ARTICLES

6/18/104
Coy HQ
Coy Comd (Lt)
CSM (MWO)
Coy Signaller (C-P)
Coy Driver (C-P)
Coy CP
Coy 2IC (Capt)
Coy Sigs NCO (MCpl)
2 x CP Op (C-P)
CQMS
CQMS (WO)
CQ 2IC (MCpl)
2 X Storeman (C-P)
Coy Tpt
Tpt Sgt (Sgt)
Tpt 2IC (C-P)
2 x Driver (C-P)
Figure 4: Rifle company
to find, fix and strike battalion objectives using its organic resources. The battalion’s organic
element to facilitate the find function is the reconnaissance (recce) platoon, which contains a
headquarters, recce sections and the sniper group. The battalion is a large and robust organization:
both the recce and sniper elements have grown over the last 20 years. The most current
doctrinal source, B-GL-394-002, Ground Manoeuvre Reconnaissance, establishes infantry recce
platoons at four recce sections of eight and two sniper sections of eight. Combined with a
headquarters and the two warrant officers with stores, this organization is large at 61 personnel.
Is this doctrinal recce platoon fit for the purpose? The four-soldier fire team, called a patrol or
detachment in recce/sniper parlance, is entirely suitable in allowing for sustainable missions
forward of friendly forces able to conduct adequate security and rest, something impossible
with two and difficult with three. However, the large recce platoon may be a case of too much
of a good thing. Generally composed of the top soldiers (with snipers drawn from the best of
the recce patrolmen), the recce platoon draws personnel for highly skilled positions, creating
a large demand on the companies to provide soldiers and the requirement to run numerous
courses to sustain enough through-put to properly man recce organizations. 14
What may be optimal is a small reduction in the number of snipers and patrolmen in the
battalion to a more sustainable figure. Moving to a single section of three four-person sniper
teams (detachments) for a total of 12 snipers still provides the CO with excellent capability.
66 THE CANADIAN ARMY JOURNAL VOLUME 16.2 2016