The Roles and Weapons with the Squad

[William F. Owen]

I think you rest your platoon emphasis a lot and probably too much on thinking about platoon assaults. The advantageous differentiation between assault and suppressive fire elements in a platoon looks very much like an exception that's limited to assaults.

Absolutely not.

My thinking for platoons focusses on generating patrol multiples. That is relevant, regardless of the conflict, terrain, or threat. Supporting and sustaining dismounted operation, regardless of numbers or weapons types, is something that has to focus thinking on the platoon level.

The fixation on squad size has proven worthless. We need to move beyond it.