Section (military unit)

Military unit size designation

U.S. Army and Indian Army soldiers, numbering roughly the size of a section, during a military exercise

A section is a military sub-subunit. It usually consists of between 6 and 20 personnel. NATO and U.S. doctrine define a section as an organization "larger than a squad, but smaller than a platoon."[1][2][3] As such, two or more sections usually make up an army platoon or an air force flight.

In the Australian, British and Canadian Armed Forces section is a equivalent to an infantry squad:[4]

* the Canadian Army infantry section contains 2 four-Soldier assault group[5]
* the Australian / British Army infantry section contains 2 four-Soldier fire teams[6][7]
* the U.S. Army Infantry squad also contains 2 four-Soldier fire teams[8]

In this regard, in a number of Slavic languages the morphological equivalent of the word section (a separate part of an organization; Belarusian: аддзяленне, Bulgarian: отделение, Russian: отделение, Ukrainian: відділення) in military affairs also means squad.

At the same time, in a number of Romance languages the phonetic analogue of the word section (French: section, Spanish: sección, Romanian: secţie, Italian: sezione) in military affairs means platoon or a sub-unit similar to a platoon.[9]

* v
* t
* e

Army units and organization

Subordinated
element|

* Fireteam / Crew  Ø

* Squad  ●

* Section / Patrol  ●●

* Platoon / Troop / Flight ●●●

* Staffel / Echelon  ●●●●

Unit|

* Company / Battery / Squadron ❘

* Battalion / Squadron / Cohort ❘ ❘

* Regiment / Group  ❘ ❘ ❘

Formation|

* Brigade / Group / Wing ☓

* Division / Legion ☓☓

* Corps ☓☓☓

Command|

* Field army / Command ☓☓☓☓

* Army group / Front ☓☓☓☓☓

* Region / Theater ☓☓☓☓☓☓

Temporary|

* Detachment
* Chalk
* Patrol
* Field force
* Task force
* Brigade group
* Flying column
* Combat command
* Regimental combat team
* Battalion tactical group
* Battlegroup
* Group army
* Combat team

In some air forces, a section is a unit containing three to four aircraft (if it is a flying unit) and up to 20 personnel. In the U.S. Space Force two or more guardians form a section.[10]

## Land forces

[edit]

### NATO

[edit]

NATO Map Symbols[2]

A section

A mechanized infantry section

a psychological operations section

a light anti-tank section

Standard NATO symbol for a section consists of two dots (●●) placed above a framed unit icon.[2][3] The meaning of this symbol depends on the NATO country.

National designation for symbol ●● in NATO member armed forces:[11]

Use ●● for units larger than a squad Denmark  | Sektion

|

Portugal  | Secção
Slovakia  | Sekcia[a]
Turkey  | Kisim
United Kingdom  | (No equivalent)[b]
United States  | Section
Use ●● for analog of squad Albania  | Skuadër

|

Bulgaria  | Otdelenie (Отделение)
Canada  | Section
Croatia  | Odred
Czechia  | Družstvo
Estonia  | Jagu
France  | Groupe
Germany  | Gruppe
Hungary  | Raj
Latvia  | Komanda
Lithuania  | Skyrius
Luxembourg  | Groupe
Norway  | Gruppe
Poland  | Drużyna
Spain  | Pelotón[c][12]
Use ●● for other purposes  France  | Patrouille  | Patrol (reconnaissance)

|
|

Germany  | Rotte  | Pair (army aviation)
Hungary  | Kezelőszemélyzet  | Crew (armour, infantry)
Italy  | Pattuglia  | Patrol (may range from squad to platoon)[d]

### Australian Army

[edit]

At the start of World War I, the Australian Army used a section that consisted of 27 men including the section commander, a sergeant.[13]

During World War II, a rifle section comprised ten soldiers with a corporal in command and a lance-corporal as his second-in-command. The corporal used an M1928 Thompson submachine gun, while one of the privates used a Bren gun. The other eight soldiers all used No.1 Mk.3 Lee–Enfield rifles with a bayonet and scabbard. They all carried two or three No.36 Mills bomb grenades.

After World War II, and during the Vietnam War, a rifle section consisted of ten personnel comprising a command and scout group (three people – two sub-machineguns/M16A1 and a L1A1 SLR); a gun group (three people – an M60 machine gun and two L1A1 SLRs) and a rifle group (four people – L1A1 SLRs).[14][15] The section was later reduced to nine men, and consisted of the section commander, a two-man scout group, the section 2IC and two other men in the gun group, and a three-man rifle group; the section commander would usually move with the latter.[16]

Under the new structure of the infantry platoon, Australian Army sections are made up of eight men divided into two four-man fireteams. Each fireteam consists of a team leader (corporal/lance-corporal), a marksman with enhanced optics, a grenadier with an M203 grenade launcher and an LSW operator with an F89 Minimi light support weapon.[6]

Typical fire team structure:

Position | Armament

|

Team leader | F88 Steyr
Marksman | F88 Steyr w/enhanced optic (e.g. 3.4× Wildcat)
Grenadier | F88 Steyr w/M203 under-barrel grenade launcher
Machine gunner | F89 Minimi

### British military

[edit]

A section in the British Armed Forces is equivalent to a NATO squad, and the British Army has no organization equivalent to a NATO section.[17]

#### British Army (World War II and the Cold War)

[edit]

The rifle section of a Second World War infantry battalion was generally formed of a corporal as the section commander, a lance corporal as the section 2iC from April 1943 onwards, and a varying number of private soldiers depending on the year of the war. The corporal variously carried a Lee-Enfield rifle, a Thompson submachine gun, or a Sten submachine gun depending on the year of the war[e], one private would be the section gunner with a Bren light machine gun, and all other section members were armed with Lee–Enfield rifles (though the corporal might swap his machine carbine with another member of the section).[18][19] At the onset of hostilities in 1939, the section consisted of the section commander, one Bren gunner and his assistant, and five riflemen for a total of eight men;[20] in 1940, this was increased to ten men.[21] A typical section as of 1944 was divided into a 'rifle group' consisting of the section commander and six riflemen, and a 'gun group' consisting of the section 2IC and gun controller, the section gunner or Bren No. 1, and the Bren No. 2 carrying a spare barrel for the Bren gun; the six riflemen each carried two Bren magazines and a bandolier with a further fifty rounds, the Bren No. 2 carried five magazines, and the other two members of the gun group carried four magazines for a total of a thousand rounds of ammunition for the Bren. Three sections together formed a platoon, with two being forward sections and the third being a reserve.[22][23]

The 1950s initially had no meaningful changes to the infantry section and its armament save for the rifle group gaining a seventh man,[24] but later saw the replacement of .303in weapons with new models chambered for 7.62mm NATO, as well as a shift from the magazine-fed Bren to the belt-fed L7A1 (later L7A2) general purpose machine gun (GPMG). Most battalions reverted to a ten-man section organisation, with the rifle group now consisting of the section commander (corporal) with an L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) and six riflemen with L1A1 SLRs, while the gun group consisted of the section 2IC and gun controller (Lance corporal) with an SLR, the section gunner or GPMG No. 1 with the GPMG, and the GPMG No. 2 with an SLR and a spare GPMG barrel. A certain amount of 7.62mm linked ammunition was carried by all members of the section (200 rounds per gun group member, 50 rounds per rifle group member), with ammunition held by the rifle group being redistributed to the gun group prior to an assault. In a mechanised battalion, the section nominally consisted of ten men as well, but two of these were detailed as vehicle crewmen, thus giving a dismounted strength of eight men. As a result of this, a mechanised section's rifle group only had four riflemen; two of these could be detailed as a Medium Anti-tank Weapon (MAW) No. 1 with an L14A1 84mm anti-tank weapon and a MAW No. 2 with additional 84mm rounds but otherwise continued to act as riflemen (in other battalions, the MAW No. 1 and No 2 were normally part of the platoon headquarters). Rifle-launched No. 95 anti-tank grenades that had been used with the Lee-Enfield rifle continued to be made available for anti-armour defence in lieu of or in addition to the L14A1, with these later being replaced by shoulder-fired L1 66mm HEAT rockets.[25] There also were a number of M79 40mm grenade launchers available.[26]

Tactical doctrine stated that, where casualties were sustained, a section could only be reduced to one NCO and five other ranks before bayonet power in the assault or the ability to organise a proper system of double sentries at night time were fatally compromised.[27][28] Later sections would all consist of eight men (as well as any men detailed as vehicle crew) regardless of the battalion type;[28] this reorganisation also saw the rifle group being modified to consist of the section commander with an SLR and four riflemen with SLRs and 66mm HEAT rockets. In the event of a significant armour threat, two riflemen would be re-roled as a MAW No. 1 with an L14A1 84mm anti-tank gun and either a 9mm L2A3 9mm submachine gun or an SLR and a MAW No. 2 with an SLR and additional 84mm ammunition. No changes were made to the gun group.[29]

Both World War II and Cold War section tactics were designed with a view to bringing the section machine gun to bear on the enemy and providing support to it; once the gun group had suppressed the enemy ("winning the firefight"), the rifle group would assault and destroy the enemy position with the gun group providing fire until the last safe moment.[citation needed]

#### British Army (Late and Post–Cold War)

[edit]

The introduction of the 5.56mm select-fire SA80 series (L85 rifle or individual weapon and L86 light support weapon) to replace 7.62mm weapons and the L2A3 submachine gun and of the LAW 80 to replace the L14A1 gun and the L1A3 66mm rockets from the mid-to-late 1980s onwards led to the rifle group/gun group organisation being abandoned in favour of fireteam groupings, with this being officially mentioned as early as 1982[28] and being given full doctrinal definition by 1986;[30] however, sections organised according to the earlier rifle group/gun group model would still be in existence until at least 1988, with changes in such sections mostly being limited to earlier weapons being replaced by their newer equivalents.[31] The British section continued to consist of eight soldiers, but under normal circumstances these were now divided into a Charlie and Delta fireteam with each team comprising an NCO and three other men. The platoon continued, and continues, to be composed of three sections.[30][32][33]

The normal section organisation during the late 1980s, the 1990s, and the early 2000s was as follows:[30][32][33]

* Charlie Fireteam
* Section Commander/Charlie Commander (Corporal) armed with an L85A1 5.56mm rifle (Upgraded to L85A2 from 2002 to 2006)
* Two Riflemen armed with L85A1 5.56mm rifles (Upgraded to L85A2 from 2002 to 2006)
* Gunner armed with an L86A1 5.56mm light support weapon (Upgraded to L86A2 from 2002 to 2006; often replaced informally by the earlier L7A2 7.62mm general purpose machine gun owing to the L86's shortcomings in the section machine gun role, and later officially replaced by the L110A2 5.56mm light machine gun[34])
* Delta Fireteam
* Section 2IC/Delta Commander (Lance Corporal) armed with an L85A1 5.56mm rifle (Upgraded to L85A2 from 2002 to 2006)
* Two Riflemen armed with L85A1 5.56mm rifles (Upgraded to L85A2 from 2002 to 2006)
* Gunner armed with an L86A1 5.56mm light support weapon (Upgraded to L86A2 from 2002 to 2006; often replaced informally by the earlier L7A2 7.62mm general purpose machine gun owing to the L86's shortcomings in the section machine gun role, and later officially replaced by the L110A2 5.56mm light machine gun)

This grouping provided a balanced organisation, with either fireteam being capable of moving to assault or supporting the other fireteam's movement (though doctrine still had the Lance Corporal's fireteam providing covering fire in the initial stages of a section attack). The fireteam concept was intended to introduce an element of flexibility,[35] and consequently two other section groupings were devised; an assault team/support team grouping where the Delta fireteam (consisting of the section 2IC, a rifleman, and both section gunners) was responsible for covering the Charlie fireteam (consisting of the section commander and three riflemen, though this could be raised to four if the rifleman in the Delta fireteam was moved to the Charlie fireteam[32]) during the latter's movement from one position to another, and a modified version of the earlier rifle group/gun group organisation, used if it was felt that the strongest possible manoeuvre force was required, where both section gunners formed the gun group and all remaining personnel formed the Charlie fireteam which acted as the rifle group. There were also groupings devised in relation to specific combat scenarios; sections engaged in trench clearing could either be organised as usual or be split into four assault teams of two men each, while sections tasked with clearing a house were organised into a command group, a covering group comprising both section gunners (and possibly the section 2IC), and two assault groups of two riflemen each.

Fireteams could also be split into smaller sub-divisions of two men each outside of these groupings, particularly during fire and manoeuvre. Two LAW 80 launchers (designated as the L1A1 94mm HEAT rocket system and henceforth referred to as LAWs) were part of the standard equipment allocation for each section and were carried as needed; the normal section grouping had one LAW per fireteam, while the assault team/support team grouping could have a LAW carried by one or both teams depending on the perceived armour threat. It was also possible to have the platoon's reserve section equipped with all six LAWs, leaving the two forward sections unencumbered for fire and manoeuvre and providing them with anti-armour defence. In April 1998 the Rifle Grenade General Service was introduced into service; issue was scaled at twelve L85A1 HE rifle grenades and six L15A1 rifle grenade launcher sights per section, effectively allowing all rifle-equipped members of the section to carry and use two rifle grenades each.[33]

Not all sections consisted of eight men; units mounted aboard the FV510 Warrior infantry fighting vehicle consisted of seven men, with one fireteam's second rifleman usually being the section member that was omitted. While the FV432 armoured personnel carrier can accommodate a section consisting of ten men, this is in relation to the earlier Cold War section organisation, with sections organised according to the later and post-Cold War organisation remaining at eight men.[36]

Changes were made to the section's equipment during the 2000s in response to operational demands and experience; the L85A1 rifle was upgraded to L85A2 standard between 2002 and 2006, with a further upgrade package consisting of a Picatinny rail handguard and alternative optical sights being introduced for select units in 2007 and more generally from 2009 onwards, the L123 40mm underslung grenade launcher (UGL) was introduced as a replacement for the L85A1 HE rifle grenade, the L86 light support weapon was replaced as the section machine gun by the L110A1-A3 5.56mm light machine gun acquired as an Urgent Operational Requirement, and the second rifleman in the fireteam was re-roled as a designated marksman carrying either the L86A2 light support weapon[37] or, in later years, the L129A1 7.62mm sharpshooter rifle.[38][39] By 2005[40] therefore, the normal section grouping was reorganised as follows:[41]

* Charlie Fireteam
* Section Commander/Charlie Commander (Corporal) armed with an L85A2 5.56mm rifle
* Rifleman armed with an L85A2 5.56mm rifle and L123A1-A3 40mm UGL (though this could be carried by the fireteam commander instead)
* Gunner armed with an L110A1-A3 5.56mm light machine gun
* Designated marksman armed with an L86A2 5.56mm light support weapon (Supplemented and then largely replaced by L129A1 7.62mm sharpshooter rifle from 2010 onwards)[38]
* Delta Fireteam
* Section 2IC/Delta Commander (Lance Corporal) armed with an L85A2 5.56mm rifle
* Rifleman armed with an L85A2 5.56mm rifle and L123A1-A3 40mm UGL (though this could be carried by the fireteam commander instead)
* Gunner armed with an L110A1-A3 5.56mm light machine gun
* Designated marksman armed with an L86A2 5.56mm light support weapon (Supplemented and then largely replaced by L129A1 7.62mm sharpshooter rifle from 2010 onwards)[38]

The two other section groupings were also modified; the assault team/support team grouping now had the Charlie fireteam consist of the section commander, a rifleman with UGL, and both section gunners, with the Delta fireteam consisting of the section 2IC, both section marksmen, and a rifleman with UGL. The rifle group/gun group organisation was replaced by a fast assault/fire support grouping where the Charlie fireteam consisted of the section commander with UGL and a rifleman, while all remaining personnel formed the Delta fireteam. Trench clearing and house clearing groupings remained unchanged.[41] Some units operating in Afghanistan carried on using the L7A2 GPMG as the section machine gun or included it as an additional weapon on the scale of one per fireteam; in the case of the latter, this meant that only two L85A2s (at least one of which was fitted with the UGL) were carried per section.[42] The 84mm AT-4 (L1A2 or L2A1) and then the 150mm NLAW replaced the L1A1 94mm HEAT rocket as the section anti-armour weapon,[43] though carrying arrangements were essentially unchanged;[41] the Javelin can also be carried for anti-armour capability. The L128A1 12 bore combat shotgun was introduced for use by the section point man, with this position subject to rotation within the section to avoid excessive stress for individual soldiers.[44]

The L85A2 began being upgraded to L85A3 standard from 2018 onwards, while the L86A2 and L110A3 began to be removed from service in 2019, leaving the L129A1 and L7A2 as the standard section designated marksman rifle and standard section machine gun respectively.[45] With section commanders now also being able to tailor equipment formations as needed instead of having to deploy in a pre-set lineup, the current British infantry section is as follows:[46]

* Section Commander/Charlie Fireteam Commander (Corporal) armed with an L85A2/A3 5.56 mm rifle
* Section 2IC/Delta Fireteam Commander (Lance Corporal) armed with an L85A2/A3 5.56 mm rifle
* Four Riflemen (Privates) armed with L85A2/A3 5.56 mm rifles, two of which will normally be equipped with an L123A3 40 mm UGL.
* Gunner (Private) armed with an L7A2 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun (at the section commander's discretion, the gunner can be re-designated as an additional rifleman with an L85A2/A3 5.56 mm rifle)
* Designated marksman (Private) armed with an L129A1 7.62 mm sharpshooter rifle

#### Royal Marines

[edit]

The Royal Marines have generally fielded sections that have been organised similarly to those of the British Army. Under the Future Commando Force programme, however, smaller section organisations are currently being trialled.[47]

#### Cadet Forces

[edit]

The Army Cadet Force and the Army Sections of the Combined Cadet Force also make use of infantry sections; these are equipped similarly to their British Army counterparts though with explosives limited to smoke grenades and hand-fired rocket flares,[48] and with a different small arms selection.[note 1] The following section groupings were used until 2018:

* Normal section grouping (Until 1990)[28]
* Rifle group
* Section Commander (Corporal) armed with a No. 4 .303 rifle (Partially and then completely substituted by the L98A1 5.56mm cadet GP rifle in the late 1980s and the 1990s)[49]
* Five Riflemen armed with No. 4 .303 rifles (Partially and then completely substituted by L98A1 5.56mm cadet GP rifles in the late 1980s and the 1990s)
* Gun group
* Section 2IC (Lance Corporal) armed with a No. 4 .303 rifle (Partially and then completely substituted by the L98A1 5.56mm cadet GP rifle in the late 1980s and the 1990s)
* Gunner armed with a Bren .303 light machine gun
* Normal section grouping (1990 onwards)[50][51]
* Charlie Fireteam
* Section Commander/Charlie Commander (Corporal) armed with an L98A1/A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifle
* Two Riflemen armed with L98A1/A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifles
* Gunner armed with an L86A1/A2 5.56mm light support weapon
* Delta Fireteam
* Section 2IC/Delta Commander (Lance Corporal) armed with an L98A1/A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifle
* Two Riflemen armed with L98A1/A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifles
* Gunner armed with an L86A1/A2 5.56mm light support weapon
* Assault team/Support team grouping (2013 onwards)[51]
* Charlie Fireteam (Assault team)
* Section Commander/Charlie Commander (Corporal) armed with an L98A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifle
* Three Riflemen armed with L98A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifles
* Delta Fireteam (Support team)
* Section 2IC/Delta Commander (Lance Corporal) armed with an L98A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifle
* Two Gunners armed with L86A2 5.56mm light support weapons
* Rifleman armed with an L98A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifle
* Fast assault/Fire support grouping (2013 onwards)[51]
* Charlie Fireteam (Fast assault)
* Section Commander/Charlie Commander (Corporal) armed with an L98A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifle
* Rifleman armed with an L98A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifle
* Delta Fireteam (Fire support)
* Section 2IC/Delta Commander (Lance Corporal) armed with an L98A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifle
* Three Riflemen armed with L98A2 5.56mm cadet GP rifles
* Two Gunners armed with L86A2 5.56mm light support weapons

L86A2s in Cadet Forces use began to be withdrawn from service at the same time as those held by the British Armed Forces, with no direct replacement for the weapon being identified;[52] as such, all members of an Army Cadet Force or Combined Cadet Force section are currently riflemen armed with L98A2s.[53]

### Canadian Army

[edit]

See also: Organization of Canadian Army rifle sections during World War II

The Canadian Army also uses the section, which is roughly the same as its British counterpart, except that it is led by a sergeant, with a master corporal as the 2IC.[54] The section is further divided into two assault groups of four soldiers each (equivalent to the Australian and British fireteams) and a vehicle group consisting of a driver and a gunner. Assault groups are broken down to even smaller 'fireteams' consisting of two soldiers, designated Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. Alpha and Bravo make up Assault Group 1; Charlie and Delta make up Assault Group 2. The section commander will have overall control of the section, and is assigned to Fireteam Alpha of Assault Group 1. The 2IC will be in command of Assault Group 2, and is assigned to Fireteam Charlie.

Groupings are as follows:[55]

* Assault Group 1
* Fireteam Alpha
* Section Commander armed with a C7 rifle/C8 carbine.
* LMG Gunner armed with a C9 light machine gun.
* Fireteam Bravo
* Rifleman armed with a C7 rifle.
* Grenadier armed with a C7 rifle and an underslung M203 grenade launcher.
* Assault Group 2
* Fireteam Charlie
* Section 2IC armed with a C7 rifle/C8 carbine.
* LMG Gunner armed with a C9 light machine gun.
* Fireteam Delta
* Rifleman armed with a C7 rifle.
* Grenadier armed with a C7 rifle and an underslung M203 grenade launcher.
* Vehicle Group
* Driver armed with a C8 carbine.
* Vehicle Gunner armed with a C8 carbine.

In a mechanised section, the vehicle group gains a commander and stays with the section vehicle (Currently the LAV VI), while the second assault group loses its rifleman[56]

### Danish Army

[edit]

In the Danish Army, a section is a smaller military unit, which within the infantry consists of individual groups of approximately 16 men, or which denotes a reduced platoon. The unit is normally led by a Oversergent (OR-7) or Sergeant (OR-5), who is called a section leader, and who is often also a group leader for one of the section's groups. There is typically a sergeant as second-in-command; this acts as a group leader for the other of the two groups that the section usually consists of.[57]

Sections are usually highly specialized support units providing heavy weapons support, EOD support etc.

### Finnish Army

[edit]

A Finnish infantry section[note 2] or ryhmä consists of one section commander or ryhmänjohtaja, one section 2IC or ryhmänvarajohtaja, and six or seven other soldiers.[58][59][60]

The standard section organisation, a "half-section" (puoliryhmä) model, is as follows:[58][59][60]

* First half-section
* Section Commander armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.
* First fire-and-manoeuvre team (Taistelijapari)
* Machine gunner armed with a 7.62 KK PKM general purpose machine gun.
* Rifleman armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.
* Second half-section
* Second fire-and-manoeuvre team
* Two riflemen armed with 7.62 RK 62 series rifles and 66 KES anti-tank weapons
* Third fire-and-manoeuvre team
* Rifleman armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.
* Section 2IC armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.
* Driver armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.

The section can also be divided into three equally sized fireteams, with organisation being as follows:[58][59][60]

* Section commander's fireteam (Ryhmänjohtajan partio)
* Fireteam leader (Section Commander) armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.
* Combat lifesaver armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.
* Designated marksman armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle with enhanced optics.
* Point fireteam (Kärkipartio)
* Fireteam leader (Section 2IC) armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.
* Machine gunner armed with a 7.62 KK PKM general purpose machine gun.
* Rifleman armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle and a 66 KES anti-tank weapon
* Support fireteam (Tukipartio)
* Fireteam leader (To be appointed by the section commander) armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.
* Machine gunner armed with a 7.62 KK PKM general purpose machine gun.
* Engineer armed with a 7.62 RK 62 series rifle.

### French Army

[edit]

In the French Army, the word section describes an organization equivalent to an English-language platoon and is a subunit of a company, in most military contexts. (In cavalry or armoured units, a subunit of a company is a peloton [platoon].)

The equivalent organization to a NATO section is a groupe de combat ("combat group"), which is divided into:

* a "300 metre fireteam" armed with HK 416 5.56 mm assault rifles and carrying an AT4 anti-tank weapon and
* a "600 metre fireteam", armed with a FN Minimi, a HK 416 and a personal grenade launcher.

### Irish Army

[edit]

In the Irish Army, the infantry section consists of one Corporal or Ceannaire as section commander and eight other ranks. Section armament consists of eight Steyr AUG A1 rifles (including versions reconfigured to Mod 14 standard with a Picatinny rail and an ACOG 4x magnification optical sight), with two of these being equipped with an M203 grenade launcher, and one FN MAG 58 general purpose machine gun; two soldiers are additionally armed with AT4 short range anti-armour weapons (SRAAW) for anti-armour defence, while Heckler & Koch USP pistols are available for distribution at the platoon level. Three sections together with a headquarters element form a platoon.[61]

### Singapore Army

[edit]

Singapore Army's infantry section consists of seven men led by a Third Sergeant and assisted by a Corporal or Corporal First Class as 2IC. Each section is divided into one 3-man group – including the section commander, and two 2-man groups. Weapons carried by each section include two light anti-tank weapons, two section automatic weapons (SAW), and two M203 grenade launchers.[citation needed]

### South African Army

[edit]

In the South African Army Infantry Formation (which is responsible for all South African Army infantry), the standard infantry section is divided into a seven-man rifle group and a three-man machine gun group as per the earlier British model; the rifle group consists of a section commander (Corporal) and six riflemen, all armed with R4 5.56mm rifles, while the gun group consists of a section 2IC (Lance Corporal) with a R4 5.56mm rifle, a Machine Gun No. 1 with an FN MAG 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, SS-77 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, or Mini-SS 5.56mm light machine gun, and a Machine Gun No. 2 with a R4 5.56mm rifle. In a mechanised infantry section, the rifle group is reduced to five men for a total of eight men in the section.[62][63]

### Spanish Army

[edit]

The Spanish Army is made up of the following sub-subunits:[64]

* Squad (Spanish: Escuadra),[65] сonsisting a corporal and 2–4 soldiers
* Section (Spanish: Pelotón),[f] 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.

Pelotón formations can be divided into:

* Rifle section: Consisting of two rifle squads or one rifle squad and one machine gun squad.
* Mixed section: Consisting of one rifle squad and one mortar or grenade launcher squad.
* Mortar section: A unit consisting of a corporal, 1–2 corporals, and 5–8 soldiers.
* Missile section: A special section armed with a missile launcher.
* RCL section: A special section armed with a M40 recoilless rifle. Consisting of a first corporal, unit leader, a corporal or private driver, a corporal shooter, and 4–6 support soldiers. All carry submachine guns.

### United States Army

[edit]

Historically, a section of US Infantry was a "half platoon" (the platoon itself being a "half company"). The section was led by a sergeant assisted by one or (later) two corporals and consisted of a total of from 12–50 soldiers, depending on the time period.[66] The section is used as an administrative formation and may be bigger than the regular squad formation often overseen by a Staff Sergeant. The modern examples of a section as half a platoon are:

* a tank platoon includes four main battle tanks organized into two sections (A, B), with two tanks in each section [67]
* the mechanized Infantry platoon is equipped with four BFVs and is divided into two vehicle sections (A, B) as mounted element with three Infantry squads as dismounted element [68][69]
* the Armored brigade combat team (ABCT) scout platoon, the Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT) Cavalry squadron scout platoon and the Infantry brigade combat team (IBCT) mounted scout platoon have 6 vehicles, which can be divided into 2 sections (A, B) of 3 vehicles or 3 sections (A, B, HQ) of 2 vehicles [70]
* the Infantry weapons company has a company headquarters and four assault platoons; each assault platoon has two sections of two squads and a leader’s vehicle; each squad contains four Soldiers and a vehicle mounting the heavy weapons [71]

Since the Stryker Infantry rifle platoon consists of four Stryker Infantry carrier vehicles (known as ICVs), it can also be divided into two sections (A, B) with two ICVs in each section.[72] The Stryker Infantry rifle platoons can fight in multiple mutually supporting maneuver elements, such as the squad leader controls up to two Infantry fire teams and a machine gun team, while a section leader commands two ICVs and an Infantry fire team.[73]

Examples when a section is one of the sub-subunits of a company or platoon:[74]

* the Infantry rifle company has three Infantry rifle platoons, a mortar section, and a headquarters section; the mortar section has two squads, each with a 60-mm mortar
* the headquarters and headquarters company of the Infantry battalion consists the battalion command section, battalion staff sections, the company headquarters, the battalion’s medical, mortar, and scout platoons, signal and retransmission sections, and sniper squad; the battalion command section consists of the battalion commander, the battalion executive officer (XO), and the battalion command sergeant major
* the medical platoon of the Infantry battalion is configured with a headquarters element, medical treatment squad, ambulance squad (ground), and combat medic section

Examples of combat medic section depending on the type of medical platoon:[75]

Type of medical platoon  | Number of servicemen in the combat medic section

|

Emergency care sergeants  | Combat medics
Combined arms battalion (armored) medical platoon  | 1  | 6
Combined arms battalion (infantry) medical platoon  | 2  | 7
Stryker battalion medical platoon  | 3  | 11
Infantry battalion medical platoon  | 3  | 12

### United States Marine Corps

[edit]

The USMC employs sections as intermediate tactical echelons in infantry, armored vehicle units (individual vehicles being the base tactical element), and low altitude air defense (LAAD) units, and as the base tactical element in artillery units. Infantry sections can consist of as few as eight Marines (heavy machinegun section) to as many as 32 in an 81-mm mortar section. In headquarters, service, and support units throughout the USMC (CE, GCE, ACE, and LCE), sections are used as functional sub-units of headquarters or platoons. For example, the intelligence section (S-2) of a battalion or squadron headquarters; the communications-electronics maintenance section, communication platoon, regimental headquarters company; armory section, Marine aviation logistics squadron. In Marine aircraft squadrons, section is also used to designate a flight of two or three aircraft under the command of a designated section leader. Some sections, such as weapons platoon sections are led by a staff non-commissioned Officer (SNCO), usually a staff sergeant. Tank and other armored vehicle sections, as well as service and support sections, may be led by either an officer, usually a lieutenant (or a CWO, in the case of service and support units), or a SNCO ranging from staff sergeant to master sergeant. Headquarters and aircraft sections are always led by a commissioned officer. Rifle squads generally contain 13 marines.[76]

In infantry units, weapons platoons have sections consisting of the squads and teams that man the crew-served weapons.

Weapons platoon, rifle company:[76]

* a machine gun section, consisting of a section leader and three machine gun squads, each containing two machine gun teams of three men each
* an LWCMS mortar section, consisting of a section leader and three 60mm mortar squads, each containing one mortar and four man crew
* an assault section, consisting of a section leader and three assault squads, each containing two assault teams of two men each

Weapons company, infantry battalion:[77]

* an 81mm mortar platoon, consisting of a five-man platoon headquarters and two 81mm mortar sections, each section containing four 81mm mortar squads of six men each and an eight-man section headquarters.
* an antiarmor platoon, consisting of a three-man platoon headquarters and a Javelin section, containing a section leader and two Javelin squads, each having two teams of two men each, and an antitank (TOW) section, containing a section leader and four antitank squads, each having a squad leader and two TOW teams of two men each
* a heavy machine gun (HMG) platoon, consisting of a four-man platoon headquarters and three HMG sections, each having two HMG squads of four men each.

In armored vehicle units, platoons consist of sections consisting of individual vehicles and their crews:

* light armored reconnaissance platoon consist of two sections, each containing two light armored vehicles and crews
* assault amphibian vehicle (AAV) platoons consist of three sections, each section is generally organized with four AAVP7A1 vehicles and possesses the assets to mechanize one infantry platoon (or similar size supported unit)[78]
* combat engineer assault breacher sections consist of two CEV assault breacher vehicles and crews

Before all USMC tank units were disbanded in 2021, a tank platoon was completely analogous to an army one and consisted of two sections of two tanks each.[67]

In low altitude air defense (LAAD) batteries, the firing platoons consist of three sections, each consisting of a section leader and five two-man Stinger missile teams.

One Marine artillery firing battery will normally support one infantry battalion. The artillery firing battery consists of two platoons – the headquarters platoon and the firing platoon. The headquarters platoon consists of an FDC section, ammunition section, communications section, motor transport section, and liaison section. The firing platoon consists of a platoon headquarters section and six howitzer sections. A howitzer section consists of a section chief and nine cannoneers.[79]

## Air forces

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Air force units and formations

* Section/element

* Flight
* Escadrille (France)
* Schwarm (Germany)

* Squadron
* Escadron (France)
* Staffel (Germany)

* Wing (RAF)
* Group (USAAF/USAF)
* Geschwader (Germany)
* Régiment/Escadre (France)
* Aviation regiment (USSR/Russia)

* Group (RAF)
* Wing (USAAF/USAF)
* Brigade aérienne (France)

* Air division
* Air Division (USAAF/USAF)
* Aviation division (USSR)

* Tactical air force (RAF)
* Command (USAAF/USAF)

* Command (RAF)
* Numbered air force (USAAF/USAF)
* Air army (USSR)

* Air Force

In some air forces, a section is a unit containing three to four aircraft (if it is a flying unit) and up to 20 personnel. Two or three sections usually make up a flight.

The United States Air Force uses the term element, as well as section, to designate two or three subunits within a flight.

In the context of British Empire military aviation during World War I, the term half flight or half-flight was used for equivalent formations; at the time a flight was normally four to six aircraft. Hence the Mesopotamian Half Flight, the first Australian flying unit to see action, initially comprised three aircraft. After the war, the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces adopted the term section for a formation of three aircraft, while a flight was normally six aircraft. The Royal Air Force Regiment, the ground-based component of the Royal Air Force, currently employs a section structure similar to that of the British Army.[80]

During the Second World War:

* in the German Luftwaffe, the equivalent in fighter units was a Schwarm of four aircraft and, in bomber units, a Kette (three aircraft), along with headquarters and support personnel, and;
* the Soviet Red Air Force the equivalent was a zveno (three or four aircraft).

## Space forces

[edit]

See also: Structure of the United States Space Force § Field organization

The United States Space Force has the following structure of military units:[10]

* two or more guardians form a section; this is also referred to as an “element” in basic training
* a flight comprises Individual guardians or sections
* two or more flights form a squadron (commanded by major or lieutenant colonel) — the lowest level of command, usually identified by number and function
* two or more squadrons form a delta (commanded by colonel)

## See also

[edit]

* Infantry Minor Tactics
* Contubernium (Roman army unit)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ non-existent in the Slovak Armed Forces
2. ^ non-existent in the British Army
3. ^ this Spanish term usually translates as platoon, however Pelotón in the Spanish Army is equivalent to squad or section
4. ^ this formation is not an organic unit; a comparable unit is organized on a case-bycase basis in accordance with the task
5. ^ the Sten did not begin to enter service until 1941
6. ^ based on the fact that in publications of the Military Review journal the terms Squad/Team is translated into Spanish as Escuadra/Equipo

1. ^ The Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifle and Bren light machine gun were not replaced with 7.62mm weapons like they were in the Armed Forces; when the Armed Forces then adopted the select-fire L85, the Cadet Forces were instead issued with the straight-pull L98A1. While the self-loading L98A2 version that has been issued since 2009 is closer in appearance and function to the L85, it is still restricted to producing one shot per trigger pull.
2. ^ While the unit size is closer to that of a NATO squad, Sotilaan käsikirja 's official English versions (Soldier's Guide) use "section" rather than "squad".

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ ADP 3-90, p. 2–18.
2. ^ a b c APP-06, p. 57.
3. ^ a b FM 1-02.2, p. 15.
4. ^ Sattler & O’Leary 2010, pp. 26, 27.
5. ^ B-GL-309-003/FT-001, p. 2-13.
6. ^ a b LWD 3-3-7, p. 2-9.
7. ^ "Our people". The British Army.
8. ^ ATP 3-21.71, p. 6.
9. ^ APP-06, pp. 805, 806, 812, 814, 821.
10. ^ a b "Military Units: Space Force". U.S. Department of Defense.
11. ^ APP-06, pp. 797–826.
12. ^ Codesal Fidalgo 2014, p. 60.
13. ^ Ryan, Alan (2003). Putting Your Young Men in the Mud: Change, Continuity and the Australian Infantry Battalion. Land Warfare Studies Centre Working Papers. Vol. Working Paper No. 124. Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory: Land Warfare Studies Centre. p. 11\. ISBN 0-642-29595-6.
14. ^ "Military Organisation and Structure – Army: Detailed Structure". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
15. ^ "Part 5 – Battalion Organisational Structure 1965 – 1972". .4RAR Museum. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
16. ^ Manual of Land Warfare, Part Two Infantry Training, Volume 1 Infantry in Operations, Pamphlet No 2 The Rifle Platoon. Australian Army. 1986.
17. ^ APP-06, p. 807.
18. ^ Small Arms Training Volume I, Pamphlet No. 21 The Thompson Machine Carbine. London, England: War Office. 1942. p. 1\. "The machine carbine is normally the weapon of the section commander. Occasions will arise, however, when it may be advisable to give it to another man in the section."
19. ^ Small Arms Training Volume I, Pamphlet No. 2 Application of Fire. London, England: War Office. 1942. p. 1\. "The section commander normally carries the machine carbine but may nominate another man."
20. ^ Infantry Section Leading. London, England: War Office. 1938. p. 6.
21. ^ An Infantry Battalion (Higher Establishment), ref II/1931/12F/1, notified in Army Council Instructions 10th April 1940
22. ^ Kennedy, Gary. "British Infantry Battalion, June 1944 Rifle Company". Battalion Organisation during the Second World War. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
23. ^ Infantry Training, Part VIII. – Fieldcraft, Battle Drill, Section and Platoon Tactics. London, England: War Office. 1944. p. 39.
24. ^ W.O. Code No. 8593, Infantry Training Volume IV, Tactics, Infantry Section Leading and Platoon Tactics. London, England: War Office. 1950. pp. 13–14.
25. ^ Ministry of Defence (1975). Army Code No. 70711, Infantry Training Volume IX, Pamphlet No. 45, Part 1 The Infantry Platoon (General).
26. ^ "British Army: Vehicles and Equipment" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
27. ^ W.O. Code No. 9624, Infantry Training Volume IV, Tactics, The Infantry Platoon in Battle (Provisional). London, England: War Office. 1960. p. 14.
28. ^ a b c d Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (1982). Army Code No. 71295, Cadet Training Manual (CCF Army Sections). "The normal fighting strength [...] is two NCOs and six men but it can operate as low as one NCO and five men. [...] The section will be organised either into a gun group and a rifle group or into two equal sized fire teams."
29. ^ Ministry of Defence (1980). Army Code No. 71236, Infantry Training Volume IX, Pamphlet No. 45, Part 1 The Infantry Platoon (General).
30. ^ a b c Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (1986). Army Code No. 71272, Infantry Training Volume IX, Pamphlet No. 45 Part 2 The Infantry Platoon (Basic Tactics). "To use these weapons to best effect a new grouping within an infantry section has been devised. It is called the 'fire team'. A fire team is [...] a sub-unit of an infantry section normally consisting of a NCO and 3 men."
31. ^ Major (Rtd) John Hobbis Harris; Major C.J.M. Wood.T.D. (1988). The Volunteer's Pocket Book. p. 93.
32. ^ a b c Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (1998). Army Code No. 71611, Infantry Tactical Doctrine Volume 1, Pamphlet No. 1 Infantry Company Group Fundamentals.
33. ^ a b c Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (1999). Army Code No. 71641, Infantry Tactical Doctrine Volume 1, Pamphlet No. 3 Infantry Platoon Tactics.
34. ^ Grant, Neil (2016). SA80 Assault Rifles. Osprey Publishing. p. 35.
35. ^ Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (1986). Army Code No. 71272, Infantry Training Volume IX, Pamphlet No. 45 Part 2 The Infantry Platoon (Basic Tactics). "The fire team is inherently flexible and any combination of men and weapons within an infantry section can be called a fire team."
36. ^ "Organizing modern infantry: an analysis of section fighting power" (PDF). p. 6\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24.
37. ^ "The Infantry – Small Arms in the Section". British Army. Archived from the original on 27 December 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2020. "With the introduction of the Light Machine Gun (LMG), the LSW will be used for longer range (600-800m), accurate, suppressive fire. It will become the sharpshooter system of the section to out-range any potential threat."
38. ^ a b c "Front line shooting set to get sharper" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-07-26.
39. ^ "Janes | Latest defence and security news". Janes.com.
40. ^ "The Infantry – Small Arms in the Section". British Army. Archived from the original on 27 December 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2020. "an (sic) infantry section consists of two four-man fire teams each consisting of IW(2), LSW(1) and LMG(1). One IW has the Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL)."
41. ^ a b c Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (2009). Army Code No. 71882, Infantry Tactical Doctrine Volume 1, Pamphlet No. 3 Infantry Platoon Tactics.
42. ^ "Infantry: Going Long In Afghanistan". www.strategypage.com.
43. ^ "The Infantry – Support Weapons". British Army. Archived from the original on 27 December 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
44. ^ "Combat Shotgun". British Army. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
45. ^ "Out with the old for infantry weapons" (PDF). Soldier Magazine. British Army. August 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
46. ^ "Weapons of choice" (PDF). Soldier Magazine. British Army. September 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
47. ^ "Watch: What is the Future Commando Force?". Forces Network. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2023. "The service also said company personnel will work in "small, versatile teams" tailored for their mission, delivering "a more agile and lethal capability". Traditionally, Royal Marines operate in sections of eight but, as part of the Future Commando Force, Commandos have been testing these smaller groups."
48. ^ Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (2005). Army Code No. 14233, The Army Cadet Force Manual.
49. ^ Army Cadet Force (September 1989). Army Cadet Force recruitment brochure/poster (CP(A)501).
50. ^ Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (1990). Army Code No. 71462, The Cadet Training Manual Volume I.
51. ^ a b c Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (2013). Army Code No. 71966, Cadet Training, Fieldcraft, Tactics, Exercises and the Cadet Force Tactical Aide Memoire (CF TAM).
52. ^ "Reason for replacement of the L86A2 LSW for Cadet Purposes - a Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Defence". WhatDoTheyKnow. August 31, 2018.
53. ^ Capt. Nick [Morton] (9 April 2020). "Organisation and Grouping". Campbell College Combined Cadet Force. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
54. ^ "Infantry Section". canadiansoldiers.com.
55. ^ B-GL-309-003/FT-001, p. 2-14.
56. ^ Department of National Defence (Canada) (2009). B-GL-309-003/FT-00, Section and Platoon in Battle (Draft 2009).
57. ^ K.H. Kindt (2020). "Ledelse og meningsskabelse i en foranderlig hverdag ved Slesvigske Fodregiment" [Leadership and Meaning Creation in a Changing Everyday Life at the Schleswig Infantry Regiment]. research.fak.dk (in Danish). p. 4.
58. ^ a b c Defence Command Finland, Personnel Division. Soldier's Guide 2017 (PDF). p. 138\. ISBN 978-951-25-2864-6. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
59. ^ a b c Defence Command Training Division. Soldier's Guide 2020 (PDF). p. 185\. ISBN 978-951-25-3137-0. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
60. ^ a b c Pääesikunnan koulutusosasto. Sotilaan käsikirja 2020 (PDF). p. 185\. ISBN 978-951-25-3114-1. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
61. ^ "Platoon Level Weapons – Defence Forces". Irish Defence Forces. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
62. ^ Englebrecht, Leon (9 February 2010). "Fact file: The SA Infantry Corps". DefenceWeb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
63. ^ Englebrecht, Leon (19 April 2012). "Feature: The 21st Century infantry section: what road to take?". DefenceWeb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
64. ^ Codesal Fidalgo 2014, pp. 59, 60.
65. ^ Kamara, Hassan (2018). "Un nuevo planteamiento para la escuadra de fusileros de infantería del Ejército de EUA". Military Review (in Spanish).
66. ^ "Phalanx | military formation | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
67. ^ a b ATP 3-20.15 / MCRP 3-10B.1, p. 1-2.
68. ^ ATP 3-21.71, pp. 4–6.
69. ^ "U.S. Army Mechanized Rifle Company (Current)". Battle Order.
70. ^ ATP 3-20.98, pp. 1-18–1-24.
71. ^ ATP 3-21.20, p. 1-22.
72. ^ "U.S. Army Stryker Rifle Platoon (Current)". Battle Order.
73. ^ ATP 3-21.11, pp. 1–14, 1–15.
74. ^ ATP 3-21.20, pp. 1–15, 1–16, 1–21.
75. ^ ATP 4-02.4, pp. 1-32–1-36.
76. ^ a b MCIP 3-10A.3i, pp. 18, 19.
77. ^ MCIP 3-10A.3i, pp. 20–22.
78. ^ MCTP 3-10C, pp. 1–8, 1–9.
79. ^ ATP 3-09.50, p. 1-2.
80. ^ "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force.

### Sources

[edit]

Look up section (military unit) in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military units and formations by size.

* ADP 3-90, Offense and Defense (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Army. 31 July 2019.
* APP-06, NATO Joint Military Symbology (Ed. E, Ver. 1). Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Office. 11 October 2023.
* ATP 3-09.50, The Field Artillery Cannon Battery (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Army. 4 May 2016.
* ATP 3-20.15 / MCRP 3-10B.1, Tank Platoon (PDF). Washington, DC / Quantico, VA: Department of the Army / Marine Corps Combat Development Command. 3 July 2019.
* ATP 3-20.98, Scout Platoon (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Army. 4 December 2019.
* ATP 3-21.11, Stryker Brigade Combat Team Infantry Rifle Company (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Army. 25 November 2020.
* ATP 3-21.20, Infantry Battalion (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Army. 28 December 2017.
* ATP 3-21.71, Mechanized Infantry Platoon and Squad (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Army. 15 October 2024.
* ATP 4-02.4, Medical Platoon (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Army. 12 May 2021.
* B-GL-309-003/FT-001, The Infantry Section and Platoon in Battle. Canada: Department of National Defence. 1996.
* FM 1-02.2, Military Symbols (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Army. 23 January 2025.
* LWD 3-3-7, Employment of Infantry (PDF). Australian Army. 12 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-04-11.
* MCIP 3-10A.3i, Marine Infantry Platoon (PDF). Washington, DC: Headquarters Marine Corps. 10 June 2019.
* MCTP 3-10C, Employment of Amphibious Assault Vehicles (PDF). United States Marine Corps. 31 July 2020.
* Codesal Fidalgo, Francisco José (2014). "Organización de las fuerzas armadas españolas". Cuadernos del Tomás (in Spanish). 6: 49–70\. ISSN 1889-5328.`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
* Sattler, V.; O’Leary, M. (2010). "Organizing Modern Infantry: An Analysis of Section Fighting Power" (PDF). Canadian Army Journal. 13.3: 23–52\. ISSN 1713-773X.`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)

## External links

[edit]

* "US Army Table of Organization and Equipment". man.fas.org.

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* {{Ranks}}
* Vehicles and weapons
* {{Tanks}}
* {{Weapons}}
* {{Infantry fighting vehicles}}
* {{Modern warships}}
* {{Aircraft}}
* Specific modern wars
* {{Napoleonic Wars}}
* {{World War I}}
* {{World War II}}
* {{Cold War}}

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Categories|

* Lists of wars by country
* Conflicts by time

Related|

* Peace
* Peace and conflict studies
* Peace movement
* Peace process
* Disarmament
* Pacifism
* Détente
* Global studies
* Conscientious objector
* Anti-war movement
* Idealism in international relations
* Humanitarianism
* International cooperation
* Crimes against humanity
* {{International relations}}
* Categories:
* Peace organizations

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