Making a Better Fire Team Leader

Abstract

Abstract : Fire team leaders are indispensable members of an infantry battalion. Unfortunately, many junior Marines are put into these positions of responsibility without being properly prepared. Transitioning from being a member of a fire team to leading a fire team is extremely challenging. Currently, fire team leaders make decisions on the streets of Iraq that have strategic-level consequences, but the formal education process to prepare these leaders has been neglected. A possible solution is the development of a fire team leader's course. The squad leader's core capabilities listed in the Infantry Training and Readiness Manual more accurately reflect the skill sets that a fire team leader should possess, and this would be a good starting point for the standardization of training of fire team leaders. The course should focus on advanced leadership, tactics, techniques, and procedures. It should consist of an 8-week training cycle divided into stages with an emphasis on combat conditioning to include the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Methods of instruction should include lectures, demonstrations, and, most importantly, practical applications. The paper includes a proposed program of instruction for a fire team leader's course.