1-1. The Infantry rifle platoon and squad as part of the Infantry rifle company within the Infantry battalion is organized to conduct combined arms—the synchronized and simultaneous application of arms to achieve an effect greater than if each element was used separately or sequentially (ADP 3-0)—operations. An operation is a sequence of tactical actions with a common purpose or unifying theme (JP 1, Vol 1). The Infantry rifle platoon and squad can deploy rapidly and execute missions throughout the range of military operations. The rifle platoon and squad conduct effective combat or other operations immediately upon arrival in an operational area. This section addresses the mission, capabilities, and limitations, and the internal organization of the Infantry rifle platoon and squad.
Note. ATP 3-21.8 does not address defense support of civil authorities. (See ADP 3-28 and ATP 3-28.1 for information.) It does not address stability operations tasks. (See ATP 3-21.10 and ATP 3-21.20 for information.)
Mission, Capabilities, And Limitations
1-2. The mission of the Infantry rifle platoon is to close with the enemy using fire and movement to destroy or capture enemy forces, or to repel enemy attacks by fire, close combat, and counterattack to control land areas, including populations and resources. The Infantry rifle platoon leader exercises command and control and directs the operation of the platoon and attached units while conducting combined arms warfare throughout the depth of the platoon’s area of operations (AO). Platoon missions, although not inclusive, may include reducing fortified areas, infiltrating and seizing objectives in the enemy’s rear, eliminating enemy force remnants in restricted terrain, securing key facilities and activities, and conducting operations in support of stability operations tasks in the wake of maneuvering forces. Reconnaissance and surveillance operations and security operations remain a core competency of the Infantry rifle platoon and squad.
1-3. The following lists capabilities of the Infantry rifle platoon and squad:
- Offensive and defensive operations in all types of environments, day and night.
- Seize, secure, occupy, and retain terrain.
- Destroy, neutralize, suppress, interdict, disrupt, block, canalize, and fix enemy forces.
- Breach enemy obstacles.
- Feint and demonstrate to deceive the enemy.
- Screen and guard friendly units.
- Reconnoiter, deny, bypass, clear, contain, and isolate. These tasks might be oriented on terrain and enemy.
- Small-unit operations.
- Air assault operations.
- Airborne operations (airborne units only).
- Operate with mounted forces.
- Operate with special operations forces.
- Amphibious operations.
1-4. The Infantry rifle platoon and squad has the following limitations:
- Limited vehicle mobility, the foot speed of organic elements may establish the pace of operations.
- Vulnerable to enemy armor, artillery, and air assets when employed in open terrain.
- Vulnerable to enemy chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) attacks with limited decontamination capability.
Organization of The Infantry Rifle Platoon
1-5. The Infantry rifle platoon and its squads (see figure 1-1) can be task organized alone or as a combined arms force based upon the mission variables of METT-TC (I) mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, civil considerations, and informational considerations. The platoon’s effectiveness increases through the synergy of combined arms including tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and Stryker Infantry carrier vehicles, engineers, and other support elements. The Infantry rifle platoon and squad as a combined arms force can capitalize on the strengths of the team’s elements while minimizing their limitations.
Figure 1-1. Infantry rifle platoon
1-6. Infantry units can operate in all terrain and weather conditions. They might be the dominant force because of rapid strategic deployment. In such cases, they can take and gain the initiative early, seize and retain or control terrain, and mass fires to stop the enemy. Infantry units are particularly effective in urban terrain, where they can infiltrate and move rapidly to the rear of enemy positions. The leader can enhance their mobility by using rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft.
1-7. The fundamental considerations for employing Infantry units result from the missions, types, equipment, capabilities, limitations, and organization of units. Other capabilities result from a unit’s training program, leadership, discipline, morale, personnel strengths, and many other factors. These other capabilities constantly change based on the current situation.
Infantry Rifle Squad
1-8. The Infantry rifle squad’s primary role is as a maneuver or base-of-fire element. While the platoon’s task organization may change, the Infantry rifle squad’s organization generally remains standard. (See figure 1-2 on page 1-4.)
1-9. The squad is comprised of two fire teams and a squad leader. It can establish a base of fire, providing security for another element, or conducting fire and movement with one team providing a base of fire, while the other team moves to the next position of advantage or onto an objective. The squad leader has two subordinate leaders to lead the two teams, freeing the squad leader to control the entire squad.
1-10. Fire teams are the fighting element within the Infantry platoon. Infantry platoons and squads succeed or fail based on the actions of their fire teams.
1-11. Fire teams are designed as a self-contained team. The automatic rifleman provides an internal base of fire with the ability to deliver sustained suppressive small arms fire on area targets. The rifleman provides accurate, lethal direct fire for point targets. The rifleman may be issued a shoulder-launched munition (known as SLM). The grenadier provides high explosives (HEs) indirect fire for both point and area targets. A team leader leads the team by example.
Note. The combat load—the minimum mission-essential equipment and supplies as determined by the commander responsible for carrying out the mission, required for Soldiers to fight and survive immediate combat operations (FM 4-40)—for SLMs is two per rifle squad. Either two M72-series light antitank (AT) weapon, M136-series antitank (AT4), M141 bunker defeat munitions (known as BDMs), or a combination of types with each rifleman normally being issued one.
Figure 1-2. Infantry rifle squad
Infantry Weapons Squad
1-12. The Infantry weapons squad provides the primary base of fire for the platoon’s maneuver. It is comprised of two medium machine gun teams, two medium close combat missile system (known as CCMS) Javelin teams, and a weapons squad leader. (See figure 1-3.)
Figure 1-3. Infantry weapons squad
Medium Machine Gun Team
1-13. The two-Soldier medium machine gun team is comprised of a gunner and an assistant gunner. The weapons squad has two medium machine gun teams. These teams provide the platoon with medium-range area suppression at ranges up to 1,100 meters during day, night, and adverse weather conditions. (See appendix C for additional information.)
Close Combat Missile System-Javelin Team
1-14. The two-Soldier CCMS-Javelin team is comprised of a gunner and an ammunition handler. The weapons squad has two Javelin teams. This system provides the platoon with an extremely lethal fire-and-forget, man-portable, direct- and top-attack capability to defeat enemy armored vehicles and destroy fortified positions at ranges up to 2,000 meters. The Javelin has proven effective during day, night, and adverse weather conditions. When the Javelin is replaced with the M3 Multi-role, Antiarmor, Antipersonnel Weapon System (known as MAAWS) the team employs the M3 to destroy enemy personnel, field fortifications, and enemy vehicles. It engages lightly armored targets at ranges up to 700 meters, and soft-skinned vehicles and similar targets at ranges up to 1,300 meters. (See appendix D for additional information.)
Infantry Rifle Formations
1-15. Infantry rifle formations (specifically the rifle platoon and squad, and rifle company) of the Infantry battalion (of the Infantry brigade combat team [IBCT]) are task-organized alone or as a combined arms force based upon the mission variables of METT-TC (I). Their effectiveness increases through the synergy of combined arms including assault platoon vehicles of the Infantry weapons company, tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and Stryker Infantry carrier vehicles, engineers, and other enabling elements. Effective application of the Infantry rifle formations as a combined arms force can capitalize on the strengths of the team’s elements while minimizing their respective limitations. For example, the Infantry rifle company (see ATP 3-21.10) of the Infantry battalion has a headquarters section, three rifle platoons, a mortar section, and an unmanned aircraft system team. Habitual attachments to the Infantry rifle company include a fire support team (FIST) and combat medics. Attachments from the Infantry battalion may include elements from the Infantry weapons company (specifically, the tube launched, optically tracked, wire guided missiles) as well as other elements (see ATP 3-21.20 appendix D). Figure 1-4 shows the internal organization of the Infantry rifle company within the Infantry battalion.
Figure 1-4. Infantry rifle formations of the Infantry battalion
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