Thread by @battle_order

1/ The 🇺🇸 U.S. Army Rifle Squad organization and equipment after the fielding of the M110A1 SDMR and M17 pistols to Squad/Team Leaders.

Now available as a poster: battleorder.myshopify.com/products/usa-s…

2/ In terms of structure, the light infantry's Rifle Squad hasn't really changed since 1985, but there have been some recent changes in equipment since the last time I did this graphic ~4 years ago.

3/ The big one is the M110A1 SDMR started to be fielded as a squad-level designated marksman rifle around 2020. The SDMR config differs from the CSASS in that it has a different stock and a TANGO6 1–6x24 LPVO

4/ The CSASS config was intended to be employed by battalion-level Sniper Teams rather than Rifle Squads. Army Snipers can employ the M110 SASS or M2010/M107/new Mk22 ASR. I'm not sure if the CSASS will be fielded en masse in that role, but it did provide a viable base for SDMR

5/ The legacy solutions for the Squad DMR were an M16A4 with a version of the Trijicon M150 RCO (which would be more significant if the squad was largely equipped with unmagnified M68 CCOs) or the Mk 14 EBR.

6/ Another change (several years old now) is the Army wants to issue to M17 pistols to Squad/Team Leaders, in addition to officers, SNCOs and M240 gunners as previously. I've heard this is reflected in certain unit MTOEs, but I've also heard some try to get out of carrying it

7/ In addition to personal weapons, each squad is authorized 2 shoulder-launched munitions (like AT4CS). These are normally carried by the Riflemen. In Stryker and Bradley units, Javelins are also squad-level weapons.

8/ M500 shotguns are also available for breaching. In the TOE, 18 are allotted to the Rifle Company, but I've heard these are meant for Team Leaders. I've been told directly by Rangers (75th) that in their exp TLs were primary breachers, so this may carry over to the regular Army

9/ This is not the same as the M26 MASS shotgun accessory, which in a BCT are generally authorized for Engineer Companies and not Rifle Companies.

10/ One element that comes down to unit variation is optics. In some units, the Trijicion RCO/ACOG (left) is prioritized for SL/TLs, while Grenadiers/Riflemen get the unmagnified M68 CCO (right). In others, the ACOG is more common.

11/ For the M249, I believe the M145 Machine Gun Optic (3rd picture) is the old "doctrinal" optic for the M249 since it's what's listed in the weapon's manual. It's the main optic for the M240. But there are lots of pictures of RCOs and CCOs in use with the M249 too

12/ One last note, Mechanized Infantry Rifle Platoons don't have a dedicated Weapons Squad like in Light/Stryker Infantry. It's common to task organize one of the mech squads as a Weapons Squad. M240B/L machine guns and Javelins are carried in the Bradleys for this purpose.