In military terms, a squad is a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer. It is larger than a team but smaller than a section. In the U.S. Army, a squad typically consists of eight to fourteen soldiers and may be subdivided into fireteams. This organizational structure is fundamental to military operations.
In 1920, the enlisted rank structure was simplified, establishing seven grades ranging from master sergeant to private. Staff sergeant was created as a new rank title.
In 1920, the rank of lance corporal, which the Army had in varying numbers and conditions from at least 1821, was abolished.
In 1939, under the Triangular Division organization plan, rifle squads were reorganized into 12-man units of three elements, reporting directly to the platoon commander. A PFC was assigned as assistant to the squad leader.
In 1940, the command weakness of the large squad became obvious, leading to the addition of a second NCO to the squad. The position of "assistant to platoon commander" was re-designated as "platoon leader".
Around 1941, the squad leader was issued a submachine gun such as the MP 40. The machine gunner and his assistant were issued pistols, and the deputy squad leader and the riflemen were issued rifles.
In 1942, the Army had a massive restructuring of its Tables of Organization & Equipment (TO&Es) and increased the rank of the squad leader and assistant squad leader to staff sergeant and sergeant, respectively.
In 1943 the position of "platoon leader" was re-designated as "platoon sergeant".
In 1948, the Army downsized the rifle squad to a nine-man organization, as post-war analysis showed that the 12-man squad was too large. The squad leader was called a sergeant, and the two scouts of the Able element and the Baker element's ammunition bearer were eliminated.
In 1948, the rank title of the platoon sergeant changed from technical sergeant to sergeant first class (SFC).
In 1951, the pay grades were reversed, with master sergeant becoming E-7 and sergeant first class becoming E-6. The squad leader became a sergeant (E-5), and the assistant squad leader, a corporal (E-4).
In 1956, the Army began reorganizing into its "Pentomic" plan under the ROCID TO&Es. The rifle squad was reorganized into an eleven-man organization with a sergeant as squad leader and two five-man fire teams. The assistant squad leader position was eliminated.
In 1958, with the addition of the E-8 and E-9 pay grades, the ranks of the squad and fire team leaders changed to staff sergeant and sergeant, respectively. The traditional sergeant and staff sergeant rank insignia were restored.
In 1963, under the ROAD structure, the rifle squad was reduced to a ten-man organization, retaining the two fire teams but eliminating the two scouts.
In 1968, the separate rank title of platoon sergeant was eliminated, leaving SFC as the only E-7 rank.
In 2002, Army Brigade Regulation Armor-/Mechanized Rifle Platoon/Squad 90 was released.
On May 2018, it was announced that a USMC squad would be reduced to 12 Marines, with three fire teams of three Marines each with two new positions: an assistant squad leader and a squad systems operator.
In 2019, the USMC squad structure was changed to 15 men, assistant automatic riflemen were replaced with grenadiers, and anti mechanized infantry became a new addition to Marine fireteams. All M16A4 rifles and M4A1 carbines were to be replaced with the M27 infantry automatic rifle.
In April 2025, the Marine Corps returned to a 13-man squad structure.
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