04-12-2014, 05:20 PM
I think, maybe, some of the confusion is the differences between USA TO/TE vs USMC TO/TE. LRRPF52 posted a great pic of USA Squads, normally 9 man. USMC squads are 13 man - add a Fire Team of 4. USA platoons have a weapons squad, while USMC keeps medium weapons in the Weapons Platoon. USMC units also fight as Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTF). For complete explanation, check out
http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Public...Forces.pdf
As to size of patrolling units, a commander will base min size unit on METT-TSL. In some situations, I would conduct patrols as small as a team, in other situations it would be a platoon.
http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Public...Forces.pdf
As to size of patrolling units, a commander will base min size unit on METT-TSL. In some situations, I would conduct patrols as small as a team, in other situations it would be a platoon.