THE FOURTEEN MAN RIFLE SQUAD

the squad leader a sergeant has overall control of the squad he supervises and is responsible at all times for the conduct discipline training and welfare of the men in his squad one of his prime responsibilities is to oversee the care and maintenance of the squad's weapons and equipment his teo weapon is the rifle and bayonet he commands a Grenadier and three fire teams of four men each the Grenadier is the squad's extra punch armed with the m79 grenade launcher 45 caliber pistol and hunting knife he carries out fire missions assigned by the squad leader the fireteam leader a corporal is armed with the rifle and bayonet he's the first link in the chain of command and is responsible for the maneuver effective fire control and discipline of his men the assistant fire team leader a lance corporal is also the automatic rifleman the fireteam is organized around and depended upon the firepower of the automatic rifle two riflemen armed with the rifle and bayonet make the fireteam and the squad a functioning unit one assists the automatic rifleman the other rifleman provides security both are also trained as Scouts each man in the fireteam and the squad is responsible for the care and condition of his own weapon and equipment this then is the 14 man rifle squad its mission is to locate close with and destroy or capture the enemy by fire and maneuver and shock action or to repel his assault by fire and close combat all out all right Marines gather round and listen up Ross your next senior man you're the assistant squad leader but each of you know your job any one of you can lead this squad whoever's in charge I know he'll get full support from every one of you okay let's go this'll have to be quick the second platoon is on our right hotel company is on our left our mission is to take the high ground kill 510 two squads will assault friendly one squad will provide the base of fire sergeant bar line your squad will take the right half of a platoon objective sergeant Jenkins your squad will take the left half of what attune objective sergeant Beloit your squad will establish the base of fire I will move behind the assaulting element have any questions no questions sir move out [Music] in combat the squad leader is responsible for the maneuver of his squad and for the fire discipline and fire control of his men in their movement through this terrain to their objective the squads grenadiers and three fire team leaders will carry out the squad leaders orders the squad leader and his fire team leaders follow a standard procedure in the preparation and execution of all missions time is the governing factor in the application of all troop leading steps estimate the situation analyze the terrain determine the location of the enemy their strength disposition and capabilities a reconnaissance is also required no matter how brief the planning time available the squad leaders final plan must be based on all he can learn about the route to his objective and the strength and disposition of all enemy forces likely to be encountered the squad leaders order to his fire team leaders will be based on the platoon leaders orders and on the squad leaders knowledge of the terrain and the tactical situation involved okay this is a story will continue the attack in six minutes we take the right half of the platoon objective will salt online Ross your team will be on the right you'll be the base team counter you take the center short your team will take the left salt signal will be yellow smoke and also to shift base of fire one thing more stay on top of your men don't let them get away from you and don't you get too far away from me all right let's go [Music] the purpose of any attack is to close with and destroy or capture the enemy this is accomplished by fire and maneuver and shock action the squad may be assigned as a base of fire to engage the enemy or as a maneuver element to reach the best position from which to us all if the maneuvering squad meets opposition that impedes their progress squad members continue to advance by fire and movement until they reach the best area of cover and concealment at times fire superiority may be achieved with the squads own weapons the fire team leaders primary job is to supervise his men he engages in the fire fight only when necessary to ensure success alpha section 6 this is alpha one action over 6 1 fire concentration on target alpha Mike 1 0 1 over additional firepower may be available from supporting arm the maneuver element advancing under cover of a base of fire to the final coordination line uses all available cover and concealment rushing and if necessary creeping or calling the advance to the final coordination line continues supervision and control of the squad is maintained at all times through the established chain of command the squad leader places himself where he can best control the squad he picks a position from which he can influence the action and ensure a continued advance [Applause] the culmination of the attack is when the objective is assaulted and seized the enemy killed captured or forced to retreat if the enemy retreats he is aggressively pursued by fire [Music] once the objective has been taken and pursuit by fire has been accomplished the squad is reorganized and the objective consolidated defensive positions must be established at this time in establishing the squad's defense the squad leader distributes his fire teams to cover their front and flank selects the best possible fields of fire the signs fireteam sectors and determines signals for fire hold up here for the night Ross with all three teams up on line your team is on the right I want your AR lady in on that tree line about 200 meters out there all right sergeant the enemy's withdrawn they broke off contact here [Music] Turner your team is to roscas left extending over to there have your AR firing down a center of that draw [Music] short and what's your AR like so all right sorry the automatic rifles are the mainstays of the squad in defense they are assigned principal directions of fire these PDFs are an integral part of the squad fire plan the squad leader briefs his men on their mission he establishes sentinels and security procedures makes clear his own and the platoon leaders exact positions in the area and gives any further orders or information necessary the mission of the defense is to delay and disorganize the enemy forward of the battle area to stop him by post combat at the forward edge of the battle area and if he enters the battle area to eject him by counter-attack during any phase of any operation elements of the squad may go out on a reconnaissance or combat Patrol [Music] good discipline and the observance of established procedures will lead to the success of the patrols mission and a safe return to friendly lines [Music] sergeant we didn't see or hear a thing out there all right report back to your position Ross I'll tell a lieutenant you make sure the men are ready to go in the morning check rations double-check animal and make sure their weapons are clean I'll be back in half an hour the effectiveness of the squad depends on the efficiency of its individual members and on the care and condition of their weapons and equipment each man must be properly supplied equipped and led to make the offensive a success and lead to victory [Music] reporting to his platoon commander on his squads patrol operation and for further orders the squad leader will be certain his men are prepared to carry out the orders given lieutenant my Patrol just got back in they didn't hear or see a thing out there I'm not surprised there was no enemy activity anywhere in our company area but one recon unit did report heavy enemy activity here about three miles to the southeast our company will be lifted into this area at first light that's the word down there the fireteam leader is up that's the word fireteam leaders up [Music] okay listen up give it to up tomorrow morning at 0 5:30 we'll land in landings on Hawk going in with the first wave of choppers that means we're gonna have to clear the LZ our mission is secure this low Hill just north of the LZ check your troops and equipment I'll inspect in 20 minutes and so the squad prepares to move out again its mission as always to destroy or capture the enemy or force him to retreat [Music] the squad remains the basic element in every Marine Corps operation properly equipped and armed properly trained and led each Marine is certain of his weapons and of his duties in the squad [Music] it is only through constant offensive operation that a clear-cut victory can be obtained in achieving victory the effectiveness of the squad and its individual members is the decisive factor once on the ground the Marines in this squad will secure the landing zone and move out with their position for their company's attack [Music]