Development of the Squad: Historical Analysis
Published Date: October 1, 2000
This research memorandum is a product of the USMC Ground Combat Study, which analyzes the size and organization of small infantry units. Our goal is to use this analysis of historical changes in squad size and organization to provide the Marine Corps with an assessment of the future relevance of these units. This report explores the factors behind the emergence of squads, and how and why they have changed in size and organization with time. We believe that understanding the drivers of these changes will allow us to analyze, with some confidence, the kind of impact the complex future warfighting environments that the Marine Corps may face are bound to have on its current 13-man squad. The methodology used in this report is both historical, in that it looks back into the past; and extrapolative, in that it looks forward briefly into the future as well.
