FIRETEAM
AS DEFINED BY WIKIPEDIA
A
fireteam is a small military unit of infantry. It is
the smallest unit in the militaries that use it and is the primary unit
upon which infantry organization is based in the United States Army,
United States Marine Corps, Canadian Forces, Australian Army and British
Army. Fireteams generally consist of four or fewer soldiers and are
grouped into squads or sections.
The concept of the fireteam is based on the need for tactical flexibility
in infantry operations. A fireteam is capable of autonomous operations
as part of a larger unit. Successful fireteam employment relies on quality
small unit training for soldiers, experience of fireteam members operating
together, sufficient communications infrastructure, and a quality non-commissioned
officer corps to provide tactical leadership for the team.
These requirements have led to successful use of the fireteam concept
by more professional militaries. It is less useful for armies employing
massed infantry formations, or with significant conscription. Conscription
makes fireteam development difficult, as team members are more effective
as they build experience over time working together and building personal
bonds.
The creation of effective fireteams is seen as essential for creating
an effective professional military as they serve as a primary group.
Psychological studies by the United States Army have indicated that
the willingness to fight is more heavily influenced by the desire to
defend and avoid a loss of face among other members of the fireteam
and the squad than by abstract concepts. Historically, nations with
effective fireteam organization have had significantly better performance
from their infantry units in combat than those limited to operations
by larger units.
In combat, while attacking or maneuvering, a fireteam generally spreads
over a distance of 50 m, while in defensive positions the team can cover
up to the range of its weapons or the limits of visibility, whichever
is smaller. In open terrain, up to 500 m can be covered by an effective
team, although detection range limits effectiveness beyond 100 m or
so without special equipment. A team is effective so long as its primary
weapon remains operational. A team is often reduced to only two men
in combat.
