An element of a grouping of national armed forces to which strategic missions have been assigned. 2. A force element of operational order of battle to which a principal combat mission is assigned, e.g. attack echelon, support echelon, reserve echelon. 3. A subdivision of a headquarters, i.e. forward echelon, rear echelon. 4. Separate level of command. As compared to a regiment, a division is a higher echelon, a battalion is a lower echelon. 5. A formation in which subdivisions are stepped one behind another, with a lateral and even spacing to the same side. 6. A unit or several subunits transported on the same train or vessel 7. On redeployment of an air unit, aircraft or helicopters flying to new airfields form a flight echelon, while its subunits transported by land form a ground echelon

: 11 phrases in 5 subjects