FORCE STRUCTURE: Rifle Company Reorganization

 

June 2008 - Current Issue

The Marine Rifle Company - Structure the company for the current fight.
by Ryan J. Erisman

...I grew up in the Marine Corps with the rule of threes - three fire teams to a squad, three squads to a platoon, three line platoons to a company, and so forth. When I was a second lieutenant, my company commander told us to "stick to the rule of threes" because he wanted platoon commanders and squad leaders trained to employ three maneuver elements - the classic assault-support-security structure....

 

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Originally published July 2007

Rethinking the 'Rifle' Company - Completing the reorganization
by Capt Phillip K.S. Sprincin

Many military forces have developed or modified unique T/Os in combat, and there is nothing stopping a company commander from modifying this proposed organization and optimizing it for counterinsurgency.

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Originally published April 2007

Rethinking the 'Rifle' Platoon - Reorganize the platoon around crew-served weapons
by Capt Phillip K.S. Sprincin

The Marine Corps was a pioneer in this area when it reorganized the infantry squad into fire teams built around an automatic weapon-the Browning automatic rifle. However, today CSWs do not penetrate in a meaningful way below the company level, potentially leaving Marine units dangerously short of firepower in a future high-intensity conflict.

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Originally published February 2006

Reorganization of Marine Infantry
by Maj Adam T. Strickland

As the Marine Corps prepares to face an array of potential adversaries in the global war on terrorism, the Corps must be also mentally and physically prepared and flexible as an institution to accept changes to core structures and doctrine in order to ensure the highest state of utility and lethality.

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Originally published July 1984

Rethinking the Rifle Squad
by Capt T X Hammes

During the last two years, the Marine Corps has been in the process of reorganizng the infantry batallion. Never an easy task, this reorganization is particularly difficult because it changes the very heart of our Corps - the rifle squad.

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Originally published July 1971

The FMF: An alternative future and how to get there
by BGen F. P. Henderson, USMC (Ret)

A special report on an advanced technology "search and attack" combat system concept now being studied by the Marine Corps; including an exposition of those considerations which should govern the development of future Fleet Marine Force units.

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Originally published April 1951

The Rifle Platoon Commander
by 1stLt Paul D. LaFond

The new platoon leader has to earn the respect of his men. He must apply the principles of the classroom to situations as they occur. Here are some pointers that an officer who has traversed this stage of military life passes on to the neophyte second lieutenant.

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Originally published January 1951

The New Weapons Company in Korea
by Capt James F. McInteer, Jr

Prior to the entry of the company into combat there was still some question as to whether or not the weapons company commander should "wear a second hat" and be given the additional responsibility of acting as battalion supporting arms coordinator. Once the battalion was ashore, however, all doubt seemed to disappear.

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