How is a Marine platoon organized?

The U.S. Marine Corps’ Rifle Platoon consists of a platoon headquarters and 3 rifle squads. Its basic subdivisions are the squad headquarters and 3 homogeneous fire teams. The squad headquarters consists of a squad leader (Sergeant), assistant squad leader (Corporal), and squad systems operator (Lance Corporal).

How are marine units organized?

The Marines are divided into four groups: the operating forces that do the actual fighting, the headquarters for leadership, the supporting establishment that provides logistical support, and the Marine Corps Reserve.

How are Marine platoons numbered?

RTBs are divided into companies, and each company is divided further into platoons. Each platoon has a four-digit number. Each company is identified by a letter in alphabetical order. The platoon is identified by a four-digit number, with the first number indicating which battalion they are from.

What does a Marine squad consist of?

The traditional Marine Corps squad consisted of a squad leader and three fireteams of four Marines. Fireteams consisted of a team leader, an automatic rifleman, an assistant automatic rifleman, and a rifleman. The latest squad eliminates the rifleman and assistant automatic rifleman positions.

What is a Marine platoon?

A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer. The platoon leader is usually a junior officer—a second or first lieutenant or an equivalent rank. The officer is usually assisted by a platoon sergeant. A unit consisting of several platoons is called a company or a battery.

How many corpsmen are in a Marine Corps platoon?

Depending on unit SOP or operating environment, there may be as many as three corpsman (one per squad) assigned to a platoon. A rifle company is led by a company commander, typically a captain, and consists of three rifle platoons, a weapons platoon, and a company headquarters.

How many squads are in a platoon?

four squads
A platoon is four squads: generally three rifle squads and one weapons squad, normally armed with machine guns and anti-tank weapons. Lieutenants lead most platoons, and the second-in-command is generally a sergeant first class. Company. Company-sized units, 130 to 150 soldiers, are normally commanded by captains.

What is honor platoon in Marine boot camp?

Honor platoons gain the title by winning various competitions between the platoons in a single company. The platoons are graded as a whole on six different events, including Initial drill, Final drill, a written test in Marine Corps knowledge, rifle range scores and the physical and combat fitness tests.

How many elements are in a platoon?

Three or four squads make up a platoon, which has 20 to 50 soldiers and is commanded by a lieutenant. Two or more platoons make up a company, which has 100 to 250 soldiers and is commanded by a captain or a major.

How many Marines are in a platoon in boot camp?

The STC is divided into three platoons. While platoons in normal U.S. military parlance denote a group of around 15-20 personnel, each STC platoon is as large as necessity dictates and may often contain 500 or more recruits along with their assigned drill instructors and other personnel.

How many sections does a platoon have?

Platoon. A platoon is a part of an infantry company and is further divided into three or four sections.

How many Marines are in a rifle platoon in the military?

A rifle platoon commanded by a platoon commander and assisted by the platoon Sgt, generally has about 43–50 Marines, 3 Squads of around 13 Marines. Each squad typically has 3 fireteams with 4 Marines each.

How many corpsmen are typically attached to a platoon in combat?

Additionally, 1-3 Corpsmen are typically attached to the platoon in combat operations. Corpsmen are Navy personnel that fill the role of combat medics when attached to Marine units.

Is there a platoon headquarters in the Marine Corps?

However, there is a platoon headquarters section according to MCRP 5-12D, Organization of Marine Corps Forces. It contains the officer, platoon commander, the platoon sergeant (a Staff Sergeant), a radio operator, and a platoon guide.

How many fire teams does a marine squad leader have to command?

With the rifle squad’s 3 fire teams and the frequent attachment of M240 machine gun teams teams, Marine squads leaders can often be in the position of having to command 5 subunits (3 fire teams and 2 attachments). For comparison, the U.S. Army squad leader typically only commands 2 fire team leaders before the addition of any M240 or Javelin teams.