Infantry Rifle Squad: Size is Not the Only Problem

摘要

The concern over the infantry squad's effectiveness has focused on its size. Areview of the historical data suggests that the squad's organization is the critical facet in the effectiveness of an infantry squad. As a result, the author suggests the current squad can be made more effective if its organization is changed to reflect the lessons of three wars and decades of peacetime testing. Specifically, the squad should not be organized around fire teams, nor around more than one light machinegun and grenade launcher. Concurrently, the squad should be used as either a base of fire or maneuver element; the squad should not be expected to fire and maneuver simultaneously. Keywords: Infantry, Squad level organizations, Military tactics, Sizes(dimensions). (cp)