Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad - Sakai

• Hold-off determination.
• Alternate and nonstandard shooting positions.
• Known distance field fire to 600 meters.
• Close combat firing techniques.
• Transition fire engagements.
• Rapid target identification and engagement.
• Night fire with and without additional night observation or aiming devices.
• Shooting while moving forward, sideways, and back.
• Shooting from vehicles.
Employment in Combat
Fundamentals of Tactics
1-92. The designated marksman moves and fights in combat as an integral part of the Infantry squad. He
provides precision support fire in the offense during the assault and engages targets to the maximum
effective range of his weapon in offensive, defensive, and retrograde operations. His ability to deliver
lethal, precise, and discriminating fire during stability operations forms the basis of counterinsurgency
combat. He enhances the squad's effectiveness and its ability to maneuver and accomplish its mission.
When employed tactically, designated marksmen provide precision direct fire as directed by the squad
leader. This fire limits fratricide, collateral damage, and noncombatant casualties.
1-93. The designated marksman is employed most effectively in combat situations where precision fire
versus a volume of fires is required. Types of operations in which designated marksmen are most useful
include:
• Situations in which the squad requires precision fires in an urban area containing an enemy
mixed with multiple noncombatants or in those where the applicable ROE restricts the use of
area-fire weapons.
• Close range engagements that have an immediate, critical need for precision rifle fire.
• Situations in which the unit is facing an enemy with trained marksmen or armed irregulars being
used as snipers that must be countered.
• Civil disturbances involving armed rioters mixed with noncombatants.
• Vehicle and personnel checkpoint operations in which the squad needs an element in armed
overwatch.
• Attacking specific targets identified by the platoon or squad leader.
• Covering the approach and entry of the assault element to the objective.
• Eliminating unexpected threats in and around the objective that appear and disappear suddenly
and without warning.
• Covering specific avenues of approach into the unit’s position and searching the area for signs of
a counterattack.
• Isolating the objective area by fire.
• Providing diversionary fire for an assault element.
• Covering obstacles or other key installations with precision fire.
• Situations that require precision fire on apertures, exposed personnel, muzzle flashes, or other
designated point targets.
• Situations with friendly troops on or near the objective when mortars, machine guns, and
grenade launchers must cease or shift their fires to prevent fratricide. The designated marksman
may be able to continue to fire in support of the assault.
INFANTRY WEAPONS SQUAD
1-94. The Infantry weapons squad provides the primary base of fire for the platoon’s maneuver. It is
comprised of two medium machine gun teams, two medium close combat missile (CCM) teams, and a
weapons squad leader (Figure 1-7).
28 March 2007 FM 3-21.8 1-19