Education requirements to become an infantry squad leader

1-45. This section describes the duties and responsibilities of personnel and habitual attachments in the Infantry rifle platoon and squad.

Note. The duties and responsibilities of leadership and platoon members must be executed even in the absence of a particular leader to ensure mission accomplishment in accordance with the commander’s intent.

PLATOON LEADER

• Leads the platoon in supporting the higher headquarters missions. He bases his actions on his assigned mission and intent and concept of his higher commanders.
• Conducts troop leading procedures.
• Maneuvers squads and fighting elements.
• Synchronizes the efforts of squads.
• Looks ahead to the next “move” of the platoon.
• Requests and controls supporting assets.
• Employs mission command systems available to the squads and platoon.
• Checks with squad leaders ensuring 360-degree, three-dimensional security is maintained.
• Checks with weapons squad leader controlling the emplacement of key weapon systems.
• Issues accurate and timely reports.
• Places himself where he is most needed to accomplish the mission.
• Assigns clear tasks and purposes to the squads.
• Understands the mission and commander’s intent two levels up (company and battalion).
• Receives on-hand status reports from the platoon sergeant and squad leaders during planning.
• Coordinates and assists in the development of the obstacle plan.
• Oversees and is responsible for property management.

1-47. The platoon leader works to develop and maintain situational understanding. This is a product of four elements. First, the platoon leader attempts to know what is happening in present terms of friendly, enemy, neutral, and terrain situations. Second, he knows the end state representing mission accomplishment. Third, he determines the critical actions and events occurring to move his unit from the present to the end state. Finally, he assesses the risk throughout.

PLATOON SERGEANT

• Ensures the platoon is prepared to accomplish its mission, which includes supervising precombat checks and inspections.
• Updates platoon leader on appropriate reports and forwards reports needed by higher headquarters.
• Prepares to assume the role and responsibilities of the platoon leader.
• Takes charge of task-organized elements in the platoon during tactical operations, which may include but is not limited to, quartering parties, support elements in raids or attacks, and security patrols.
• Monitors the morale, discipline, and health of the platoon.
• Positions where best needed to help the engagement (either in the base of fire or with the assault element).
• Receives squad leaders’ administrative, logistical, and maintenance reports, and requests rations, water, fuel, and ammunition.
• Requests logistical support from the higher headquarters, and usually coordinates with the company’s first sergeant or executive officer.
• Ensures Soldiers maintain all equipment.
• Ensures ammunition and supplies are properly and evenly distributed after the platoon consolidates on the objective and while the platoon reorganizes.
• Manages the unit’s combat load prior to operations, and monitors logistical status during operations.
• Establishes and operates the unit’s casualty collection point (CCP). This includes directing the platoon medic and aid/litter teams in moving casualties, maintains platoon strength level information, consolidates and forwards the platoon’s casualty reports, and receives and orients replacements.
• Employs the available digital mission command systems to the squads and platoon.
• Ensures Soldiers distribute supplies according to the platoon leader’s guidance and direction.
• Accounts for Soldiers, equipment, and supplies.
• Coaches, counsels, and mentors Soldiers.
• Upholds standards and platoon discipline.
• Understands the mission and commander’s intent two levels up (company and battalion).

WEAPONS SQUAD LEADER

1-49. The weapons squad leader leads his teams by personal example. He has complete authority over his subordinates and overall responsibility for those subordinates’ actions. This centralized authority enables him to act decisively while maintaining troop discipline and unity. Under the fluid conditions of modern warfare, he accomplishes assigned missions using disciplined initiative without needing constant guidance from higher headquarters.

• Controls fires and establishes fire control measures.
• Recommends medium machine gun employment to the platoon leader.
• Coordinates directly with the platoon leader for medium machine gun base-of-fire effect, and plans accordingly.
• Monitors ammunition expenditure.
• Coordinates directly with the platoon leader in placement of the Javelin-CCMS to best cover armored avenues of approach in the defense and overwatch positions in the attack.
• Employs mission command systems available to the squad and platoon.
• Performs the role of the platoon sergeant as required.
• Conducts troop leading procedures.
• Understands the mission two levels up (platoon and company).

SQUAD LEADER

1-51. The squad leader directs team leaders and leads by personal example. He has authority over his subordinates and overall responsibility of those subordinates’ actions. Centralized authority enables him to act decisively while maintaining troop discipline and unity. Under the fluid conditions of close combat, the SL accomplishes assigned missions without constant guidance from higher headquarters.

• Is the subject matter expert on all battle and individual drills?
• Is the subject matter expert for the squad’s organic weapons employment, and employment of supporting assets?
• Knows weapon effects, surface danger zones, and risk estimate distances for all munitions.
• Uses control measures for direct fire, indirect fire, and tactical movement effectively.
• Controls the movement of the squad and its rate and distribution of fire (including call for and adjust fire).
• Fights the close fight by fire and movement with two fire teams and available supporting weapons.
• Selects the fire team’s general location and temporary sector of fires in the defense.
• Communicates timely and accurate situation reports (SITREPs) and status reports, including —
  • Size, activity, location, unit, time, and equipment (SALUTE) spot reports (SPOTREPs).
  • Status to the platoon leader (including squad location and progress, enemy situation, enemy killed in action [KIA], and security posture).
  • Status of ammunition, casualties, and equipment to the platoon sergeant.

  TEAM LEADER

  1-53. The team leader leads his team members by personal example and has authority over his subordinates and overall responsibility of their actions. Centralized authority enables him to maintain troop discipline and unity and to act decisively. Under the fluid conditions of close combat, he accomplishes assigned missions using initiative without needing constant guidance from higher headquarters.

  • Is the subject matter expert for all the team’s weapons and duty positions and all squad battle drills
  • Leads his team in fire and movement.
  • Controls the movement of his team and its rate and distribution of fire.
  • Employs digital mission command systems available to the squad and platoon.
  • Ensures security of the team’s area of operations.
  • Assists the squad leader as required.
  • Is prepared to assume the duties of squad leader and platoon sergeant.
  • Enforces field discipline and preventive medicine measures.
  • Determines his team’s combat load and manages its available classes of supply as required.
  • Understands the mission two levels up (squad and platoon).
  • Individual movement techniques. This is the lowest level of movement.
  • Buddy team fire and movement.
  • Fire team fire and movement (maneuver).

  1-56. Determining a suitable technique is based on the effectiveness of the enemy’s fire and available cover and concealment. The more effective the enemy’s fire, the lower the level of movement. Because the team leader leads his team, he is able to make this assessment firsthand. Other leaders must be sensitive to his decision on movement.

  GRENADIER

  • Accomplishes all tasks of the rifleman.
  • Engages targets with appropriate type of rounds both day and night.
  • Identifies 40-mm rounds by shape and color. He must know how to employ each type of round and know its minimum safety constraints.
  • Knows the maximum ranges for each type of target of the grenade launcher.
  • Knows the leaf sight increments without seeing the markings.
  • Knows how to make an adjustment from the first round fired so a second-round hit can be attained.
  • Loads the grenade launcher quickly in all firing positions and while running.
  • Is prepared to assume the duties of the automatic weapons gunner and team leader.
  • Understands the mission two levels up (squad and platoon).

  AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN

  • Be able to accomplish all tasks of the rifleman and grenadier.
  • Be prepared to assume the duties of team leader and squad leader.
  • Be able to engage groups of enemy personnel, thin-skinned vehicles, bunker doors or apertures, and suspected enemy locations with automatic fire.
  • Be able to provide suppressive fire on these targets so his teammates can close with and destroy the enemy.
  • Be familiar with field expedient firing aids to enhance the effectiveness of his weapon: an example isaiming stakes.
  • Be able to engage targets from the prone, kneeling, and standing positions with and without night observation devices, and understands the mission two levels up (squad and platoon).

  RIFLEMAN

  • Be an expert on his weapon system, his rifle, its optics, and its laser-aiming device, and is effective with this weapon system day or night.
  • Be capable of engaging all targets with well-aimed shots.
  • Employ all weapons of the squad, as well as common munitions.
  • Construct and occupy a hasty firing position and know how to fire from it. He must know how to occupy covered and concealed positions in all environments and what protection they provide from direct fire weapons, and is competent in the performance of these tasks while using night vision devices.
  • Fight as part of his unit, which includes proficiency in his individual tasks and drills.
  • Know the duties of his teammates and is prepared to fill in with their weapons, if needed.
  • Contribute as a member of special teams, including enemy detainee search, aid/litter, demolitions and. wire/mine breach teams.
  • Inform his team leader of everything he hears and sees when in a tactical situation.
  • Perform individual preventive medical measures.
  • Administer buddy aid as required.
  • Manage his food, water, and ammunition during operations.
  • Be prepared to assume the duties of the automatic rifleman and team leader.
  • Understand the mission two levels up (squad and platoon).

  PLATOON RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR

  • Has communications at all times. If communication with the platoon’s next higher element is lost, the radiotelephone operator immediately informs the platoon leader or platoon sergeant and reestablishes communication.
  • Conducts radio checks with higher according to unit standard operating procedures when in a static position. If radio contact cannot be made as required, he informs the platoon sergeant or platoon leader.
  • Is an expert in radio procedures, report formats such as close combat attack, (see figure 1-5), call for indirect fire (see figure 1-6) or medical evacuation, (see table 7-1a) plus is an expert on types of field expedient antennas.
  • Has the frequencies and call signs on his person in a location known to all Soldiers in the platoon.
  • Assists the platoon leader with information management.
  • Assists the platoon leader and platoon sergeant employing digital mission command systems with the squads and platoon.
  • Determines his combat load prior to operations and manages battery utilization during operations.

  

  Figure 1-5. Attack aviation call for fire brief format

  SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN

  1-61. The squad-designated marksman employs an optically enhanced general-purpose weapon. He also receives training available within the unit’s resources to improve the squad’s precision engagement capabilities at short and medium ranges.

  1-62. A rifleman may be assigned as the squad-designated marksman. He is chosen for his demonstrated shooting ability, maturity, reliability, good judgment, and experience. He must be able to execute the entire range of individual and collective rifleman tasks within the squad. (Refer to FM 3-22.9 for more information.)

  1-63. The squad designated marksman is not the squad sniper, he is a fully integrated member of the rifle squad and provides an improved capability for the rifle squad. He does not operate a semi-autonomous element on the battlefield as a sniper, nor does he routinely engage targets at the extreme ranges common to snipers.

  MACHINE GUNNER

  • Is responsible for his assistant gunner and all the gun equipment.
  • Is responsible for putting the gun in and out of action.
  • Is the subject matter expert for information contained in (FM 3-22.68).
  • When attached to a rifle squad, is the subject matter expert for employment of the medium machine gun, and advises the rifle squad leader of the best way to employ the medium machine gun.
  • Enforces field discipline while the gun team is employed tactically.
  • Knows the ballistic effects of the weapon on all types of targets.
  • Assists the weapons squad leader and is prepared to assume his responsibilities.
  • Understands the mission two levels up (squad and platoon).

  ASSISTANT MACHINE GUNNER

  • Provides a supply of ammunition to the gun when employed.
  • Spots rounds and reports recommended corrections to the gunner.
  • Constantly updates the weapons squad leader on the round count and serviceability of the medium machine gun.
  • Watches for Soldiers to the flanks of the target area or between the gun and target.
  • Obtains ammunition from other Soldiers who are carrying 7.62-mm machine gun ammunition.
  • Immediately assumes the role of gunner if the gunner is unable to continue his duties.
  • Understands the mission two levels up (squad and platoon).

  COMBAT LIFESAVER

  1-66. The combat lifesaver (CLS) is a nonmedical Soldier trained to provide enhanced first aid/lifesaving procedures beyond the level of self-aid or buddy aid. The CLS is not intended to take the place of medical personnel. Using specialized training, the CLS can slow deterioration of a wounded Soldier's condition until treatment by medical personnel is possible. Each certified CLS is issued a CLS aid bag. Whenever possible, the platoon leader ensures each fire team includes at least one CLS.

  • Ensures that the squad CLSs bag and litters are properly packed and stored.
  • Identifies Class VIII shortages to the platoon medic.
  • Provides enhanced first aid for injuries and participates in all litter-carry drills..
  • Uses enhanced first-aid skills in the field until casualties can be evacuated.
  • Knows the location of the casualty collection point and the tactical standard operating procedure (TACSOP) for establishing it.