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Squad Academy

Fireteams & spacing

A squad of nine is hard to control as one big group. Splitting it into fireteams gives everyone a clear job, and gives the squad leader two teams to move instead of eight players.

Splitting into fireteams

Section titled “Splitting into fireteams”

There’s no fixed way to do this: every squad leader organises their squad differently. A typical example:

Alpha: command

The squad leader. Decides where the squad goes and talks to the rest of the team.

Bravo: anti-tank

The AT kits (LAT, HAT), one medic and a rifleman. Deals with enemy vehicles.

Charlie: anti-infantry

All the other kits, the second medic and another rifleman. Fights enemy infantry.

Why split it this way?

Each team can work on its own: both have a medic to keep them up and a rifleman for ammo. So when you suddenly have two objectives, say an enemy vehicle close by and a HAB you’re pushing, you can split the squad in two: Bravo chases the vehicle while Charlie goes for the HAB.

Spacing when you move

Section titled “Spacing when you move”

Forget rigid formations: they’re too slow to adapt in Squad. What matters is spacing. Keep a wide, loose spread, at least 6 m between every player, with the medics in the centre.

Spread out
≥ 6 m

At least 6 m between every player, loosely staggered so everyone can shoot forward and to the sides. Medics in the centre, where they're safest and closest to everyone.

Too tight
One grenade,most of the squad

Bunched up, one grenade, burst or mortar round takes out several players, medics included.

squad leader   medic   other players   arrow = direction of travel

Assaulting a position

Section titled “Assaulting a position”

The basic idea is fire and movement: one team shoots, the other moves. Never have everyone moving in the open at once.

When you come under fire
  1. 1Find the source

    Establish where the fire is coming from.

  2. 2Suppress

    Fire back to keep the enemy’s heads down.

  3. 3Tell your squad

    Call it out: what, where, how far. Mark it on the map.

  4. 4Get a crossfire

    Pinned down? Ask someone else who can hit the enemy from another angle.

  5. 5Burn their rally

    Send one player round the flank to find and burn the enemy rally.

Plan the attack before you set off: put a marker on the map for your route so everyone knows where they’re going.

Adapt to the ground

Section titled “Adapt to the ground”
1Open ground

Team fire and movement: one fireteam covers while the other bounds forward, then swap.

2Open ground into woods

Use the good flank routes: smoke, suppress and flank into the treeline.

3Hard position uphill

Covered flanks but a tough climb: smoke, suppress and flank. Don’t walk straight up the slope.

Module 11 of 13Next: Anti-tank basics: vehicle weak spots