Archive – ATP/FM 3-21.8 (2016) – Chapter 1: Organization – Section 3: Role of the Mechanized Infantry Platoon & Squad

December 17, 2024

Organization

1-81. The mechanized Infantry platoon is equipped with four BFVs and is divided into two elements: mounted and dismounted. Figure 1-9 (page 1-30) depicts the BFV-equipped
mechanized Infantry platoon organization. The platoon can fight as two mutually supporting maneuver elements or as two distinct maneuver elements—one mounted and one dismounted. The platoon must prepare to fight in a variety of operational environments. Once the rifle squads have dismounted, the mounted element can provide a base of fire for the rifle squads as they close with and destroy the enemy.

Figure 1-9. Bradley platoon organization

Mounted Element

1-82. The mounted element comprises four BFVs that are organized into the following two sections:

The A section with the platoon leader as the section leader and the second BFV as his wingman.
The B section with the platoon sergeant as the section leader and the second BFV as his wingman.

Dismounted Element

1-83. Three, nine-man rifle squads make up the platoon’s dismounted element. The rifle squads are organized as follows:

The rifle squad has two, four-man fire teams and a squad leader.
Each fire team is comprised of a —
- Fire team leader.
- Squad automatic weapon (SAW) gunner.
- Grenadier.
- Rifleman.
One of the riflemen in the fire team is designated and trained as the antiarmor specialist and fires the Javelin close combat munitions.
The other rifleman in the squad is the squad’s designated marksman.

1-84. Based on the mission, the squad can carry the Javelin command launch unit and missiles as well as an M240B medium machine gun.

Responsibilities

1-85. The employment of the BFV by well-trained and proficient Soldiers enhances the platoon’s capabilities to conduct operations with greater lethality, survivability, mission command, and mobility.

Platoon Leader

1-86. The platoon leader leads his Soldiers by personal example and is responsible for all the platoon does or fails to do, having complete authority over his subordinates. This centralized authority enables him to maintain unit discipline, unity, and to act decisively. He must be prepared to exercise initiative within his company commander’s intent and without specific guidance for every situation. The platoon leader knows his Soldiers, how to employ the platoon, its weapons, and its systems. Relying on the expertise of the platoon sergeant, the platoon leader regularly consults with him on all platoon matters. During operations, the 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, controls, and synchronizes 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).
Normally dismounts when the situation causes the platoon to dismount.
Serves as Bradley commander when mounted.
Receives on-hand status reports from the platoon sergeant, section leaders, and squad leaders during planning.
Develops the fires with the platoon sergeant, section leaders, and squad leaders.
Coordinates and assists in the development of the obstacle plan.
Oversees and is responsible for property management.

1-87. 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

1-88. The platoon leader should consider the platoon sergeant a fighter by trade and place him in the tactical plan either dismounted or maneuvering the mounted element. The platoon sergeant is the senior NCO and most experienced Soldier in the platoon. He assists and advises the platoon leader. In the platoon leader’s absence, he leads the platoon. He supervises the platoon’s administration, logistics, and maintenance. He handles individual training management and the professional development of his Soldiers. He advises the platoon leader on appointments, promotions and reductions, assignments, and discipline of NCOs and enlisted Soldiers in the platoon. His tactical expertise in platoon operations includes maneuver of the platoon and employment of all weapons.

1-89. The platoon sergeant—

Controls the mounted element when the platoon leader dismounts; or, dismounts with, commands, and controls the platoon when necessary (METT-TC dependent).
Updates the platoon leader on appropriate reports, and forwards reports needed by higher headquarters.
Takes charge of task-organized elements in the platoon during tactical operations, which may include, but are not limited to, quartering parties, support elements in raids or attacks, and security patrols.
Serves as a Bradley commander when the platoon operates mounted.
Monitors the morale, discipline, and health of platoon members.
Ensures Soldiers maintain all equipment.
Coordinates and supervises company directed platoon resupply operations.
Collects, prepares, and forwards logistical status updates and requests to the company headquarters.
Ensures ammunition and supplies are properly and evenly distributed after the platoon consolidates on the objective and while the platoon reorganizes.
Directs the platoon’s casualty evacuation process during mounted or dismounted operations.
Maintains platoon strength information, consolidates and forwards the platoon’s casualty reports, and receives and orients replacements.
Receives section and squad leaders’ administrative, logistical, and maintenance reports and requests for rations, water, fuel, and ammunition.
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.

Platoon Master Gunner

1-90. The platoon master gunner serves as the technical expert on gunnery and turret weapon systems. He serves as section leader for Alpha section.

1-91. During combat or field exercises, the platoon master gunner—

Advises the platoon leader and platoon sergeant concerning BFV weapons effects, capabilities, and safety.
Advises the platoon leader about fire control measures and preparation.
Serves as the lead technical trainer for the mounted element under the routine supervision of the platoon sergeant.
Helps the platoon leader set up the gunnery task for training.
Performs services on the 25-mm Bushmaster chain gun.

Bradley Commander

1-92. The platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and the two section leaders serve as the Bradley commander for their BFVs. In the platoon leader’s absence, the gunner assumes the responsibilities of the Bradley commander.

1-93. The Bradley commander—

Acquires targets.
Commands the vehicle.
Controls vehicle fires.
Ensures the welfare of the crew.
Holds the vehicle’s position in platoon formations.
Issues fire commands.
Lays the gun for deflection.
Maintains the BFV hull and turret.
Maintains the BFV weapon systems.
Monitors the commander’s tactical display for vehicle position, digital overlays, and digital reports.
Navigates correctly, with or without precision navigation system.
Sends SITREPs as requested or when the vehicle makes contact.
Trains Soldiers to use weapons.

Section Leader

1-94. While mounted, the platoon leader and platoon sergeant are the section leaders. However, in the event that the platoon leader or platoon sergeant must dismount, the senior Bradley commander within each section becomes the section leader, assisting and advising the platoon leader in the employment of the mounted section. The section leader handles—

Tactically employing and maintaining the BFVs within the section and individual training of the section’s personnel.
Monitoring his vehicle and section position on the platoon formation, digital overlays, and digital reports.
Navigating correctly, with or without precision navigation system.
Sending SPOTREPs as requested or when the section makes contact.

Bradley Gunner

1-95. The gunner observes the battlefield to detect enemy targets. The gunner handles—

Operating the turret weapons as directed by the Bradley commander to engage and destroy targets.
Serving as Bradley commander when only two men remain in the BFV.
Bearing the responsibility for performing unit-level maintenance on the turret and its weapons systems.
Helping with navigation and with radio operation.

Bradley Driver

1-96. The driver operates the vehicle under the Bradley commander’s control. The driver—

Follows terrain-driving procedures and tries to select hull-down positions.
Helps detect targets and observe rounds fired.
Helps with navigation by monitoring odometer readings and observing terrain.
Bears the main responsibility for maintaining the vehicle’s automotive (hull) systems.

Squad Leader

1-97. The squad leader is the senior Infantry Soldier in the squad and is responsible for everything the squad does or fails to do. He is responsible for the care of the squad’s Soldiers, weapons, and equipment, and leads the squad through two team leaders. The senior dismounted squad leader is responsible for the employment of the dismount element until the platoon leader or platoon sergeant arrives. During operations, the squad leader—

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 weapons 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 SITREPs and status reports, including—
- SALUTE SPOTREPs.
- Status to the platoon leader (including squad location and progress, enemy situation, enemy KIA, and security posture).
- Status of ammunition, casualties, and equipment to the platoon sergeant.
Employs digital mission command systems available to the squad and platoon.
Operates in all environments to include the urban environment.
Conducts troop leading procedures.
Assumes duties as the platoon sergeant or platoon leader as required.
Understands the mission and commander’s intent two levels up (platoon and company).

Team Leader

1-98. 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.

1-99. The team leader’s position on the battlefield requires immediacy and accuracy in all of his actions and is a fighting leader who leads by example. He is responsible for all his team does or fails to do, and is responsible for caring of the team’s Soldiers, weapons, and equipment. During operations, the team leader—

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.
Team members provide local security as needed. They provide maintenance support for the BFV. Each team member is equally responsible for the welfare of the squad.
Understands the mission two levels up (squad and platoon).

1-100. When maneuvering the team, the team fights using one of three techniques. This includes—

Individual movement techniques. This is the lowest level of movement.
Buddy team fire and movement.
Fire team fire and movement (maneuver).
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. The team leader leads his team; therefore, he is able to make this assessment firsthand. Other leaders must be sensitive to his decision on movement.

Rifleman

1-101. Each rifle squad has two riflemen. Each rifleman is either designated as the antiarmor specialist or designated marksman.

Antiarmor Specialist

1-102. The designated antiarmor specialist has a Javelin AT missile system. This weapon system gives the squad, platoon, and company a lethal fire-and-forget, man-portable, top attack antiarmor capability. With it, they can defeat enemy main battle tanks up to 2000 meters during day, night, and in adverse weather conditions. If required, the squad antiarmor specialist destroys enemy armor threats that might impede the squad or platoon’s progress.

Designated Marksman

1-103. The designated marksman acts as a member of the squad under the direction of the squad leader or as designated by the platoon leader. Although normally functioning as a rifleman within one of the fire teams in a rifle squad, the designated marksman is armed with a modified rifle. He is employed at the direction of the fire team leader or squad leader. He is trained to eliminate high-payoff enemy personnel targets (such as enemy automatic rifle teams, AT teams, and snipers) with precision fires.

Grenadier

1-104. Each squad has two grenadiers with an M320/203 weapon system, which comprises a carbine with an attached 40-mm grenade launcher. The M320/203 can be used in two ways. It can be attached to the M16 assault rifle and the M4 carbine, attaching under the barrel forward of the magazine, or it can be used dismounted with a stock attached as a standalone model.

Automatic Rifleman

1-105. Each rifle squad has two automatic weapons. The automatic rifleman mainly uses the M249 SAW.

Combat Lifesaver

1-106. The 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.

1-107. The CLS—

Ensures that the squad CLS bag and litters are properly packed and stored.
Identifies Class VIII shortages to the platoon medic.
Participates in all casualty treatment and 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 TACSOP for establishing it.

Bradley Fighting Vehicle

1-108. The BFV enhances the platoon’s capabilities to conduct operations with greater lethality, survivability, sustainability, and mobility. The information systems enhance the crew’s communication during operations. Because the BFV platoon can transfer more information at every level, leaders and Soldiers must work together to manage the information. (Refer to TM 9-2350-252-10-1/2 for more information on capabilities and equipment.)

Weapon Systems

1-109. The BFV’s four weapon systems include the 25-mm automatic gun, the 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun, the tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile-launcher system, and two smoke-grenade launchers.

Lethality

1-110. The BFV features an improved Bradley acquisition system, which adds an improved target acquisition subsystem and missile control subsystem. The improvements include a second-generation, forward-looking infrared thermal sight; a target-designation function; dual-target tracking; an eye-safe laser range finder; an automatic gun-target adjustment; automatic optical alignment; and “hunter-killer” capability. Second-generation forward-looking infrared thermal sight allows the Bradley commander or gunner to identify and acquire targets beyond the range of the vehicle’s weapon systems. The improved Bradley acquisition system enables the user to acquire, recognize, identify, and automatically track two targets within the same field of view and selected magnification, day or night. The M2A3 BFV can use the 25-mm cannon or 7.62-mm machine gun to engage either of two targets appearing in the same field of view and any aspect, and the TOW while stationary.

Survivability

1-111. Equipment on the BFV that helps ensure survivability includes—

Roof fragmentation protection.
Mounting capability for reactive armor tiles.
Aluminum structure with steel appliqué spaced laminate, steel armor, or both.
Titanium roof armor.
10-Soldier gas particulate filter unit.
Halon fixed fire suppression systems in engine and personnel compartments.
Portable carbon dioxide fire extinguishers.
Bradley urban survivability kits.

Capabilities

1-112. In accomplishing its assigned missions, the platoon employs close combat forces and sustainment assets within its capabilities. The platoon’s effectiveness depends on the synergy of its subordinate elements, to include its BFVs and the rifle squads. To employ the platoon effectively, the platoon leader capitalizes on its strengths. The BFV-equipped mechanized Infantry platoon can—

Assault enemy positions.
Assault with small arms and indirect fires to deliver rifle squads to tactical positions of advantage.
Use 25-mm cannon and 7.62-mm machine gun fire to effectively suppress or destroy the enemy’s Infantry.
Block dismounted avenues of approach.
Seize and retain key and decisive terrain.
Clear danger areas and prepare positions for mounted elements.
Conduct mounted or dismounted patrols and operations in support of security operations.
Develop the situation through reconnaissance and close combat.
Establish strong points to deny the enemy important terrain or flank positions.
Infiltrate enemy positions.
Overwatch and secure tactical obstacles.
Repel enemy attacks through close combat.
Participate in air assault operations.
Destroy light armor vehicles using direct fire from the BFV.
Employ 25-mm cannon fire to fix, suppress, or disrupt the movement of fighting vehicles and antiarmor systems up to 2500 meters.
Use TOW fires to destroy tanks and fighting vehicles out to 3750 meters.
Use Javelin fires to destroy tanks and fighting vehicles out to 2000 meters.
Operate in a CBRN environment.
Conduct stability tasks.
Participate in Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations.

Limitations

1-113. The platoon leader must understand the limitations of the BFV-equipped mechanized Infantry platoon to effectively employ the platoon. These limitations include the following:

BFVs are vulnerable to enemy antiarmor fires, attack helicopters, mines, AT guided missiles, and close attack aircraft.
Rifle squads are vulnerable to small arms, improvised explosive device (IED), and indirect fires when not mounted.
The foot speed of the dismounted Soldiers may establish the pace of operations.
The BFV poses a variety of challenges in water-crossing operations. Between other things, the platoon could have difficulty finding adequate fording sites or a bridge with a sufficient weight classification.
Radio communications may be significantly degraded in built-up areas and other restricted terrain.
Noise generated by BFVs may prevent them from arriving in an area undetected.

Close Combat

1-114. BFV-equipped Infantry platoons and rifle squads normally operate as part of a larger force. They benefit from the support of armor, artillery, mortars, close air support, close combat attack, air defense, and engineers. They provide their own suppressive fires either to repel enemy assaults or to support their own maneuver. During close combat, platoon leaders determine how to employ the BFVs by considering the following objectives:

Support the rifle squads with direct fires.
Provide mobile protection to transport rifle squads to the critical point on the battlefield.
Suppress or destroy enemy vehicles and other lightly armored vehicles.
Destroy enemy armor with TOW fires.

1-115. Success in operations hinges on the actions of platoons, sections, and rifle squads in close combat. It depends on their ability to react to contact; employ suppressive fires; maneuver to an enemy’s vulnerable flank; and fight through to defeat, destroy, or capture an enemy. For success, the BFV-equipped Infantry platoon relies on the ability of leaders and Soldiers to—

Use the potential of both the rifle squads and the BFV.
Operate their weapons with accuracy and deadly effect.
Outthink, outmaneuver, and outfight the enemy.
Use terrain to their advantage.

Employment Considerations

1-116. Leaders must consider the following guidelines when employing mechanized Infantry during decisive operations:

Squads and platoons fight through enemy contact at the lowest possible level. Upon enemy contact, all Soldiers and leaders must act at once and follow up. Battle drills are standard procedures that help the platoon take immediate action.
Before they can maneuver, squads or platoons in contact must establish effective suppressive fires and gain fire superiority. If the platoon or squad cannot move under its own fires, the leader must request support from the commander. Once they gain fire superiority, they maneuver against an enemy position. The BFVs suppress the enemy, move to a dismount location (if caught in the open), and dismount the rifle squads. The BFVs quickly build a base of fire for the rifle squads to maneuver.