service member from compulsory self-incrimination; a suspect must be advised of the nature of the accusation and the right to remain silent and to counsel.

The Standards of Conduct govern the ethical conduct of military personnel, including rules on gifts, outside employment, and the prohibition on using public office for private gain.

A lawful order must be given by a superior, relate to military duty, and not be contrary to law or regulation; an unlawful order need not be obeyed.

The Law of War principles are military necessity, distinction, proportionality, and humanity; these govern the conduct of soldiers in combat.

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) has six events: three-repetition maximum deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, leg tuck or plank, and two-mile run.

The ACFT is scored against standards that vary by gender and age group, with a minimum score of 60 points per event required to pass.

The three-repetition maximum deadlift uses a hex bar and measures lower-body and total-body strength; the standing power throw uses a 10-pound medicine ball thrown backward overhead.

The sprint-drag-carry consists of five 50-meter shuttles: a sprint, a backward drag, a lateral shuffle, a forward carry of two 40-pound kettlebells, and a final sprint.

The two-mile run is the final ACFT event and measures aerobic endurance; pacing and negative splits are common strategies for meeting the standard.

The Army Body Composition Program uses height, weight, and waist circumference to assess body fat percentage; soldiers exceeding the standard are evaluated for enrollment.

Heat injury prevention includes acclimatization, hydration, work-rest cycles, and recognizing the signs of heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness) versus heat stroke (hot skin, confusion, collapse).

The Physical Readiness Training system emphasizes fundamental movement skills, conditioning drills, and recovery, and is the basis for unit physical training programs.