Marine Rifle Squad

5.18
Section H. Defensive Procedures
5201. Troop Leading Procedures in the Defense
a. General. Upon receiving the platoon defense order, the squad leader
follows the troop leding steps to make the best use of time, equipment,
and personnel. Utilizing these steps and satisfactorily completing an estimate
of the situation, he issues his squad defensive order. This follows
the five-paragraph order format which includes —
• Information about the enemy, the location and identification of adjacent
units, and the location of supporting weapons within the squad area.
• The mission of the squad.
• The fighting positions and sectors of fire for each fire team and the principal
direction of fire for each automatic rifleman.
• The assignment of light assault weapons to squad members whose fighting
positions will cover avenues of approach for armored vehicles.
• Organization of the ground, priority of work, squad security, and any
other instructions the squad leader believes necessary.
• The administrative and supply details such as ammunition resupply and
the location of medical corpsmen and the aid station.
• Prearranged signals such as pyrotechnics or audible signals, designating
when to open fire or deliver final protective fires. The location of the
squad leader and platoon commander are also given.
b. Guidance. For troop leading procedures, see appendix C; for estimate
of the situation, see appendix D; for the five-paragraph order, see appendix E.
5202. Squad Plan of Defense
After issuing the squad defensive order, the squad leader positions his fire
teams to cover the assigned sector of fire. Before detailed preparations of
fighting positions are begun, the squad leader verifies the sector of fire of
each fire team and the ability of the fire team to observe its assigned sector.