{{Short description|NATO global coordinate reference system}}
{{Geodesy}}
The '''Military Grid Reference System''' ('''MGRS''') is the geocoordinate standard used by [[NATO]] militaries for geo-referencing, position reporting, and situational awareness during land operations.<ref>{{cite nameweb |url="DMA8358_1_Chapter3">[httphttps://earth-infowww.ngajcs.mil/GandGPortals/publications36/tm8358.1Documents/tr83581bLibrary/Instructions/CJCSI%203900.html#ZZ26 DMA Technical Manual 835801E.1,pdf Chapter|title=CJCSI 33900.]01E Datums,Position Ellipsoids(POS), GridsNavigation, and Timing (PNT) and Global Positioning System (GPS) Requirements |publisher=Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |date=14 December 2018 |access-date=27 June 2025 |page=A-2 |quote=The Military Grid Reference SystemsSystem (MGRS) is the standard for military land operations for geo-referencing and position reporting.}}</ref> isAn theMGRS geocoordinatecoordinate standarddoes usednot byrepresent [[NATO]]a militariessingle forpoint, locatingbut areasrather defines a square grid area on the Earth's surface. The ___location of a specific point is therefore referenced by the MGRS coordinate of the area that contains it. The MGRS is derived from the [[Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system|Universal Transverse Mercator]] (UTM)]] grid system and the [[Universal polarPolar stereographicStereographic coordinate system|Universal Polar Stereographic]] (UPS)]] grid system,systems but uses a different labeling convention. The MGRSand is used as [[a geocode]] for the entire Earth.
An example of an ''MGRS coordinate'', or ''grid reference'', is [{{Coor URL}}21_24_35.43062452380_N_157_54_57.89102787040_W_&language=en <code>4Q FJ 1234 6789</code>], which consists of three parts:
