Introduction to Rifle Platoon Operations

Question 1

A rifle platoon is led by a platoon commander, typically a 2ndLt, and consists of how many rifle squads

Answer 1

three rifle squads and a platoon headquarters

Question 2

Each rifle squad is made up of

Answer 2

three fire teams and a squad leader, typically a sergeant

Question 3

A platoon also has a headquarters element, made up of a

Answer 3

platoon sergeant, platoon guide, radio-transmitter operator (RTO) and corpsman

Question 4

The Rifle Platoon Commander carries out the orders of the

Answer 4

Rifle Company Commander.

Question 5

Platoon Commander must be

Answer 5

 A man or woman of exemplary character
 Devoted to leading Marines 24/7
 Able to decide, communicate and act
 A Warfighter
 Mentally and physically tough

Question 6

The Platoon Guide is the

Answer 6

senior sergeant in a rifle platoon.

Question 7

The Platoon Guide assists the platoon sergeant with

Answer 7

administration and logistics of the platoon

Question 8

The Platoon Sergeant, Infantry Platoon, carries out the orders of the

Answer 8

Platoon Commander and Company Commander

Question 9

Platoon Sergeant is capable of performing all the tasks required of an infantry unit leader and assumes the position of the

Answer 9

Platoon Commander in his absence

Question 10

Platoon Sergeant advises the Platoon Commander on

Answer 10

the discipline, appearance, control, conduct, and welfare of the platoon

Question 11

The Squad Leader carries out

Answer 11

the orders issued to him by the Platoon Commander

Question 12

Squad Leader in combat is responsible for

Answer 12

the tactical employment, fire discipline, fire control, and maneuver of his squad

Question 13

The Fire Team Leader carries out

Answer 13

the orders of the Squad Leader

Question 14

In addition to his primary duties as a leader, and as per unit SOP, the Fire Team Leader may serve as

Answer 14

a Grenadier and is responsible for the effective employment of the grenade launcher, his rifle, and for the condition and care of his fire team’s weapons and equipment.

Question 15

The RTO is responsible for

Answer 15

establishing and maintaining communications between higher, adjacent, and supporting units

Question 16

The Platoon Corpsman is responsible for

Answer 16

the health, sanitation, first aid training, and casualty care of the platoon.

Question 17

A rifle company is led by a

Answer 17

company commander, typically a captain, and consists of three rifle platoons, a weapons platoon, and a company headquarters

Question 18

The company headquarters is led by a

Answer 18

company executive officer, typically a first lieutenant, and includes a company first sergeant, company gunnery sergeant, company clerk, police sergeant, and company corpsman

Question 19

The Rifle Company Commander, Infantry Battalion, carries out the orders of

Answer 19

the Infantry Battalion Commander

Question 20

The Executive Officer, Rifle Company carries out the orders of

Answer 20

the Rifle

Company Commander and serves as Company Commander in his absence.

Question 21

The Company Gunnery Sergeant carries out the orders of

Answer 21

the rifle company commander

Question 22

The Company First Sergeant assists the commander as

Answer 22

senior enlisted Marine in the unit, and acts as principal enlisted assistant to the commander; the first sergeant may be of any MOS background.

Question 23

Marine Corps units normally undertake offensive operations to:

Answer 23

 Destroy enemy forces, equipment, and resources
 Disrupt enemy actions or preparations
 Deceive and divert the enemy
 Deprive the enemy of terrain relevant to his objective
 Fix the enemy in place
 Gain information on the enemy

Question 24

The four general types of offensive operations are

Answer 24

 Movement to Contact
 Attack
 Exploitation
 Pursuit

Question 25

Movement to contact is an offensive operation conducted to

Answer 25

establish or regain contact with the enemy

Question 26

The purpose of the attack is to

Answer 26

defeat, destroy, or neutralize the enemy

Question 27

An attack emphasizes maximum application of combat power, coupled with:

Answer 27

 Bold maneuver
 Shock effect in the assault
 Prompt exploitation of success

Question 28

eight different types of attacks are

Answer 28

Hasty Attack
Deliberate Attack
Spoiling Attack
Counterattack
Feint
Reconnaissance in Force
Raid
Demonstration

Question 29

Exploitation, an offensive operation usually following an attack, is designed to

Answer 29

disorganize the enemy in depth

Question 30

Pursuit is an offensive operation designed to

Answer 30

catch or cut off and destroy the enemy attempting to escape

Question 31

the defense achieves one or more of the following purposes:

Answer 31

 To force the enemy to reach his culminating point without achieving his objectives
 To rapidly gain and maintain the initiative for friendly forces
 To create opportunities to shift to the offense

Question 32

A key characteristic of a sound defense is the ability of the commander to aggressively seek opportunities to

Answer 32

take offensive action and wrestle the initiative from the enemy

Question 33

two general types of defensive operations are

Answer 33

 Position defense

 Mobile defense

Question 34

Position defense focuses on

Answer 34

the retention of terrain by absorbing the enemy in an interlocking series of positions and destroying him largely by fires.

Question 35

In position defense, the commander

Answer 35

 Employs security forces
 Depends on his static forces to defend their positions
 Position the bulk of his combat power in the static defensive positions and small mobile reserves
 Has sufficient time to prepare positions

Question 36

A mobile defense is the defense of

Answer 36

an area in which maneuver is used together with fire and terrain to seize the initiative from the enemy.

Question 37

In a mobile defense, the commander

Answer 37

 Commits minimum forces to a pure defense

 Employs a strong, mobile counterattack force to strike the enemy at his most vulnerable time and place

Question 38

The following circumstances favor the conduct of a mobile defense.

Answer 38

 The frontage exceeds the defender’s capability to establish an effective position defense
 Time for preparing defensive positions is limited
 The mission does not require denying the enemy specific terrain