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Originally Posted by Wallabies Yeah, the new guys and screw ups usually get the guns when we're stomping around the bush for a couple of weeks however on wartime operations it goes to experienced soldiers. |
It has been my experience (Army 1961-1967 [Vietnam] ... Navy 15+ years [Grenada]), that the screw-ups aren't around long enough to worry about what they carry - they end up on permanent KP or assignment as cooks. As far as the rest, depending what your squads
NORMAL tactical assignments are ... you will be issued weapons in keeping with tactical doctrine. Squad Leaders, Platoon Sergeants, and Platoon Commanders will assign weapons to those who have the qualifications and experience.
The Platoon will sometimes operate with 'Short' Squads in order to field a Special Squad. If necessary, 'Special Squads' will be made up of 'volunteered' members of the platoon's regular squads. It isn't always necessary to short the squads - sometimes a platoon will be carried over-strength in order to be able to have the Special Squad without shorting the normal 11 or 13 man squads (the normal complement I am familiar with ... I think this is still normal manning).
New doctrine and new weapons may very well have made some major changes ... however ... basic combat SOP hasn't changed all that much ... you still have to practice fire and maneuver today, as you did in battles of yesteryear. Basic differences do exist when the firefight is guerilla warfare as practiced in Vietnam. Part of the difficulties encountered, was learning new skills before you were killed - something that modern soldiers are taught at the advanced infantry training centers of today's military.
So in answer to the original question, weapons and who carries them is determined by tactical doctrine, special needs, qualification of personnel and finally - assignment by Squad Leaders, Platoon Sergeants and Platoon Commanders.