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Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders (2012)

Chapter: Appendix D: Marine Corps Small Units

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Marine Corps Small Units." National Research Council. 2012. Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13188.
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D

Marine Corps Small Units

The Marine Corps considers small units to be at the company level and below. Of these small units, the committee focused on the leaders of companies, platoons, and squads. Although the actual size and organization of these units depend on the type of unit and mission, Figures D.1, D.2, and D.3 provide the organizational diagrams of a typical rifle company, rifle platoon, and rifle squad, respectively.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Marine Corps Small Units." National Research Council. 2012. Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13188.
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image

FIGURE D.1 Organizational diagram of a typical U.S. Marine Corps rifle company. The company commander is usually a captain.

image

FIGURE D.2 Organizational diagram of a typical U.S. Marine Corps rifle platoon. The platoon leader is usually a second lieutenant.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Marine Corps Small Units." National Research Council. 2012. Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13188.
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image

FIGURE D.3 Organizational diagram of a typical U.S. Marine Corps rifle squad. The squad leader is usually a sergeant or corporal.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Marine Corps Small Units." National Research Council. 2012. Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13188.
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Page 104
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Marine Corps Small Units." National Research Council. 2012. Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13188.
×
Page 105
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Marine Corps Small Units." National Research Council. 2012. Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13188.
×
Page 106
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For the past decade, the U.S. Marine Corps and its sister services have been engaged in what has been termed "hybrid warfare," which ranges from active combat to civilian support. Hybrid warfare typically occurs in environments where all modes of war are employed, such as conventional weapons, irregular tactics, terrorism, disruptive technologies, and criminality to destabilize an existing order.

In August 2010, the National Research Council established the Committee on Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders to produce Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders. This report examines the operational environment, existing abilities, and gap to include data, technology, skill sets, training, and measures of effectiveness for small unit leaders in conducting enhanced company operations (ECOs) in hybrid engagement, complex environments. Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders also determines how to understand the decision making calculus and indicators of adversaries.

Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders recommends operational and technical approaches for improving the decision making abilities of small unit leaders, including any acquisition and experimentation efforts that can be undertaken by the Marine Corps and/or by other stakeholders aimed specifically at improving the decision making of small unit leaders. This report recommends ways to ease the burden on small unit leaders and to better prepare the small unit leader for success. Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders also indentifies a responsible organization to ensure that training and education programs are properly developed, staffed, operated, evaluated, and expanded.

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