The U.S. Marine Corps is planning to shake up the Rifle Squad. The present Rifle Squad is comprised of three four-man Fire Teams and the Squad leader but with a newly revamped Rifle Squad, it will be three three-man Fire Teams, the Squad Leader, Assistant Squad Leader and the Squad Systems Operator. That also means that the new Rifle Squad will have 12 members instead of the current 13.

In a Marine Corps Times report, Commandant Robert B. Neller announced the new configuration at the Marine Corps Association and Foundation Annual Ground Awards Dinner. According to Neller, the Squad Systems Operator is the most tech-capable Marine in the squad and will come from the infantry ranks.

With the increasing number of the technologies being used in squads, the Squad Systems Operator will perform tasks that will insure that these work and integrated in the squad. This will include small unit UAVswhich can be used in aerial or building reconnaissanc in bulit up areas.

Photo: A Marine Squad at Exercise Chosin (Photo By: Lance Cpl. Levi Schult)

The members of the Rifle Squad will all be equipped with the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR), including the Systems Operator. Originally, the Systems Operator was proposed to handle an M4 rifle, but was dropped as he/she might be identified quickly.

The squads will also be equipped with tablets so they can communicate can and coordinate effectively in the field. Furthermore, they will also be issued suppressors as lessening the noise can help them communicate more clearly during a firefight. A designated marksman will be carrying the M38, which is an M27 with a Leupold TS-30A2 Mark 4 MR/T scope that has a variable magnification from 2.5x to 8x. Also, instead of the M203 rifle grenade launcher, they will be equipped with the M320 Grenade Launcher Module.

Neller said that these changes will happen in the next months as well as changes that are being proposed at the company level.

Top photo: 1st Squad, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment (Photo by LCPL Stephen Kwietniak)