Section echelon mark

Two dots above a unit frame, marking a section.

Also known as: Section size mark, Two dot echelon

Maps & navigationMilitaryStandard profile

Meanings

In NATO joint military symbology two dots placed above a unit frame indicate that the unit is a section, one step above a squad.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Indicates that the framed unit is a section, marked by two dots above the frame.
Contexts: Maps
Common modern usageVerified fact
Continues the counting series, in which each additional dot marks one step up the smaller echelons.
Contexts: Maps

Two small dots placed side by side above the top edge of the unit frame.

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Military organization and echelon marks
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-24
Tertiary reference. Used for the echelon marks that indicate unit size and the names those levels carry. Not used for any claim about the structure, strength or deployment of a real force.
APP-6 — NATO Joint Military Symbology
NATO Standardization Office · retrieved 2026-08-20
The NATO standard for military map symbology. Authoritative for member and partner nations using it; the promulgated edition changes periodically and records describe the framework rather than a specific edition's every detail.

Last reviewed 2026-08-24