View source for Squad

{{Short description|Military unit size designation}}
{{Other uses}}
[[File:Romania Best Squad - Day 2 (22172910039).jpg|thumb|A squad of [[Romanian Land Forces]] soldiers with [[CBRN defense|CBRN gear]] during a [[military exercise]]]]
{{Military units}}
{{Army units}}

In [[military terminology]], a '''squad''' is among the smallest of [[Military organization|military organizations]]<ref>{{cite dictionary |title=squad |dictionary=Dictionary.com |first=Douglas |last=Harper |url=http://www.dictionary.com/browse/squad |access-date=September 17, 2017}}</ref> and is led by a [[non-commissioned officer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/squad.shtml |title=Squad/Section |publisher=Gruntsmilitary.com |access-date=2013-10-17}}</ref> [[NATO]] and [[United States|U.S.]] doctrine define a squad as an organization "larger than a [[fireteam|team]], but smaller than a [[Section (military unit)|section]]",{{sfn|APP-06|p=57}}{{sfn|ADP 3-90|p=2-18}} while [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] doctrine further defines a squad as a "small military unit typically containing two or more [[Fireteam#United_States|fire team]]s. It typically contains
a dozen Soldiers or less."{{sfn|ADP 3-90|p=2-18}} In the [[Australian Armed Forces|Australian]], [[British Armed Forces|British]] and [[Canadian Armed Forces]] the equivalent of a squad is a [[Section (military unit)|section]].{{sfn|Sattler|O’Leary|2010|pp=26, 27}}

The Canadian Forces Manual of Drill and Ceremonial defines a squad as "a small military formation of less than platoon size which is adopted to teach drill movements. (escouade)".<ref name="CF Drill Manual">[http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/downloads-telechargements/reserve/drill-exercice/CF_manual_drill_ceremonial_mod2006_1117.pdf ''The Canadian Forces Manual of Drill and Ceremonial'']. Retrieved 13 June 2010.{{dead link|date=October 2013}}</ref>

A squad can also be an ad hoc group of soldiers assigned to a task, for example, a [[firing squad]].

==Organization==
{| class="floatright" style="border:1px solid black; background:white;float: right;text-align: center" cellpadding="3"
|-
! [[NATO Joint Military Symbology|NATO Map Symbols]]<ref>{{cite book |title=APP-6C Joint Military Symbology |date=May 2011 |publisher=NATO |url=http://armawiki.zumorc.de/files/NATO/APP-6(C).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921231042/http://armawiki.zumorc.de/files/NATO/APP-6(C).pdf |archive-date=2015-09-21 }}</ref>
|-
| [[File:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Detachment or Squad.svg|80px|  ]]<br/>[[File:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|80px]]
|-
|A squad
|-
| [[File:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Detachment or Squad.svg|80px|  ]]<br/>[[File:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Mechanized (NATO APP-6).svg|80px]]
|-
| A mechanized infantry squad
|-
| [[File:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Detachment or Squad.svg|80px|  ]]<br/>[[File:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Military Police - Dog (NATO APP-6C).svg|80px]]
|-
| a military police dog squad
|-
| [[File:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Detachment or Squad.svg|80px|  ]]<br/>[[File:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Anti-Tank - Light (NATO APP-6A).svg|80px]]
|-
| a light anti-tank squad
|}

===NATO military symbol ===
[[United States Army|U.S. Army]] in Chapter 2 of [[United States Army Field Manuals|Army Doctrine Publication]] No. 3-90 provides the following definitions for army echelons:{{sfn|ADP 3-90|p=2-18}}
* a ''fire team'' is a small military unit typically containing four or fewer Soldiers; a fire team is usually grouped by two or three teams into a squad or [[Section (military unit)|section]] 
* a ''crew'' is a small military unit that consists of all personnel operating a particular system
* a ''squad'' is a small military unit typically containing two or more fire teams; in some cases, the [[crew]] of a system may also be designated as a squad
* a ''section'' is a tactical unit of the Army and Marine Corps smaller than a platoon and larger than a squad
U.S. Army [[United States Army Field Manuals|Field Manual]] No. 1-02.2 in Table 2-3 and [[NATO]] standard APP-06 in Table 1-8 provide the following symbols for these echelons:{{sfn|FM 1-02.2|p=15}}{{sfn|APP-06|p=57}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Echelon
|Team / Crew
|Squad
|Section
|-
! Symbol
|'''Ø'''
|'''●'''
|'''●●'''
|}
In practice, the meaning of these symbols depends on the NATO member country. For example
* Table 2-3 in U.S. Army [[United States Army Field Manuals|Field Manual]] No. 1-02.2{{sfn|FM 1-02.2|p=15}} and U.S. designations in Annex B to APP-06{{sfn|APP-06|p=825}} contain the note that Common English language definition also applies to symbol ●, “a small group engaged in a common effort or occupation”
* The Military English Guide v. 1.4, published by Swedish Defence University, makes no distinction between a section and a squad, designating them with the symbol '''●●'''; a fire team is designated by the symbol  '''●'''<ref>{{cite book |author1= |title=Military English Guide |date=2024 |publisher=Swedish Defence University |version=1.4 |url=https://natobilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Military-English-Guide-Version-1.4-March-2025.pdf#page=45  |page=40 }}</ref>

Symbols and names of squads (or their analogs) in NATO member armed forces:{{sfn|APP-06|pp=797-826}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Denmark
| '''●'''
| Gruppe 
|-
! Italy
| '''●'''
| Squadra
|-
! Portugal
| '''●'''
| Esquadra
|-
! Slovakia
| '''●'''
| Družstvo
|-
! Turkey
| '''●'''
| Manga
|-
! United Kingdom
| '''●'''
| bgcolor="#A0E0A0"| [[Section (military unit)|Section]]
|-
! United States
| '''●'''
| bgcolor="#A0E0A0"| Squad 
|-
!rowspan="2"|Spain
| '''●'''
| [[Squad#Spanish Army|Escuadra]]{{efn|name=Escuadra|based on the fact that the terms ''Squad/Team'' are translated into Spanish as ''Escuadra/Equipo''}}<ref>
{{cite journal |last=Kamara |first=Hassan  |date=2018 |title=Un nuevo planteamiento para la escuadra de fusileros de infantería del Ejército de EUA
|url=https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Edicion-Hispanoamericana/Archivos/Tercer-Trimestre-2018/Un-nuevo-planteamiento-para-la-escuadra-de-fusileros-de-infanteria-del-Ejercito-de-EUA/
 |journal=[[United States Army Combined Arms Center#Military Review|Military Review]] |lang=es }}
</ref>
|-
| '''●●'''
| [[Section (military unit)#Spanish Army|Pelotón]]{{Efn|this Spanish term usually translates as [[platoon]], however, in the [[Spanish Army]], ''pelotón'' is a small [[Section (military unit)|section]], close in size to a squad}}{{sfn|Codesal Fidalgo|2014|p=60}}
|-
! Albania
| '''●●'''
|Skuadër
|-
! Bulgaria
| '''●●'''
|Otdelenie (Отделение)
|-
! Canada
| '''●●'''
| bgcolor="#A0E0A0"| [[Section (military unit)|Section]]
|-
! Croatia
| '''●●'''
| Odred
|-
! Czechia
| '''●●'''
|Družstvo
|-
! Estonia
| '''●●'''
| Jagu
|-
! France
| '''●●'''
| Groupe
|-
! Germany
| '''●●'''
| Gruppe
|-
! Hungary
| '''●●'''
| Raj
|-
! Latvia
| '''●●'''
| Komanda
|-
! Lithuania
| '''●●'''
| Skyrius
|-
! Luxembourg
| '''●●'''
| Groupe
|-
!Norway
| '''●●'''
| Gruppe
|-
! Poland
| '''●●'''
| Drużyna
|}

===United States===

====United States Army====
Historically, a "squad" in the US Army was a sub-unit of a [[Section (military unit)#United States Armed Forces|section]], consisting of from as few as two soldiers to as many as 9–10 soldiers and was originally used primarily for drill and administrative purposes (e.g., billeting, messing, working parties, etc.).{{sfn|Mahon et al.|1972|pp=20,56}} The smallest tactical sub-unit being the section, which was also known as a half-platoon (the [[Platoon#United States organization|platoon]] itself being a half [[Company (military unit)#United States|company]]).

Depending upon the time period, the [[Squad leader|squad "leader"]] (not an official position title until 1891) could be a [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]] (the sergeant, in sections with only one [[Corporal#United States|corporal]], led the section's first squad, while the lone corporal served as assistant section leader and led the section's second squad), a corporal (in sections with two corporals), a [[Lance corporal#United States|lance corporal]] (a rank the Army had in varying numbers and conditions from at least 1821 until 1920), a [[Private first class#United States|private first class]] (PFC) (the rank existing since 1846 but not earning its one chevron – taken from the abolished lance corporal rank – until 1920). or even a "senior" [[Private (rank)#United States|private]] (there being many long-service, or "professional," privates until the post-WWII era).

In 1891, the US Army officially defined a rifle "squad" as consisting of "seven privates and one corporal."{{sfn|Mahon et al.|1972|p=38}} The US Army employed the eight-man rifle squad through WWI and until the late 1930s under the [[Square Division]] organizational plan, in which sergeants continued to lead sections consisting of two squads.

Under the [[Triangular division|Triangular Division]] organization plan in 1939 rifle squads were no longer organized into sections.{{sfn|Mahon et al.|1972|p=56}} Instead, the squads were reorganized into a 12-man unit of three elements, or teams,{{sfn|Mahon et al.|1972|p=73}} Able, Baker, and Charlie, reporting directly to the [[platoon leader|platoon commander]] (an [[officer (armed forces)|officer]], usually a [[Second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]]), assisted by a sergeant assigned as the "assistant to platoon commander" (re-designated as "platoon leader" in 1940 and as "platoon sergeant" in 1943 with the officer then re-designated as "platoon leader".) The squad leader was still only a corporal but the squad was also assigned a PFC (one of the scout riflemen) as the assistant to the squad leader. This soldier could serve as either the squad leader's messenger to the platoon commander or could be used to relay orders to other squad elements, as needed. While not a [[Non-commissioned officer#United States|noncommissioned officer]] (NCO) the PFC was an experienced soldier, as prior to WWII the majority of [[Enlisted rank#United States Armed Forces|enlisted men]] remained privates for the entire term of their [[Military service|enlistment]] since [[Promotion (rank)|promotion]] opportunity was scarce. However, the obvious [[Command and control|command]] (viz., leadership and supervision) weakness of so large a squad under one NCO rapidly became obvious in light of the pre-war mobilization and was corrected in 1940 when a second NCO was added to the squad.

This adjustment raised the squad leader to a sergeant (grade 4) and the assistant squad leader to a corporal (grade 5). The "platoon leader" (with the officer still being the "platoon commander") now became a [[staff sergeant]], (grade 3). (In 1920 the enlisted rank structure was simplified and seven grades were established ranging from master sergeant as grade 1 to private as grade 7; staff sergeant being one of the new rank titles then established by combining several intermediate sergeant grades ranking above section leaders but below the company [[First sergeant#United States|first sergeant]].) This squad organization included two men serving as [[Reconnaissance|“scout (rifleman),”]] who along with the squad leader, formed the security element (i.e., reconnaissance and overwatch actions), designated as “Able.” The second element was a three-man [[M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle|Browning Automatic Rifle]] (BAR) team consisting of an [[automatic rifle]]man, an assistant automatic rifleman and an ammunition bearer. This element formed the “[[base of fire]]” (viz., fire support in providing suppressive fires in the attack and protective fires in the defense) and was designated as “Baker.” Lastly, there were five [[Rifleman#United States|riflemen]] and the assistant squad leader, who formed the “maneuver element” (e.g., flanking and assault movements in the attack and repelling and reinforcing actions in the defense), designated as “Charlie.”

In 1942, the Army had a massive restructuring of its [[Table of organization and equipment|Tables of Organization & Equipment]] (TO&Es) and increased the rank of the squad leader and assistant squad leader to staff sergeant and sergeant, respectively. (Platoon leaders now became [[Technical sergeant#United States Army|technical sergeants]], as grade 2, and first sergeants became equal in pay grade to [[Master sergeant#United States|master sergeant]]s as grade 1.) The BAR man (automatic rifleman) and the senior rifleman of the Charlie element became corporals (grade 5) and de facto team leaders, even though not officially designated as such. (In 1943 NCO platoon leaders were re-designated as platoon sergeants and officer platoon commanders became platoon leaders.)

After WWII, in 1948, the Army decided to "downsize” the rifle squad to a nine-man organization (as well as realign its enlisted grade structure), as post-war analysis had shown that the 12-man squad was too large and unwieldy in combat.{{sfn|Mahon et al.|1972|pp=72,73}} The squad leader was again called a sergeant (but retained the grade 3 pay grade and insignia of the rank of a staff sergeant, which was then eliminated.) The two scouts of the Able element were eliminated with the idea that all of the riflemen should be able to perform the scouting duties and would therefore all share in the associated inherent risk of that position. The Baker element's ammunition bearer was also eliminated, leaving the two-man BAR team as the base of fire, supervised by the assistant squad leader (again called a corporal), but remaining as a grade 4, since the rank of sergeant (three chevrons) was then eliminated. (PFC became grade 5, private was grade 6, and recruit was grade 7; PFCs wore one chevron and privates and recruits both wore none.) The five riflemen of the “Charlie” team, now led by the squad leader, remained as the maneuver element.

Also, in 1948, the rank title of the platoon sergeant changed from technical sergeant (which was eliminated) to [[Sergeant first class#United States|sergeant first class]] (SFC) (grade 2) and the rank title of first sergeant was again eliminated, being retained only as an occupational title for the senior NCO of a company. In 1951 the pay grades were reversed, with master sergeant becoming E-7 (vice the previous grade 1) and sergeant first class becoming E-6, so that the squad leader became a sergeant (E-5) and the assistant squad leader, a corporal (E-4). (With PFC, PVT, and RCT being E-3, E-2, and E-1, respectively.)
   
In the 1956 the Army began reorganizing into its "[[Pentomic]]” plan under the [[Pentomic#Organization|ROCID]] (Reorganization of Current Infantry Divisions) TO&Es. The rifle squad was reorganized into an eleven-man organization with a sergeant (E-5) as squad leader and two five-man [[Fire team#United States|fire teams]].{{sfn|Mahon et al.|1972|p=91}} Each fire team consisted of a corporal (E-4) team leader, an automatic rifleman, an assistant automatic rifleman, a [[Grenadier#United States|grenadier]], and a scout-rifleman. The assistant squad leader position was eliminated, with the senior fire team leader now filling this role as needed.

In 1958, with the addition of the E-8 and E-9 pay grades, the ranks of the squad and fire team leaders changed again, now to staff sergeant (E-6) and sergeant (E-5), respectively. The 1958 restructuring restored the traditional sergeant and staff sergeant rank insignia of three chevrons and three chevrons over an inverted arc, respectively. (Platoon sergeant became a separate rank title, and along with SFC, became E-7; first sergeants and master sergeants became pay grade E-8. Also, the rank of sergeant major was revived as E-9, with a new distinctive rank insignia consisting of the three chevrons and three inverted arcs of a master sergeant/first sergeant but replacing the first sergeant's [[Lozenge (shape)#Military insignia|lozenge]] with a star.)

Under the [[History of the United States Army#Cold War|ROAD]] (Reorganization Objective Army Divisions) structure in 1963, the rifle squad was reduced to a ten-man organization. This iteration of the rifle squad retained the two fire teams but eliminated the two scouts (one in each fire team), instead providing the squad leader with one extra rifleman, who could be used to reinforce either fire team or assist the squad leader as required.  An exception was in mechanized infantry units, where an additional rifleman (increasing the squad to eleven members) was assigned as the driver of the squad's [[M113]] [[armored personnel carrier]].{{sfn|Mahon et al.|1972|pp=102, 103, 106}} (Also, in 1968, the separate rank title of platoon sergeant was eliminated, leaving SFC as the only E-7 rank.)

Currently, US Army rifle squads consist of nine soldiers, organized under a squad leader into two four-man fire teams. The squad leader is a staff sergeant (E-6) and the two fire team leaders are sergeants (E-5). Mechanized infantry and Stryker infantry units are equipped with [[M2 Bradley|M2A3 Bradley]] [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s and [[M1126 infantry carrier vehicle|M1126 Stryker]] infantry carrier vehicles, respectively. Unlike the ROAD era mechanized infantry units, none of the vehicle crewman (M2A3 – three, M1126 – two) are counted as part of the nine-man rifle squad transported by the vehicles.<ref>U.S. Army Field Manual, Figure 1-5: Infantry fire team and Figure 1-6: {{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-21-8/fm3-21-8.pdf |title= The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602052948/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-21-8/fm3-21-8.pdf |archive-date=June 2, 2012 |publisher=Department of the Army |date=March 28, 2007}}</ref> The term squad is also used in infantry crew-served weapons sections (number of members varies by weapon), [[Military Police|military police]] (twelve soldiers including a squad leader divided into four three-man teams, with three team leaders), and [[combat engineer]] units. Cavalry scout squads consist of six men divided into two teams (each with a team leader and two scouts) while [[Dismounted reconnaissance troop|infantry scout squads]] consist of eight men divided into two three-man teams (each with two scouts and one radio operator) plus a team leader and assistant team leader.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Horning |first1=LTC John |last2=Kelly |first2=CPT Jake |last3=Andrade |first3=SFC Brian |last4=Ellis |first4=SFC Brian |date=2019 |title=A Different Approach to the Scout Squad for the Mounted Force |url=https://www.moore.army.mil/armor/earmor/content/issues/2019/Fall/4Horning-Kelly-Andrade-Ellis19.pdf |website=moore.army.mil |publisher=[[Armor (magazine)|Armor]]}}</ref>

====United States Marine Corps====
In the [[United States Marine Corps]], a rifle squad is usually composed of three [[Fireteam#Marine Corps|fireteams]] of four Marines each and a squad leader who is typically a sergeant or corporal, Other types of USMC infantry squads include: machinegun (7.62 mm), heavy machinegun (12.7&nbsp;mm (.50 cal.) and 40 mm), LWCMS mortar (60 mm), 81 mm mortar, assault weapon (SMAW), antiarmor (Javelin missile), and anti-tank (TOW missile). These squads range from as few as three Marines (60 mm LWCM squad) to as many as eight (Javelin missile squad), depending upon the weapon system with which the squad is equipped. Squads are also used in reconnaissance, light armored reconnaissance (scout dismounts), combat engineer, law enforcement (i.e., military police), [[Marine Corps Security Force Regiment|Marine Security Force Regiment (MSFR), and Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST)]] companies. On 9 May 2018, it was announced that a USMC squad would be reduced to 12 Marines, with three fire teams of three Marines each with two new positions: an assistant squad leader and a squad systems operator.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marines.mil/News/Press-Releases/Press-Release-Display/Article/1516580/marines-announce-changes-to-ground-combat-element-aimed-at-improving-lethality/|title=Marines announce changes to ground combat element aimed at improving lethality and agility|date=9 May 2018|website=marines.mil|access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref> Beginning in 2019, the structure had been changed to 15 men; assistant automatic riflemen were replaced with grenadiers and anti mechanized infantry became a new addition to Marine fireteams. All M16A4 rifles and M4A1 carbines were to be replaced with the [[M27 infantry automatic rifle]]. Depending on the mission, automatic rifleman may use the [[M249 light machine gun]] instead of the M27 IAR.<ref>{{Cite web|last=South |first=Todd |url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/04/19/all-of-the-marine-m27-rifles-are-in-if-youre-not-a-grunt-or-working-with-them-youre-not-getting-one/|title=All of the Marine M27 rifles are in ― if you're not a grunt or working with them, you're not getting one|website=Marine Corps Times|date=19 April 2019|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501075640/https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/04/19/all-of-the-marine-m27-rifles-are-in-if-youre-not-a-grunt-or-working-with-them-youre-not-getting-one/|archive-date=1 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/08/09/15-marine-rifle-squad-an-exclusive-look-inside-the-future-infantry/|title=15-Marine rifle squad: An exclusive look inside the future infantry|date=10 August 2019|website=Marine Corps Times|access-date=10 August 2019}}</ref> In April 2025, the Marine Corps returned to a 13-man squad structure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-rifle-squads-commandant/|title=The Marine Corps has settled the debate over the size of a rifle squad|date=7 April 2025|website=Task & Purpose|access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2025/04/08/back-to-13-marine-squads-and-a-new-company-for-infantry-battalions/|title=Back to 13-Marine squads and a new company for infantry battalions|date=8 April 2025|website=Marine Corps Times|access-date=8 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/08/top-marine-says-service-has-finally-settled-13-grunt-rifle-squads.html|title=Top Marine Says Service Has Finally Settled on 13-Grunt Rifle Squads|date=8 April 2025|website=Military.com|access-date=8 April 2025}}</ref>

====United States Air Force====
In the [[United States Air Force Security Forces|U.S. Air Force Security Forces]], a squad is made up of three fire teams of four members, each led by a [[senior airman]], [[staff sergeant]], or [[Tech Sergeant|tech sergeant]].

====Fire service in the United States====
A squad is a term used in the US Fire and EMS services to describe several types of units and emergency apparatus.  Oftentimes, the names "squad" and "rescue squad" are used interchangeably, however the function of the squad is different from department to department.  In some departments, a "squad" and a "rescue" are two distinct units.  This is the case in New York City, where the [[FDNY]] operates eight squad companies. These special "enhanced" engine companies perform both "truck" and "engine" company tasks, as well as hazardous materials (Hazmat) mitigation and other specialty rescue functions.  FDNY's five "rescue" companies primarily mitigate technical and heavy rescue incidents, and operate as a pure special rescue unit.  Squads and rescues within the FDNY are part of the departments specialty operations command (SOC).

In other departments, a squad is a name given to a type of apparatus that delivers EMS and rescue services, and is staffed by firefighter/EMTs or firefighter/paramedics.  This type of service delivery is common in the greater [[Los Angeles]] area of California, and was made famous in the 1970s show ''[[Emergency!]]'', where the fictional [[Squad 51]] highlighted the lives of two firefighter/paramedics of the [[LACoFD]].

===Chinese National Revolutionary Army===
The squad (班), or section was the basic unit of the [[National Revolutionary Army]] (of the [[National Government of the Republic of China]]), and would usually be 14 men strong.  An infantry squad from an elite German-trained division would ideally have one light machine gun and 10 rifles, but only one of the three squads in a non-elite Central Army division would have a light machine gun. Furthermore, the regular provincial army divisions often had no machine guns at all.<ref name="ChineseProgram">一寸河山一寸血: 淞沪会战 Chinese Program on the Battle of Shanghai{{full citation needed|date=November 2012}}</ref>

=== Denmark ===
A Danish mechanized or armoured infantry squad (gruppe) consists of 4-5 privates, a sergeant, and sometimes a corporal - 6 members in total. The squad consists of two teams each containing three members.

When marching in single file, the squad members, from front to rear consist of:

* Team 2 (Hold 2)
** Let maskingeværskytte 2 (LMG2). Pointman. Armed with an [[M60 machine gun|M/60]].
** Gevær 2 (GV2). Rifleman and primary AT gunner. Armed with an [[Colt Canada C7|M/10]] and an [[AT4]]. Can be outfitted with a grenade launcher.
** Gruppefører (GF). Squad leader, sergeant. Armed with an M/10.
* Team 1 (Hold 1)
** Gevær 1 (GV1). Rifleman and squad second-in-command, either a private or corporal. Also known as Bravo. Armed with an M/10 and a grenade launcher.
** Gevær 3 (GV3). Rifleman, combat life saver and secondary AT gunner. Armed with an M/10 and occasionally an AT4.
** Let maskingeværskytte 1 (LMG1). Last man. Armed with an M/60.

===German Army===
====Bundeswehr====
The equivalent to ''squad'' is the {{ill|Gruppe (Teileinheit)|lt=''Gruppe'''|de}}, a sub-unit of 8 to 12 soldiers, in the German [[Bundeswehr]],{{sfn|APP-06|p=802}} Austrian [[Austrian Armed Forces|Bundesheer]] and [[Swiss Army]].

====Wehrmacht====
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-133-0703-01, Polen, Trupp deutscher Infanterie im Winter.jpg|thumb|right|A Wehrmacht infantry Gruppe with the MG 34 in the light machine gun role]]

During World War II the German infantry ''Gruppe'' was mainly a [[general purpose machine gun]] (GPMG) based unit. The advantage of the GPMG concept was that it added greatly to the overall volume of fire that could be put out by a squad-sized unit. The [[MG 34]] or [[MG 42]] GPMGs were normally used in the LMG (light machine gun) role. An infantry ''Gruppe'' consisted of generally nine or ten men; a non-commissioned officer (''[[Unteroffizier]]'') squad leader, deputy squad leader, a two-man machine gun element (machine gunner and assistant gunner) and four to six riflemen.

As personal small arms the squad leader was issued a rifle (as of around 1941 a submachine gun such as the [[MP 40]]), the machine gunner and his assistant were issued [[pistol]]s and the deputy squad leader and the riflemen were issued rifles. The riflemen carried additional ammunition, [[hand grenade]]s, explosive charges or a machine gun tripod as required. The riflemen would provide security and covering fire for the machine gun element.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bull|first1=Stephen |others=illustrated by Mike Chappell & Brian Delf |title=World War II infantry Tactics: Squad and Platoon |date=2004|publisher=Osprey |location=Osceola, WI |pages=22–23|isbn=9781841766621}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120925172608/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/wwIIspec/number09.pdf The German Squad In Combat]. ''United States War Department, Military Intelligence Service'', December 25, 1943.</ref> Two of the standard issue bolt-action [[Karabiner 98k]] rifles in the squad could be replaced with semi-automatic [[Gewehr 43]] rifles and occasionally, [[StG-44]] "assault" rifles could be used to re-arm the whole squad, besides the machine-gun.

===Soviet Union===
In the [[Soviet Armed Forces]], a motorised rifle squad was mounted in either a [[BTR (vehicle)|BTR]] [[armoured personnel carrier]] or [[Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty|BMP]] [[infantry fighting vehicle]], with the former being more numerous by the late 1980s.  BTR rifle squads consisted of a squad leader/BTR commander, senior rifleman/assistant squad leader, a machine gunner armed with an [[RPK-74]], a grenadier armed with an [[RPG-7]], a rifleman/assistant grenadier, a rifleman/medic, a rifleman, a BTR driver/mechanic and a BTR machine gunner.

BMP rifle squads consisted of a squad leader/BMP commander, assistant squad leader/BMP gunner, a BMP driver/mechanic, a machine gunner armed with an RPK-74, a grenadier armed with an RPG-7, a rifleman/assistant grenadier, a rifleman/medic, a senior rifleman and a rifleman all armed with [[AKM]]s or [[AK-74]]s.  Within a [[platoon]] the rifleman in one of the squads was armed with an [[Dragunov sniper rifle|SVD sniper rifle]].  In both BTR and BMP squads the vehicle's gunner and driver stayed with the vehicle while the rest of the squad dismounted.<ref>US Army, [https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm100-2-3.pdf ''FM 100-2-3 The Soviet Army: Troops, Organization and Equipment''], 4–3</ref>

===Spanish Army ===
{{see also|Section (military unit)#Spanish Army}}
The Spanish Army is made up of the following [[sub-subunit]]s:{{sfn|Codesal Fidalgo|2014|pp=59, 60 }}
* Squad ({{Langx|es|Escuadra}}), сonsisting a corporal and 2–4 soldiers
* Section ({{Langx|es|Pelotón}}),{{efn|name=Escuadra}} сonsisting of two squads and commanded by a corporal or sergeant.
''Escuadra'' formations can be divided according to the weapon they use into:
* Rifle squad: Made up of a corporal and 3–4 soldiers. Their weapon is the combat rifle.
* Machine gun squad: Made up of a corporal, who carries a machine gun, and 2–3 soldiers. Their personal weapon is the combat rifle, except for the machine gun corporal, who carries a pistol.
* Mortar squad: There are 2–3 soldiers who carry grenades for the mortar. Their weapons are rifles, except for the corporal, who carries a submachine gun.
* Grenade launcher squad: A corporal carries the grenade launcher (a bazooka-type tube), and 2–3 soldiers carry the grenades. Their weapons are rifles, except for the corporal, who carries a submachine gun.

=== Swedish Army ===
The squad, ''grupp'', in the Swedish army is organized as follows during offensive missions, according to ''Markstridsreglemente 3 Grupp'' (Ground combat regulation 3 Squad):

* ''Gruppchef'' – squad leader.
* ''Ställföreträdande gruppchef –'' deputy squad leader.
* 2 ''soldater tillika kulspruteskyttar –'' two machine-gunners.
* 2 ''soldater tillika pansarskottsskyttar –'' two riflemen with anti-tank launcher. (Typically a ''[[AT4|Pansarskott m/86]]'').
* 1 ''soldat tillika skarpskytt. –'' one marksman.
* 1 ''soldat tillika stridssjukvårdare –'' one combat medic.

During defensive missions, the two soldiers with anti-tank launchers are armed with a ''[[Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle|Granatgevär m/48]]'' or ''m/86'' instead, where one is gunner and the second loader.

==== Mechanized infantry (Strf 9040A) ====
In accordance with ''Brigadreglemente Armén Pansar-/Mekskyttepluton/-grupp 90'' (Army Brigade Regulation Armor-/Mechanized Rifle Platoon/Squad 90) from 2002:

* ''Vagnschef'' – vehicle commander
* ''Skytt'' – vehicle gunner
* ''Förare'' – vehicle driver
* ''Gruppchef'' – squad leader
* ''Ställföreträdande gruppchef'' – deputy squad leader
* 2 ''Kulspruteskyttar'' – two machine-gunners
* 1 ''Granatgevärsskytt'' – one recoilless rifle gunner
* 1 ''Granatgevärsladd'' – one recoilless rifle loader

The squad has access to six ''Pansarskott m/86s'', two ''Kulspruta 58Bs'', and one ''Granatgevär m/48''.

==Leadership==
[[File:Batalionul 191 infanterie 54.jpg|thumb|A Romanian squad of a [[BTR-70|TAB-77]] [[Armoured personnel carrier|APC]] in 2010. This is a typical [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] arrangement, with a [[PK machine gun|PK]] [[general purpose machine gun]] and a [[RPK]] [[light machine gun]] in the center and two soldiers with [[AK-47]] assault rifles and one [[RPG-7]] grenade launcher on the flanks. Another soldier provides liaison or extra firepower where needed.]]

A squad is led by a [[non-commissioned officer]] known as a "[[squad leader]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Introduction to Rifle Squad | date=25 October 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVQ6F57w8_U  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/VVQ6F57w8_U| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|via=[[YouTube]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref> His or her second in command is known as an "assistant squad leader".  In Britain and in the Commonwealth, these appointments are known as "section commander" and "section 2IC" (second in command), respectively. In the US military, a squad leader is a [[non-commissioned officer]] who leads a [[#Leadership|squad]] of typically nine soldiers (US Army: squad leader and two fireteams of four men each) or 13 marines (US Marine Corps: squad leader and three fireteams of four men each) in a rifle squad, or three to eight men in a crew-served weapons squad. In the [[United States Army]] the TO&E rank of a rifle squad leader is staff sergeant (E-6, or OR-6) and in the United States Marine Corps the TO rank is [[sergeant]] (E-5, or OR-5), though a corporal may also act as a squad leader in the absence of sufficient numbers of sergeants. Squad leaders of crew-served weapons squads range from corporal through staff sergeant, depending upon the branch of service and type of squad. In some armies, notably those of the British Commonwealth, in which the term ''[[Section (military unit)|section]]'' is used for units of this size, the NCO in charge, which in the [[British Army]] and [[Royal Marines]] is normally a [[corporal]] (OR-4), is termed a ''section commander''.

==See also==
* [[Contubernium (Roman army unit)|Contubernium]]
* [[Military organization#Hierarch of modern armies|Military organizations]]
* [[Organization of Canadian Army rifle sections during World War II]]
* [[Squadron (cavalry)|Squadron]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Wiktionary}}
=== Sources ===
{{Commons category|Military units and formations by size}}
*{{cite book |author1= |title=ADP 3-90, Offense and Defense |date=31 July 2019 |publisher= [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]] |location=Washington, DC |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN34828-ADP_3-90-000-WEB-1.pdf 
 |ref = {{harvid|ADP 3-90}} }}
*{{cite book |author1= |date=11 October 2023
 |title=APP-06, NATO Joint Military Symbology (Ed. E, Ver. 1)  |publisher= [[NATO Standardization Office]] |location=Brussels, Belgium |url=https://nso.nato.int/nso/nsdd/main/standards/ap-details/3169/EN  
 |ref = {{harvid|APP-06}} }}
*{{cite book |author1= |title=FM 1-02.2, Military Symbols |date=23 January 2025 |publisher= [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]] |location=Washington, DC |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN42848-FM_1-02.2-000-WEB-1.pdf
 |ref = {{harvid|FM 1-02.2}} }}
*{{cite journal |last=Codesal Fidalgo |first=Francisco José  |date=2014 |title=Organización de las fuerzas armadas españolas
|url =https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=4906455  |journal=Cuadernos del Tomás |lang=es |issn=1889-5328 |volume=6 |pages=49–70
|ref = {{harvid|Codesal Fidalgo|2014}} }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Mahon |first1=John K. |last2=Danysh |first2=Romana |date=1972 |title=Infantry Part I: Regular Army2 |url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-3-1/cmhPub_60-3-1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073230/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-3-1/cmhPub_60-3-1.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |series=Army Lineage Series |publisher=Office of the Chief of Military History |lccn=74-610219 |access-date=November 19, 2024 
|ref = {{harvid|Mahon et al.|1972}} }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Sattler |first1=V. |last2=O’Leary |first2=M.    |date=2010 |title=Organizing Modern Infantry: An Analysis of Section Fighting Power |url =https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/dn-nd/D12-11-13-3-eng.pdf  |journal=Canadian Army Journal |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=23–52 |issn=1713-773X
|ref = {{harvid|Sattler|O’Leary|2010}} }}
{{Military and war}}

[[Category:Military units and formations by size]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States Army]]