A level or rank in an organization, military formation, or hierarchy.
From French échelon meaning 'rung of a ladder', from échelle (ladder) from Latin scala. Originally a military term for staggered troop formations, it expanded to mean any hierarchical level by the 19th century.
The word's ladder imagery is perfect - each echelon is literally a 'rung' in the organizational ladder. In military aviation, echelon formations create that distinctive staggered V-shape you see at air shows, maximizing visibility while maintaining tactical advantage.
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