Implementation of the Hunter Killer Platoon: Utilizing the arms room concept; from weapons platoon to hunter killer platoon

摘要

The Marine Corps is at an inflection point in its history and the rifle company is poised to lead the way into the future with a tactically sound, historically grounded, and innovative task organization. The hunter killer platoon will provide the tactical lethality needed to confront a peer competitor or irregular force without presenting an easily exploitable vulnerability from either enemy. In 2006, the Israeli Defense Force discovered the vulnerability of its tanks against well laid, anti-armor, guided missile ambushes. Similarly, Iraqi and Syrian forces found their armored vehicles easily found and targeted by weaponized drones beginning in 2015. This is to say nothing of the United States' own experiences against landmines and improvised explosive devices over the last twenty years. The hunter killer platoon and the arms room concept will allow the rifle company of tomorrow to both exploit peer competitors' reliance on legacy systems while remaining light and mobile enough to deny the enemy a similar opportunity.In order to create such a structure, the Marine Corps will need to quickly invest in loitering munitions, the infrastructure to support such systems training, and the required personnel to train our Marines going through the Infantry Marine Course, IOC, and subsequent advanced infantry training courses. Most importantly the Marine Corps will need to invest in the additional 2,520 Marines to implement the hunter killer platoon in each of the 21 infantry battalions. The recommended proposal of the hunter killer platoon is not only in line with the CMC planning guidance; it is a force multiplier for our combat effectiveness and efficiency in support of Naval Concepts such as Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment and Expeditionary Advanced Based Operations. The hunter killer platoon offers a way to elevate the combined arms effects and lethality of the future infantry company through increased weapons proficiency as well as maneuver flexibility and capacity.