Posted on Oct 27, 2019
Does the Army infantry squad need to be reorganized?
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Does anyone else here feel that the current 9 man squad feel inadequate for squad level missions and objectives? Or that current technology and training should allow a change in organization?
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 20
I've been out of the infantry for 2 years now but size wise no. A 9 man squad is sufficient. If anything, I think more units should focus on small unit training/ SGT's time training. I received a vast amount of training and knowledge from SGT's training. And that's when I was in a 11B capacity. I was a Chuck and did 11B work from time to time including my second deployment. Technology is ever evolving, and I believe with our Army's vision for future conflicts will bring about better technology and tactics for the infantry.
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I remember back in the day when I was in we had 11 man rifle squads, 1 SL 2 TLs, 2 grenadiers, 2 Autorifles and 4 riflemen. Weapons Squad had 1 SL and 3 MG teams of 3 men each. PLT HQ was 1 PL, 1 PSG, 1 RTO and attached medic. Never really had that many due to casualties, details such as KP, R&R, etc. Often no PSG, not a current rank, with a SSG or SGT acting as such, same same for the LT.
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SSG Harry Outcalt
SPC Angela Burnham - Depends on which model the Calvary or Mechanized infantry. The Calvary version holds less personnel..
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SSG Harry Outcalt - Yes, I'm aware of the 11 Man Squad, all my Infantry time was in Light Units. Marines have a 15 man squad, I personally don't see a huge advantage to it. The 11 man squad gave you enough firepower to provide an overwatch if you were bounding at Squad Level. I've read some of the stuff on re-organization, trying to re-invent the wheel. Just go back to the 11 man squad, find a real automatic weapon for squad level, and let the Platoon Leader maneuver them.
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SSG Harry Outcalt
CPT Lawrence Cable can not maintain the 3 to 1 doctrine superiority at squad level without additional manpower or squad weapons
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SSG Harry Outcalt
CPT Lawrence Cable i personally welcome the ability to fire and maneuver and more importantly fight like a platoon at the squad level, that ability would change warfare at the squad level as we know it...
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I believe they are going to change the organization of an Infantry Bn and BDE based on former SecDef Mattis desire to make Infantry squads more lethal. That is if they are still following his mandates. One item I read in another RP article is reintroduction of the Stinger ADA in each Mech Infantry formation at least at the BN level, possibly further down. I personally feel as former Cold War era Infantryman you guys need more conventional warfare training. The insurgency training you got as part of GWOT was probably good but it should no longer dominate now that those wars are ending. There should be more of a balance now as there was prior to GWOT.
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1SG Ernest Stull
The nine man infantry squad was designed for the BFV. When I first came into the ARMY in 73 the squad was ten men. however the tenth man was a rare item to see, By the 1980 the squad went to a 9 men. As for having more I prefer Less because the Platoon should provide you with additional fire power when the mission requires it.
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Suspended Profile
Mattis probably wanted it more like a Marine Rifle Sqd which is 13
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