Evolution of the Modern USMC Squad (Cold War to Future)

[@songbird0152]

Not sure if you are aware, but your videos on the composition of the Marine Corps Rifle Squad are actually integrated into official Marine Corps training. The online assignments for Corporal's Course ( a three week class to train and prepare NCO's for small unit leadership) includes both videos. The student must then write an essay summarizing all the topics you have covered. Your content is so good, it is actually utilized by the DoD to train noncommissioned officers!

[@ZhukelDror]

Well then, is he being paid? Lol.

[@tengkualiff]

Thats good to hear. Though, hopefully they improve on their training method as to not rely too much external sources.

[@panimala]

Thanks for the source mate.

[@militustoica]

Pay the man

[@DTOStudios]

@@tengkualiff why not? If someone is already providing the material at cheaper cost. Easier to just use this, cheaper than producing their own, and it is as effective as what the DoD would use. Why would they need to produce their own material when that would actually cost money?

[@thesaplingturtle290]

As a Marine who served 2010-2014 i have to say well researched. There are tons of terribly researched videos about the military (especially the corps) on youtube and this exquisite.

[@arthas640]

Alot of the videos seem to be made by armchair generals/historians and mainly just use pop culture knowledge, or they're made by some guy who spent 2 years in the Nevada naval reserve 15 years ago and still thinks hes a real soldier

[@seanlambert-knight4735]

@@arthas640 nevada naval reserve lol

[@arthas640]

@@seanlambert-knight4735 its second only to the Kansas alpine division in terms of elitism

[@rc-pm1fe]

Marine here 2010-2014 29 palms 0351, my MOS will soon be no more.

[@christaylor6654]

Agreed, I am a marine fallujah veteran he is spot on

[@BMF6889]

I joined the Marine Corps in 1967 and was commissioned in 1968 with an 0302 MOS. Training at The Basic School (TBS) for officers, Quantico, VA was a little less than 6 months at the time, a significantly reduced training time due to the demands of Vietnam, but it was good training. During OCS and TBS we trained with the M-14. Our 782 gear was strictly WW II / Korean War vintage except for the plastic canteens. Also we did not train with camouflage uniforms. We were never introduced to the M-16. I arrived in Vietnam in Dec 1968 and assigned as a platoon commander in the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Echo Company. I was issued an M-16 which I had only seen in photos of Vietnam. It was embarrassing to have my Marines show me how to disassemble the M-16. As I recall (51 years ago) I was supposed to have 3 fire teams of 13, a platoon guide, a platoon sgt, a radio operator, a Corpsman, and me. That should be about 44 Marines. However, I never had more than 34 Marines in my platoon at any one time and that included an attached machine gun squad, and a 60 mm mortar squad that were also under strength. This required continuous task organization of available resources to carryout specific missions and I was creative in the weapons I had in the squads. The M-16 didn't have much penetrating power so one Marine in each squad carried an M-14, which was also used for rifle grenades or a squad level mortar since we only had on M-79 in the platoon. We were supposed to have more, but there wasn't the manpower because I needed riflemen more than grenadiers and each squad had an M-14 with rifle grenades. When I first arrived my radio operator "J J Jones" carried a PRC 25. It was not that reliable especially in bad weather. Later we were issued the PRC-77. It was heavier, encrypted, and required frequent changes of batteries which meant we had to carry more spare batteries. Because it was encrypted it had an encryption book for changing the encryption code every 24 hours. Loss of that code book was a court martial offense. Think about that. We are in a war and the weather in the monsoon season was horrible and the code book was just a paper book. Trust me, during the monsoon, it was impossible to keep anything dry. Our uniforms rotted off of us. Later in my tour, platoons were given a second Corpsman due to high casualties. For example, one morning I had 34 Marines and Corpsman in my platoon. At sunset, only four of use were still unwounded and alive. The rest were either killed or wounded and evacuated. One of my Corpsmen was killed that day. The next day, I received 17 new Marines and that night we were mortared and all 17 were wounded and evacuated. Casualties were high for short periods of time and there were long periods of little or not action. The only navigation aids I had was a compass and outdated French 1:50,000 French maps. Later I received satellite photograph "Picto Maps" . They were better but they also had clouds in the photos and so if we happened to be in one of those cloud areas or engaged in a firefight, there wasn't a lot we could do in calling in accurate artillery or air support. Pilots used aeronautical maps that didn't sync up to the maps we were using, but somehow we got the job done. We did have a night division device call a Starlight Scope, but it was first generation and not that great, but the biggest problem was getting batteries for it. I had one Starlight Scope in the platoon, but without batteries it wasn't very useful. We did have batteries at times, and it was a cutting edge technology that I appreciated, but I only had one and so the question was who could best utilize it. I decided that one of my M-14 Lance Cor Water was a major problem. There was no such thing as bottled water. Nor was there a way to get bulk water to us in the field. So we filled our canteens with whatever local water was available including rice paddy water when nothing else was available and just put 4 times the water purification tablets in the canteens. Still, we all had the shit's the entire time. Ammunition was more important than food, so on extended patrols / sweeps / platoon operations, one C-Ration had to last 2-3 days most of the time and most of us extended a C-Ration to 4 days. But doctrine, a Marine was to receive 3 C-Rations a day. Why? Because during the monsoon season, it was often impossible to get a resupply to us in the mountains. This is why I arrived in Vietnam weighing 160 pounds and left Vietnam 130 pounds. There was no unit continuity or training. Marines were rotated in and out of Vietnam as individuals. I wish I had kept a record, but during most of my year in Vietnam as a platoon commander, I'm guessing I had 75-100 Marines pass through my platoon due to casualties and rotations back to the US. Unit integrity was impossible and there was no time allowed to pull back and retrain. I had kids join my platoon and the same day were in a body bag or medivaced to a field hospital. One night during a company operation in a valley, apparently a Recon team in the mountains above us thought we were a North Vietnamese army unit and called in artillery on us. It was a 155 mm battery TOT of 6 rounds (that is 36 rounds) on us at about 1 am. I remember I was up to relieve myself when it hit. I dropped to the ground cursing my buttons for not allowing be to get any lower. The shrapnel cut down Marines, trees, and saplings. It was after dawn that we were still medivacing the dead and wounded. There is a lot of chaos in combat and sometimes friendlies get killed. Later that morning, we saddled up and continued our mission with many fewer Marines. In combat, you have to just put the bad behind you and get the mission done. Despite everything against us, including the insane Rules of Engagement, we managed to complete every mission we were given... though looking back, I don't know how. I have no idea how I completed a year there without being wounded or killed since commanders and radio operators were the prime targets in firefights. For some (maybe most) it will sound weird, but my girlfriend gave me a Sterling Silver cross with a St. Christopher medallion to keep me safe and honestly believe that mattered because I should have died multiple times that year. And when I say I should have died, I don't mean close calls. I mean I should have died or have been severely wounded. Example: I stepped on two booby traps and one Chinese mine that all failed to detonate. The Chinese mine because the idiot who planted it forgot to remove the safety pin. Later in the 1980's I spent two years as a counter-insurgent advisor to the host nation Army and Navy in Latin America. Not as dangerous as Vietnam but dangerous. My SUV was ambushed and my host nation driver killed, and all US military in that country were targeted. It wasn't anything close to Vietnam, but during those two years, about 30 US military were killed and 3 times that wounded. Individuals were put in for the Bronze and Sliver Star combat awards, but all were denied because of political considerations. To this day the American people have zero idea how many US military were killed and wounded in that country. And I believe it was a political decision. I digress. So much for some war stories. I'm stunned at the technology Marine have today: laser ranger finders, GPS navigation, radios down to the individual, weapons that would make the ones we had in Vietnam like bows and arrows, smart bombs, reliable communications, everyone has a night vision device, etc... etc... etc.. I know that the Marine Corps has an honest system for trying to reorganize the platoons and companies, but they really need to rely on the combat experience of the senior NCO's and officers on the front lines instead of the budget process. I have always said that I would rather have a company of two platoons (a company normally has 3 platoons and a weapons platoon) of highly motivated and trained Marines than three platoons of Marines who have been short changed in their training. And to be honest, I don't think a company needs a weapons platoon. Just allocate a squat of machine guns and mortars to each platoon and eliminate the weapons platoon. Why? Because the company commander can always reallocate weapons as needed to either be attached or in direct or general support. So you might ask, why have them permanently assigned when the Company commander can reorganize them? Because as a platoon commander I'd rather have weapons permanently assigned to the platoon so that I can train with them on a daily basis instead of having them assigned to me without any training with my platoon. Sorry for the long post. But discussions of current weapons and squad organizations triggers the Vietnam experience in me. Some reorganization is sometimes necessary, but personally I thin that it needs to be in weapons and not in structure. As a platoon commander I needed three maneuver squads, and as a company commander I would have liked the four platoon configuration so I had three platoons to maneuver and one in reserve, which company commanders no longer have because companies now are only three platoons. Instead of three platoons up on the line with one in reserve, we now only have two platoons on the line and one in reserve. Think about it. We won WW II but have lost all other major combats. Not so much because of Marine reorganization but because of the lack of political will to win. So maybe all of the changes in Marine organization were OK but that the lack of the political will to win makes any reorganization meaningless. My apologies for the long post, but sometimes things trigger my Marine Corps experiences.

[@flankerrulz]

Sir, your post was as informative and insightful as this video👍

[@frankedgar6694]

BMF6889. I found your post to be refreshing. I caught the very tail end of Vietnam and spent time in a variety of countries in Central and South America. you brought ba o both good and bad memories. My CO was killed in 75. In about 2001, at Christmas, it occurred to me that his baby girl would be 30 something and never knew her dad. Christmas is always tough for me now. My son was born about 6 months after his death so our kids are 2-3 years apart.

[@deismoday]

I love posts like this. Am in the Army myself and I enjoy learning through the experiences of others. Thank you for your service, Sir.

[@hellskitchen10036]

Vietnam Corpsman in 68 , hit on patrol, somehow medivac to states, woke up in naval hospital without a lung ..still don't know what happened. Thank you for your amazing post.

[@horseman2777]

Accounts like this are extremely important, so that people (including those making decisions) don’t forget the struggles and lessons learned. Thank you so much for the time you took to write this.

[@Oatmilk123]

Dude this is amazing content unparalleled to anything else. You're far ahead of the game! Keep the content coming!!

[@BattleOrder]

Thanks! Will do!

[@jamesbrown-ln2vq]

Nice!

[@luisramirez1389]

Where the m60

[@BattleOrder]

Here is a list of weapons that were officially under the Company's Weapons Platoon and detailed out to Rifle Platoons on a temporary or permanent basis at various times: - 60mm Mortars - M1919/M60/M240 Medium Machine Guns - 3.5" Bazookas/SMAW anti-tank weapons - M202 MSFW And weapons that are officially under the Battalion's Weapons Company and can be detailed out to Rifle Companies if needed: - 81mm Mortars - Javelin ATGMs (formerly M47 Dragons) - Heavy Machine Guns

[@pyeitme508]

Thanks for telling dude!

[@samgraham2110]

Don't forget the laser guided M220A1 TOW under Weapon's Company.

[@KenshiroPlayDotA]

The part about the 15-man Marine squad fitting into a single clown car, aka Humvee, is missing. :D

[@samgraham2110]

@@KenshiroPlayDotA "You can always fit one more..."

[@KenshiroPlayDotA]

@@samgraham2110 Eugen Systems didn't dare create squads of 16 men or more. :P

[@mantenostatehospital]

As currently serving in the USMC, with 3 mos’s two being 03 mos’s this is pretty accurate. My unit runs in 16 man squads. And has for a while, also ranks are pretty all over the place. I’ve seen a whole squad of PFC’s, squads of all SGT’s and everything in between.

[@arronlockyer5424]

Fellow Patriots we need your help...! I am retired USMC Mustang after 28 years! This is my son account. He was a VOLUNTEER FIREMAN, AND VOLUNTEER EMS. He was always there to help others in their time of need! Its simple can you skip an extra cup of coffee a few times this week to help someone that would help you?? We have all said we will help fellow Patriots in their time of need and we all stand together!!!... Please help .. www.gofundme.com/f/help-cervical-spinal-problems

[@catsfrommars]

Sounds about right lol

[@Shyguy380]

I'm a candidate in the officer program and was confused watching the video since everything we're being taught is four fireteams in a squad (16 people). It makes more sense to me since fireteam formations would directly translate to a squad level.

[@naruhinafan94]

@@Shyguy380 They’re teaching you guys four fire teams per squad, now? Never heard of adding more than three. Just think of any formation above fire team level as being like a three man fire team. The additional billets go where they have the most control/capability to carry out their duty

[@Shyguy380]

@@naruhinafan94 I think I may have been mistaken. We had a knowledge class last night and talked about the SULE. The way you explained it makes sense, I appreciate it.

[@PECOSO0]

I am a Cold War Marine Vet. BUT I found the back end of your video awesome. I am fascinated with the Modern Marine inventory, Love it. Thank you for the great content. Keep it coming...Semper Fi

[@eggboye352]

Damn this was really well done. When I was a squad leader I carried an IAR, and that was back in 2012-2014. Easily the best weapon I’ve ever laid my paws on.

[@shorewall]

I was reading about its reception. Most of the time, when a military implements a new weapon, the soldiers complain. But I heard good things about the IAR reception, so that stood out to me. :D

[@marcdavis4509]

@@shorewall I was a SAW gunner in the early 90’s I didn’t mind the weight of the weapon or ammo. But those shitty plastic ammo boxes were absolute shit. They were always falling off the weapon and noisy as hell. When I saw the soft nylon pouches later I was a bit salty. Definitely wishI would have had those

[@BigDictator5335]

All Marines have hearing issues (that's why they scream). These silencers will help a little. *knife hands* that's right, I said silencers.

[@hellacoorinna9995]

*moto grunt*

[@dragonsbreath1984]

When i went to boot camp in 89 we used the m16a2. During our first classroom instruction on marksmanship we watched the “Me and my M14” film.

[@arronlockyer5424]

Fellow Patriots we need your help...! I am retired USMC Mustang after 28 years! This is my son account. He was a VOLUNTEER FIREMAN, AND VOLUNTEER EMS. He was always there to help others in their time of need! Its simple can you skip an extra cup of coffee a few times this week to help someone that would help you?? We have all said we will help fellow Patriots in their time of need and we all stand together!!!... Please help .. www.gofundme.com/f/help-cervical-spinal-problems

[@normiedeathsquad40]

Ah I see you've millitaried before

[@montanabulldog9687]

The M-14 was the "Last", of a Marines "Battle Rifles" . . . the M-16, WAS, an IS, an will "Aways Be" nothing but a PIECE OF JUNK ! ! ! . You can install all of the "Bells an Whisles" you like, but it WON'T change what it is !. A long time ago now, I saw a VC, get "Hit" at no more than 50 Ft, with "4" rounds of 5.56 right in the chest . . . he DID, go down, but got RIGHT BACK UP, shot what was left in his AK-47 ( About 10 or 11 rounds ) ran about 30 yds, before falling down dead. The POINT is, that he "Got back Up" . . . if it had still been an M-14 hit, he would have HIT THE GROUND . . . "Dead". Its why TODAY, 49 yrs later, I still have "2" of them.

[@bb-6359]

@@montanabulldog9687 >claims 5.56 as a useless round Alright, sure, because going back to full power 7.62 full auto battle rifles makes sense... that would be a step backwards really. I'm not discrediting your combat experience, nor saying your opinion is invalid, as this has been a debate that's been going on since intermediate cartridges were a thing. But the consensus today is that intermediate cartridges have more utility and usability than full power ones in terms of being used in standard issue rifles. The pros outweigh the cons. Weight, controllability, and allowing automatic fire is really the key factor, even though extra stopping power would be nice. Like all things, its a measure of compromises, and then taking which solution makes the most sense with losing the least effectiveness. Combat since the earliest days has been a compromise of mobility vs protection, or more stopping power vs utility. Same thing with the case of intermediate vs full power cartridges as well. However, gun designers and engineers realized since WW2 that for assault rifles with controllable and functional full auto fire, you need a intermediate cartridge. The Germans, Russians, and the US all came to this conclusion independently of each other for all the same reasons, which further validates the need of changing to an intermediate cartridges, and that it is more advantageous. Again, recent developments in body armor and need for accuracy in long distance sustained engagements have surfaced the need for long range accurate fire, which is one of the reasons why the USMC adopted the M27 IAR. 5.56 arguably fits this role better. 5.56 is also better at penetrating body armor, another reason for its increased usefulness today.

[@montanabulldog9687]

@@bb-6359 If YOU, saw what I did . . . I DON'T think you would be defending that cartridge !.

[@Krieg-Sergeant-Woody]

In the Marines rn with an Infantry company and I was expecting this to be not as accurate as it turned out to be, good job!

[@marcustulliuscicero.5856]

What weapon did you train with in boot camp? I was curious because I am going soon.

[@elijahmascarenas9552]

@@marcustulliuscicero.5856 when? im going to san diego aug 16

[@robertwilson8184]

@@marcustulliuscicero.5856 When I was at MCRD PI in 2017, we were still using M16A4s with TA31 RCOs.

[@BuRnNeTrO]

Im currently in the Norwegian military, and we use this format: 1 Squad leader with HK416 with Elcan 1x and 4x zoom 1 assistant squad leader with HK 416 and Elcan 1 Sniper with HK417 1 Sniper with HK416 with Elcan, and Barrett 50 cal 2 Riflemen with HK 416 and 40mm Grenade launcher 2 Riflemen with HK 416 and Javelin/Carl Gustaf depending on mission 2 Riflemen with Minimi (A version of the SAW)

[@BuRnNeTrO]

@Ben White We just call them Sharpshooters in norwegian. They can be used to do alot of things. Usually they operate seperate of the rest of the team, but they can also support the squad if the mission suits it.

[@BuRnNeTrO]

@Ben White Our unit is called the Arctic Ranger Company and are experts in winter warfare. We operate in Northern Norway, usually on snowmobiles. Sharpshooters are really a good option for hitting targets at long ranges while staying undetected

[@MrA3523]

Will you cover any mechanised NATO squads like Canadian mechanized rifle section?

[@BattleOrder]

I am interested in it, just need to get some more sources. Basically have to go directly to servicemembers because all their manuals are locked behind a defence intranet you can only access from actual military computers.

[@ulysse1531]

@@BattleOrder if needed, i can provide insight about the french motorized and mechanized infantry 👌🏻

[@joeboom0697]

@@BattleOrder it'd be amazing if you could do uk squads as well

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

Battle Order well that’s accountability and transparency in Canada for you.

[@4freedomyearn80]

likely alot like the americans except only the Canadians are on welfare! Poor Saps!

[@adrianmoreno7617]

This video is done so well, might as well be a security threat. (Currently serving as a U.S. Marine infantryman)

[@olddog6658]

Just found this thread, all well wherever you are ? old JarHead 1961-66 3rd wave ashore at Chu Lai in 1965.

[@samgraham2110]

We also outfit our Marine Infantry squads with the M32 and M72A7. It's commander's discretion on how he wants to outfit his squads with these weapon systems.

[@jeffburnham6611]

@Sam I didn't think that rifle squads still used the M72 system. I thought they were all replaced by the AT-4 system. I remember the M72, prone to duds. Most Marines hated it.

[@samgraham2110]

@@jeffburnham6611 I think the reason we went back is because of the ease of use in the environment we found ourselves fighting in. A smaller tube (66mm) that can penetrate 12 inches of steel (AT4 can penetrate around 17 inches) was all we needed. I don't remember a lot of duds but I never been to combat with one either. What we need is a Battalion Gunner (0306 Infantry Weapons Officer) to comment on the matter. They are the Infantry tactic and weapon gods of the Infantry Battalion. I believe the Army still uses the AT4?

[@chiken6559]

@@samgraham2110 plus M72 is much lighter and smaller than the AT4, so you can carry more of them

[@LtActionCam]

@@chiken65595lbs vs 12ish makes a difference!

[@chris210racer]

Wow, you just saved me so much time for future mission making for Arma 3. Thanks so much.

[@warshipsdd-2142]

Outstanding job, said by a Marine SGT who served 1963-67 and 77-82. Got it right with all the details.

[@yngtadpole]

I've been following the Marines development of squads and change in equipment since I got out in 2009 and your video was well researched and flowed very nicely with just enough info for a general overview without getting too specific or far off into the weeds.

[@Delta1296pt2]

So in my POG unit; The squad and fireteam leaders have M4s, everyone else gets M16A4 We field the 240MMG and 50 cal as defensive options, tho we do take the 240 out sometimes.

[@arronlockyer5424]

Fellow Patriots we need your help...! I am retired USMC Mustang after 28 years! This is my son account. He was a VOLUNTEER FIREMAN, AND VOLUNTEER EMS. He was always there to help others in their time of need! Its simple can you skip an extra cup of coffee a few times this week to help someone that would help you?? We have all said we will help fellow Patriots in their time of need and we all stand together!!!... Please help .. www.gofundme.com/f/help-cervical-spinal-problems

[@aarongood651]

Ya man that’s a POG unit for ya, all line units use m27’s, unless you got a 203

[@korkunge]

Arent you gong to miss he 200 round mag of the m249? to be able to suppress an attacking force? "cower fire"?

[@deadpoolcomics]

Fantastic video as always! Just a question, do you plan on making a video on the organization and tactics of modern air mobile/air assault units like the 101st airborne?

[@BattleOrder]

No plans right now but it's a possibility for the future!

[@chrisrathbun4148]

In 1994 they started to faze out the M60E3's to M240G. My Platoon had 2 SAW's and a M240G. I was in an Engineer Battalion.

[@BeanDar]

Don't forget that suppressors drop damage and accuracy by 10 points. ;)

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

but you won't appear on the radar

[@PaperSmiles]

As someone who spent some time in the British Army, American squads seem absolutely huge; British sections are two fireteams of 4, one led by the section commander, (IC), and one led by the 2IC. Interesting to see how other nations do stuff.

[@user-oy8dl1er5h]

It's pretty similar to the US Army which has a 9 man squad. The United States Marine Corps has a different doctrine regarding small units which leads to a more numerous and heavily armed squad

[@lepmuhangpa]

@@user-oy8dl1er5h Beat me to it. Yep, that's exactly the reason why.

[@extrabytes7191]

This channel fits exactly in my niche.

[@goncalofferreira331]

That´s what she said...

[@tacitusthehistories5417]

That was the best 15 minutes that I have ever spent on KZbin! Semper Fidelis Warriors! 1970-1998, 2003-2004 "No better friend, No worst enemy."

[@wittwittwer1043]

When I was 1st squad leader in 3d platoon, G Co 2/2, in 1964, I was a CPL. Fire-team leaders were either PVTs, PFCs or LCPLs. Platoons were rarely at T.O., so they were rarely at a full strength of 42 men: 3 squads of 13 men plus grenadier, plus platoon sergeant, plus right guide, and usually a corpsman attached. Sometimes we had a M-60 machine gun or 3.5 rocket team attached.

[@michaellee5922]

that medal of honor soundtrack in the background brings back memories

[@channelnamegoeshere4707]

14:33 bro you know things are real when somebody actually uses the forward assist

[@Mike16339]

Making sure you're in battery after a brass check is the most reasonable use I've ever seen.

[@Isometrix116]

Honestly, it's a good habit. I never understood the hate of the FA. If you aren't actively in a firefight or course of fire, it's a good idea to make sure that you chambered a round when you load the gun. It's then good to make sure the gun is in battery by hitting the FA. Usually, this is just a precaution, but it's still a good habit. Now, obviously, when you are reloading mid combat or mid course of fire, you just slap and rack. But if you have the time and space, why not make a 99% certainty into a 100%?

[@channelnamegoeshere4707]

@@Isometrix116 That's a valid point. I've never heard of anyone hating on the FA because it is good to have that extra assurance, but it is definitely uncommon to use it.

[@marcjohnson4385]

Served as an 0351 Marine over 50 years ago, this makes Me feel ancient.

[@boondocker7964]

You are ancient, so am I.

[@piranhaplantX]

This is the first video on this topic that actually covered this subject in any sort of satisfactory way. Looking forward to digging in and finding more like it. The algorithm takes me many strange places. But it definitely hit the mark on this one.

[@davidkiser6083]

Thank You, I enjoyed this very much. I myself was once a M-79 man, usually called a Blooper or Blooker man. I also carried an 1911 ‘45’ on my right hip. I served in Vietnam 1968/69 with Hotel Company, 2nd platoon, 2 Bravo squad, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. We always had a radio operator who carried the Prick 25

[@ZaxCal]

Hilarious how they went from one of the worst equipped branches to now being one of the best equipped. The new rifles fully kitted probably cost nearly $20k. H&K M27 IAR with a VCOG, KAG Suppressor, IR Laser, Flashlight, and some sort of hand stop or grip.

[@officiallytastic8631]

Only infantry Marines, staff and officers rate M4s and infantry 0311 rate the new IR rifle while other infantry MOSs rate M4, while POGS usually have M16A4 depending on the unit.

[@Gladiator0719]

I was an 0331, 90-94, B-1/7 & F-2/7 Wpns Plt, Gulf War-I and Somalia. We always had one M60E3 Machinegun team and an 0351 SMAW team with each of our three 0311 rifle Plts. Our 0341 60mm mortar teams would stay behind with the Company's H & S section and the Wpns Plt Leader and Plt Sgt to provide fire support for the reinforced rifle plts.

[@manhalen7046]

Very interesting, I was with the 101st in 1998 when all of 18th Airborne Corps (101st, 82nd, 10th Mountain) went to the M4's and 249's, before that we had guys with the old 203 setups and M60's. Losing those M60's was tough though. gdamn that was nice firepower. Then we all went on deployment and learned, as was stated in the video, accuracy is better than high volume of fire. I was also in an army unit in Okinawa and trained every once in awhile with the Marines up at the NTA on Hansen and i was waiting for some of those guys to pull out M16a1's or M14's lol. My son is a Marine now though and the Corps deff does a great job of teaching good skills to young Marines.

[@soothingmeow22]

Screw those guys I'm taking my crow and going home. *Muttering under my breath "Marines getting cool quadcopter drones and variable power optics. Been telling command we should get variable powered optics vs the acog"

[@DakotaofRaptors]

That's what I call a 180

[@juliemunoz2762]

Variable power scopes is getting too complicated for jarheads it’s just more buttons and swivels for them to break.

[@Jarod-sm5rf]

This is the kind of serial I love especially layering abut militaries, love from Canada 🇨🇦

[@patreilly4293]

I served 26 years in the Corps and it’s amazing to see the changes since I retired!

[@agecom6071]

Jesus christ, this is so good you thinking about doing one about the German Panzergrenadiers?

[@BattleOrder]

Tis a possibility

[@arthas640]

@@BattleOrder do it! German military analysis is rare beyond pop culture knowledge like "the germans were nothing but an army of Tigers and Panthers blitzkrieging across europe until they ran out of sauerkraut just outside of Stalingrad"

[@proudfirebrand3946]

The Panzergrenadiers/Schutzen is the most under appreciated arm of the German Mechanized Divisions, would really love a video about them in detail.

[@Soff1859]

Or the swiss ones ;)

[@arthas640]

@@Soff1859 the Swiss Armed Forces: nearly 200 years of proudly sitting on the side lines of history!

[@Its_shiki_time4876]

Seriously I couldn't find the more perfect channel for my interests. Thanks for the great content good sir im looking forward to more! Also please don't burn yourself out

[@notaddmk18fsp_37]

Greatly appreciate an accurate description and look at the use of suppressors in the modern squad.

[@skowog]

Excellent content, great info, amazing photos. If I could make one suggestion, try to tame the upspeak, where you sound like you're asking a question at the end of a sentence pretty frequently. Keep up the good work.

[@nicholascherry5962]

Very well put together. Glad I got to learn something new. Huge respect for armed forces

[@rhett1029]

Let’s go we’ve all been waiting for this

[@DJSkittles365]

Damn, this is so accurate. Very well in depth and informative. Well done.

[@Goldcrusader1]

Bravo Sir 👏 video is outstanding! Coming from a retired Gunny!

[@petermayonejr.3420]

Excellent video! Covered a lot of ground and all the USMC changes over the years on variant squads and weapons!

[@Excalibur01]

10:55 First time I've seen an EOTech mounted on an M16A2

[@kinshayawarrior8870]

We never had a TO squad/plt when I was in (87-93). We were always short on manpower. Everyone had the billet but not the rank. At one point I was the plt Cmdr when I was a Cpl. On paper we were supposed to have one doc per squad but were lucky to have one per plt. We got to one point where most squad and team leaders had training for calling in air/arty/mortar support.

[@obiwankenobi4252]

Really great video, I hope you'll do similar ones for other squads of other countries (German Panzergrenadiere, Italian Bersaglieri, etc.)

[@Heliomoth]

Yeah the part about the 240s replacing the SAW in Afghanistan is dead on. The research and production on this video is excellent. Subbed for more of your excellent content.

[@mauricebeyjr611]

Im in the US Army, and Im extremely jealous how the marines got a new main battle rifle, which is the M27

[@Martin-117]

Well y'all have been giving us hand-me-downs for years I'm glad we're finally getting weapons and Gear that wasn't Army issued.

[@mauricebeyjr611]

@@Martin-117 Fair enough bro

[@TriatomicAI]

I’ll take your m4 any day

[@Need_better_handle]

It’s higher priority to reorganize and prepare the marine infantry with the best gear right now given that the situation with china has the potential to kick off at any time. I do think that the 82nd airborne should definitely be the first Army unit to be overhauled with new rifles, drones, ect, and with those medium tanks that Army is going to use for light IBCT units. I could be wrong but I believe you can fit 2 of the smaller tanks on a c130 vs 1 for other tanks. Then you can have a light tank capability integrated into an airborne unit that can have a brigade anywhere in the world in 18 hours to fight alongside a marine expeditionary unit if the situation dictates. Could help ensure the military maintained that middle strength combat unit capability without having over redundancy of two branches with heavy tanks.

[@mauricebeyjr611]

@@Need_better_handle I totally agree with that statement

[@forcesightknight]

As a Marine myself, I will say this, great job! Our enemies will certainly be taking notes.

[@billysoh1745]

FYI, you guys are the actual evil and terror to the world. US is the bad guys. Not the Arabians, Russian or the Asians. You dudes are deluded by your own government

[@deemwinch]

I'm afraid they're to stupid... Sometimes

[@arceusrefachero5096]

I am the son of an official from the Ministry of National Security of Costa Rica, I will only say that I knew about this channel because he told me that they are using channels whatever they are to seek to modernize our forces.

[@FirstDagger]

9:55 Big props to you for pronouncing Heckler & Koch correctly this time.

[@pyeitme508]

Amazing! Need more! Plus misspelled thumbnail, LOL!

[@leosong6702]

What was spelled wrong?

[@pyeitme508]

@@leosong6702 from discord

[@seanwhite304]

The USMC is doing good things man . KAC NT4 Cans and VCOG 1-8× With M27 is a very lethal combo . Having the OAL be over 20" is a bit much but with training they can be just as fast for CQC. I know there is practically 0 difference for me when I'm using MK18 vs M4A1 doing CQB Drills . Only difference I notice is the weight . SOCOM went with more LW Rigs whereas USMC went with HBARs. I still think the Colt IAR was the better option but oh well they got killer deals on the M27s so it worked out in the end . I was glad to see USMC going with Cans . I still don't know why they chose NT4. The NT4 are super nice but the OSS is superior and was cheaper. I haven't found any articles on why they chose the NT4 but I'm def interested in reading one . Nice Vid Bro

[@orion8981]

The NT4 is a better performer for automatic schedules of fire and can be attached to standard flash hiders. The Marine Corps also buys KAC everything. I'm surprised they didn't just go with SR-16s.

[@danmorgan3685]

I had a feeling the Marines were going to adopt the HK416 as their standard rifle. Trying to use a select fire assault rifle as a permenent replacement for the SAW didn't make much sense to me. The Brits did the same thing but they relied on their existing select fire assault rifles.

[@DOSFS]

They still keep M249s in marine arsenal, if it went horrible and backlash came they can quickly change it back.

[@kingofthespazs]

This change seems more geared towards fighting terrorists rather than an actual military. It gives them a lot of accurate fire and mobility but costs them firepower.

[@orion8981]

It's actually better for light infantry who have to carry things. Belt fed weapons are hungry. I doubt we'll be seeing the SAW again. More 240s, maybe.

[@orion8981]

@@DOSFS They only keep them because they have them. They'll be phased out over time as they break.

[@joeyakathug5215]

Marines are trying out the "Accurate suppressive fire to suppress the enemy" tactic instead of "Spray suppressive fire to suppress the enemy". Kinda makes sense considering "Every Marine is a rifleman"

[@coolbreeze2.0-mortemadfasc13]

Love seeing the Corps always evolving.

[@tdnavy1066]

You should do a video on the USMC Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions, or LAR Battalions.

[@lucion511]

Well done. Respect given from former 0311.

[@saber484]

My fire team only had 3 guys, the 4th was the platoons mechanic. Most of our patrols were conducted with 6 guys because unfortunately we didn't trust our corpsman.

[@arronlockyer5424]

Fellow Patriots we need your help...! I am retired USMC Mustang after 28 years! This is my son account. He was a VOLUNTEER FIREMAN, AND VOLUNTEER EMS. He was always there to help others in their time of need! Its simple can you skip an extra cup of coffee a few times this week to help someone that would help you?? We have all said we will help fellow Patriots in their time of need and we all stand together!!!... Please help .. www.gofundme.com/f/help-cervical-spinal-problems

[@sohrabroozbahani4700]

wars change experience, experience changes doctrine, doctrine changes equipment, equipment changes roles, roles change organization... interesting...

[@scothayes9220]

Exactly the way I see. With the advance of technology and the way the Corp. and sister branches procure new tech. You can bet the current OOB will change again in the next few years.

[@skyhappy]

more like all of those affect each other

[@hooks4638]

I swear, as an observer and someone who finds this interesting, the Marines are just so damn impressive. They are so crazy tough and flexible. The whole ethos of doing more with less and being highly adaptable.......Yes, they absolutely are tough and highly trained killers, but they don't get enough credit for being really smart about it too. Again, really cool and impressive stuff. God Bless em! 🇺🇸

[@xipingpooh5783]

Served as Designated Marksman in the Marine Corps during Operation Urgent Fury and my tour in Beirut. I carried a scoped M14 DMR. Semper Fidelis🇺🇸

[@davidrendall7195]

Interesting stuff, but you completely missed the Radio element of the squad and its development. Probably the single most dangerous piece of equipment we had.

[@michael7324]

We now have a drone operator at the squad level. Tech baby...

[@zwinmar21]

was an 0311 with 3/8 India from 98-01, went into Kosovo. Our SOP was that that A-gunner carried the 203 to relieve the team leader for command and control purposes. I carried the 203 and still check windows and rooftops.

[@bryonmyers1058]

That's interesting. I was a field radio operator between 2005-2011 with arty and victor units. Fire team leaders always had the m203.

[@michaelmurphree310]

I haven't finished the video completely yet but my Marine rifle squad was 10 people my 1st deployment, we had a squad leader (SGT) 3 team leaders (LCPL/CPLs) 3 SAW gunners (PFC/LCPL) and 3 203 gunners (PFC?LCPL). I was a team leader (LCPL) and carried a 203 and 1 of the other team leaders (also a LCPL) also carried the 203. I had a 3 man fireteam. I think man power has a lot to do with squad size. We broke into 2 5 man teams in Iraq EDIT - OK so 30 seconds later he basically said what I just typed, why you watch the entire video before posting.

[@idk1848]

Insane uploading dude

[@sproge2142]

May I ask why you didn't mention the M32 MGL? I thought they were/are issued to marines at the squad level? Thanks for the great content!

[@BattleOrder]

As far as I know they are company things that can be issued to squads at the discretion of the company commander.

[@GIJoeProductions]

Awesome work! Can you do the Rhodesian Light Infantry?

[@dopplerhit8374]

Yesssss found another active military channel

[@AlbertSergei]

0311 vet served 2010-2018 - this is well researched. If I had to criticize US infantry tactics though I would say we always assume air superiority, in practice a lot of it is bump + call for fires

[@BrownWilliamson]

OUTSTANDING!!!!! Adjust Yourself and Carry On!!!!!!!

[@oldjaguar]

Is no one gonna mention how they used the Medal of Honor Allied Assault theme! Brings back memories

[@drvgxn4719]

Thank you, I plan on joining in 2024 out of highschool. I hope to be a specialist or support gunner.

[@smithnwesson990]

Marines need to find a real belt fed for Squad gunners. 30 round mags simply don't let you lay down constant fire.

[@orion8981]

Or a bigger magazine, which would be less of a logistical issue.

[@matthewprior3762]

Fantastic! You just earned a subscriber 😎

[@BeagleBops]

I think I legit saw one of your videos being used in a classroom in bootcamp

[@matteagle42]

9:54 That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you pronounce Heckler & Koch. Nice !

This is a very informative video, I learned a lot! It's also fascinating that they want everyone to have a suppressor.

[@Sean-ws9je]

I Don't Know Who This Person Is But I'm Glad He's On Our Side 👍

[@demarcusfaulkner7411]

Well researched and complete. Very intelligent video.

[@Lackly008]

I love that you use MOHAA theme song for youre videos:)

[@Poopenheiner]

You forgot to mention that the UAV operator will carry a net gun to counter enemy UAVs. No joke. Like go go gadget net gun type shit. Crazy.

[@brianfoley4328]

Great presentation...just the best.

[@spearhead2182]

Excellent breakdown 👌 OOORAH!

[@ericb.4358]

Suppressors ALSO make it easier to audibly locate friendly troops and enemy non-suppressed troops rifles.

[@GuamGuy]

It would be really interesting to see field trial type competitions of Marines with fully kitted out M27/M38s vs. Urgi M4A1s

[@smokeypuppy417]

I get the marines want to have mobility and the m27iar can engadge out to 500m and can accurately fire automatically. But the army still has 2 m249 saw gunners per squad and those 2 machine guns can put down alot of automatic fire before having to change the drum or belt.

[@thewatcher4552]

Great video. I WAS THERE 03' 04 OIF Semper Fi to all my bro's

[@Inmate2587]

I just got out in 2019 and you are spot on with everything. I'm not sure about the suppressors but to be honest, they did test it out with a battalion so I'm pretty sure that will be a thing in the near future.

[@roseforeuropa]

As the USMC rifle squad gets bigger, now to 15 guys, we can start effectively calling this a "Section" rather than a "Squad". Also, I'd like to see higher adoption rates of the Mk47 Automatic Grenade Launcher. It's man-portable with thermals. A crew of 3 can carry this platform along with its ammunition, much like how the marines carry the M-240. This platform has the potential to be an absolute game-changer and I'd even like to see this pushed down to the company's weapons platoon.

[@solkaz4175]

Nice Medal of Honor Allied Assault music in the background.

[@Spanishfutbol2010]

As a former FMF Corpsman that has served with Marine units this is actually pretty good.

[@jayluksha6809]

Just found your channel. Excellent content. I just subscribed. Keep them coming brother.

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

Too good. Instant subscribe.

[@hanzusmc7898]

Well done and very interesting that they are enlarging the rifle squad. My time was 97-05 and during my last deployment the “rifle squad” was constantly changed because of casualties and attachments that were essentially assigned to the squad by disbanding the weapons platoon and integrating them into the rifle squads as replacements and support. As listed the breaching element and support element we would usually have a SAW in the breaching element and a SAW and a 240 in the support element along with a SMAW Team mostly armed with HEDM(High Explosive Dual Mode) rockets. If heavy contact was made during the breach they would egress while the support hit the building with supporting fires. Once clear at least 1 if not 2 SMAW rockets were fired into the structures. I could go on and on, but the tactics were very malleable and were situation dependent and what support we had directly available like if we had tanks, TRACs, or an armored bulldozers attached for that day or part of the operation so on so forth.

[@arthurfernandes3824]

good video and research. Very professional channel

[@usaintltrade]

SENDING LOVE HONOR & RESPECT GOD BLESS AMERICA