Quote Originally Posted by William F. Owen View Post
The 30 man platoons also need far fewer NCOs!
specifically costs and a flattened structure. It does however remove an intermediate leader training structure of some relevance and value. Thus it would seem to me to be an option to be weighed dependent upon ones total force design and doctrine. Degree of professionalism would also be an issue. High turnover forces (the pre 2001 US army; post 2010 TBD ) would benefit from a Squad Leader, services having long term Privates (i.e. no 'up or out') would be okay without them.

As an aside, the US number of combat loaded jumpers for a C-47 was 22 with a door bundle or two, 24 without -- but it was crowded. A comfortable load would've been 16 but IIRC (always a danger with us ORF curmudgeons...), the RLI used 32 for the Fire Force; three x 4 for the three Alouettes, five x 4 for the C-47. Each stick had a leader, the senior being the Platoon Ldr or acting PL if the PL decided to remain aloft; next being his 2ic, location dependent upon the METT-TC and overall command being frequently being in a fourth helicopter which could and did play gunship. Sometimes the command was on the ground, sometimes in the bird. They were flexible and didn't mind risks -- which is why they were much better than most.

And they still lost...