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Previous: 2-65: Primary Formations

2-68. The term fire team formation refers to the Soldiers’ relative positions within the fire team. Fire team formations include the fire team wedge and fire teams file. (See table 2-2.) Both formations have advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of which formation the team employs, each Soldier must know his location in the formation relative to the other fire team members and team leader. Each Soldier covers a set area of responsibility for observation and direct fire as the team is moving. To provide the unit with all-around protection, these areas interlock. Team leaders are constantly aware of their teams’ sectors of fire and correct them as required.

2-69. The team leader adjusts the team’s formation as necessary while the team is moving. The distance between Soldiers will be determined by the mission, the nature of the threat, the closeness of the terrain, and by the visibility. As a general rule, the unit should be dispersed up to the limit of control. This allows for a wide area to be covered, makes the team’s movement difficult to detect, and makes it less vulnerable to enemy ground and air attack. Fire teams rarely act independently. However, in the event they do, when halted, they use a perimeter defense to ensure all-around security.

Next: 2-70: Fire Team Wedge

Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad