Marine Rifle Squad

(3) FIRST TEAM; GRENADIER; RAPID. The first fire team prepares to
fire as follows:
(a) Riflemen and assistant automatic riflemen fire their rifles at the average
rate.
(b) Fire team leaders/grenadiers fire their M-203s at the average rate.
(c) Automatic riflemen fire their weapons at the rapid rate.
2508. Fire Control
The fire control element consists of a command or signal to open fire. If surprise
fire is not required, the command, COMMENCE FIRING normally is
given without a pause as the last element of the fire command. When the
leader wants all his weapons to open fire at once in order to achieve maximum
surprise and shock effect, he will say, AT MY COMMAND or ON MY
SIGNAL. When all men are ready, the leader gives the command or signal
to commence firing.
2509. Signals
Since oral commands are likely at times to be unheard because of battle noise,
it is essential that the members of fire units also understand visual and other
signals. These signals must be used constantly in training. Standard arm-andhand
signals applicable to fire commands are described in chapter 3.
2510. Delivery of Fire Commands
Examples of complete fire commands are as follows:
a. In this example, the squad leader wants to place a heavy volume of surprise
rifle and automatic rifle (sustained rate) fire of his entire squad on
an easily recognized target:
SQUAD.
FRONT.
TROOPS.
THREE HUNDRED.
AT MY SIGNAL.
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