COMBAT FORMATIONS

COMBAT FORMATIONS Mission Terrain Situation Weather Speed Degree of Flexibility

BASIC COMBAT FORMATIONS Unit Leader will determine the formation. Formations may change frequently. Do Not Mask the fire of the others. Visual Contact will be maintained. Change formations using shortest practical route.

MILITARY SYMBOLS READY TEAM FIRE ASSIST A

SQUAD LEADER SYMBOL

FIRE TEAM FORMATIONS COLUMN

FIRE TEAM WEDGE A

FIRE TEAM SKIRMISHERS LEFT

SKIRMISHERS Maintain a minimum of 10 meters dispersion. At night maintain visual contact Use this formation when the location and the strength of the enemy are know. Maximum fire power to the front.

FIRE TEAM ECHELON RIGHT

ECHELON Protect an open or exposed flank Heavy firepower to the front and echelon flank. All members will be in a forty–five degree angle to the rifleman Squad leader will position himself where he can best control his Marines Maintain visual contact with each other

SQUAD FORMATIONS Squad leader positions himself where he can best control the unit Fire team leaders may make subsequent changes to their fire teams’ formation Characteristics of squad formations are similar to those of fire team Fire team is maneuver element in squad formations

SQUAD COLUMN/ FIRETEAM COLUMN

SQUAD WEDGE/ FIRETEAM WEDGE

SQUAD LINE Location and strength of the enemy is known. Maximum firepower to the front. Formation is organized by teams. Maintain visual contact Squad Leader positions himself to control the squad. Formations of the fire team are determined by the squad leader

SQUAD ECHELON

SQUAD VEE

SUMMARY