Squad Leader

MARINE

Squad Leader

Difficulty: Hard Supervisors: Command Staff Rank: Sergeant Duties: Lead your team. Follow orders from command. Guides: None Unlock Requirements: Ten hours as any squad role and Three hours as Squad RTO. Detailed Description: |__________| You are responsible for the men and women of your squad. Make sure they are on task, working together, and communicating. You are also in charge of communicating with command and letting them know about the situation first hand. Keep out of harm's way. |__________|

"All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? It's another glorious day in the Corps. A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm: Every meal's a banquet. Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation's a parade! I love the Corps!" - Gunnery Sergeant Apone, Aliens

You are the Squad Leader (SL) of one of the main squads aboard the USS Almayer. You are entrusted with the lives of your soldiers, the men and women you will be fighting with on the frontiers of space, and the battlefields on various stations and colonies. You're the one keeping your squad together, so do it right. Your role is primarily Leadership and only secondarily combat. You're practically the only one with a brain down there, so you should do most of the thinking, and let your marines do most of the shooting. Don't leave your squad leaderless by ramboing into combat and becoming a casualty. It's important to know when to fall back. Ensure that your squad makes it back in one piece.

Gunnery Sergeant Apone. The very definition of a USCM Squad Leader (From Aliens)

Should a Squad Leader go AWOL, KIA, MIA or just not wake up, a member of the squad (usually Specialists or other high-ranking marines) will be chosen by Command to become the Acting Squad Leader (aSL). They almost have the same abilities as an ordinary Squad Leader; however, the acting squad leaders issue orders ability will be weaker.

Duties

As the Squad Leader, you need a robust and sophisticated knowledge of fighting a war and protecting your squad, as well as fighting. Manage your squad's supply lines and make sure your marines make it back in one piece. No one wants another folded flag being sent home so keep as many of them alive as possible.

Know the Map

For you to survive, you need to know the ins and outs of the battlefield. There are maps of the Area of Operation (AO) located in your Squad Leader vendor. They can be a useful asset when you’re new to the role. It can also be helpful to use the online version of the map.

Communication

Use ; for your squad channel and :v for the command channel. Please communicate with command to relay any information. Your Staff Officer should be able to give you a lot of useful information about your squad's composition and whereabouts, along with what's happening with the other squads or aboard the Almayer. Additionally, you'll have access to the JTAC channel :j, use this to co-ordinate close air support as well as other supporting elements. You must follow the chain of command, meaning you follow orders from your superiors, meaning the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, and the SOs all outrank you. You should always follow their orders. This also means that if you're denied supply from the Requisitions Officer, then you're denied. If a lieutenant gives you an order, they expect you to follow it.

Automated Closet

Standard EquipmentBackpacksBeltsPouchesAccessoriesMasks

Equipment:	Description:
USCM Marine Uniform	A standard-issue Marine uniform, only worn by USCM combat personnel. There are also variants of this uniform issued to other Marine personnel.
USCM Combat Boots	Standard issue combat boots used by the USCM for combat situations.
M11 Pattern Leader Helmet	A highly durable helmet reserved for squad leaders in the USCM, has a built in camera like all other standard issue Colonial Marine helmets. Addendum: "Donator" Helmets, while looking unique are essentially a custom M10 Helmet.
B12 Pattern Leader Armor	A lightweight suit of carbon fiber body armor built for quick movement. Slightly better than the average M3 Pattern Personal Armor. Stats: Armor Melee = 25 Armor Bullet = 20 Armor Bomb = 20 Armor Internal Damage = 25 Armor Bio = 25 Armor Slowdown = 0.55
USCM Combat Gloves	Standard issue marine tactical gloves.
USCM Leader Headset	Standard issue USCM Leader headset which has an inbuilt HUD for the user that displays marine roles.

Backpack:	Description:
USCM Satchel	A heavy-duty satchel carried by most USCM soldiers. It is standard gear for most of the USCM. Holds 5 normal size items.
USCM Lightweight IMP Backpack	The standard-issue backpack of the USCM. Designed to slug gear into the battlefield. Has to be held in one hand to access items inside. Holds 7 normal size items.
L44 M37A2 Scabbard	A large leather holster allowing the storage of an M37A2 Shotgun. It contains harnesses that allow it to be secured to the back for easy storage.
H5 Pattern M2132 Machete Scabbard	A large leather scabbard used to carry an M2132 machete. It can be strapped to the back or the armor. It is one of the scabbards inside USCM Cargo Vendors or Some Marine Prep Vendors. They all start with machetes inside.

Belt:	Description:
M276 Pattern Ammo Load Rig	The M276 is the standard load-bearing equipment of the USCM. It consists of a modular belt with various clips. This version is the standard variant designed for bulk ammunition-carrying operations. Holds 5 various magazines.
Shotgun Shell Load Rig	An ammunition belt designed to hold shotgun shells or individual bullets. Holds 10 handfuls of shells.
M276 Pattern M39 Holster Rig	The M276 is the standard load-bearing equipment of the USCM. It consists of a modular belt with various clips. This version is designed for the M39 SMG and features a larger frame to support the gun. Due to its unorthodox design, it isn't a very common sight and is only specially issued.
M276 Pattern Knife Rig	The M276 is the standard load-bearing equipment of the USCM. It consists of a modular belt with various clips. This version is specially designed with four holsters to store throwing knives. Not commonly issued, but kept in service. Holds up to 6 throwing knives.
M276 Pattern M4A3 Holster Rig	The M276 is the standard load-bearing equipment of the USCM. It consists of a modular belt with various clips. This version has a holster assembly that allows one to carry the M4A3 or the MK88 comfortably secure. It also contains side pouches that can store 9mm or .45 magazines.
M276 Pattern M44 Holster Rig	The M276 is the standard load-bearing equipment of the USCM. It consists of a modular belt with various clips. This version is for the M44 magnum revolver, along with three pouches for speedloaders. It faintly smells of hay.

Pouch:	Description:
Autoinjector Pouch	A Large pouch dedicated to holding autoinjectors. Issued to squad medics, doctors and can also be found in First Responses Medical Support kits. Contains the following: 2 Bicaridine Auto injector 2 Kelotane Auto injector 2 Tramadol Auto injector 1 Emergency Auto injector Holds 7 Autoinjectors.
First-Aid Pouch	Standard issue field aid for all soldiers. Comes pre-loaded with basic medical supplies. Expended autoinjectors can be restocked at a NanoMed on the Almayer and Dropships. Contains the following: Ointment Pain-stop autoinjector First-aid autoinjector Gauze
Flare Pouch	Can hold 8 flares (including activated flare). Refillable with a M94 Flare Pack.
Fuel tank strap pouch	Two rings straps that loop around M240 variety napalm tanks. Handle with care. Can be worn by attaching it to a pocket.
Large General Pouch	A general purpose pouch used to carry even more small items and also magazines. Contains 3 slots.
Sling Pouch	Keeps a single item attached to a strap, Can contain either an e-tool, motion tracker or any medium-sized device. When an item that was attached to the sling pouch is dropped, It will return to the sling pouch.
Large Magazine Pouch	Special issue pouch that can hold up to four magazines and/or handfuls of shotgun shells. Issued to Squad Leaders and Specialists. It is one of the pouch options of the ColMarTech Automated Closet and can be ordered by Requisitions. Contains 4 slots.
Large Shotgun Shell Pouch	It can contain more handfuls of shells, or bullets if you choose to for some reason. A large shotgun shell pouch. It can contain handfuls of shells, or bullets if you choose to for some reason. Contains 7 slots.
Large Pistol Magazine Pouch	Pouch able to 6 hold pistol magazines. It is one of the uncommon pouches inside the ColMarTech automated armaments vendor in Requisitions.
Sidearm Pouch	A holster to carry pistols, typically a standard issue M4A3 handgun, or 88M4 Pistol.

Accessories:	Description:
Shoulder Holster	A traditional shoulder holster that can be attached to all uniforms. Can holster any handgun and completes the look of any hard-boiled detective.
Webbing	Sturdy mess of synthcotton belts and buckles, ready to share your burden. Holds 3 small sized items or magazines.
Brown Webbing Vest	Worn brownish synthcotton vest with lots of small pockets to unburden your hands. Holds 5 small sized items.
Black Webbing Vest	Robust black synthcotton vest with lots of pockets to hold whatever you need, but cannot hold in hands. Holds 5 small sized items.

Mask:	Description:
Gas Mask	Gas masks are available in ColMarTech Automated Closets for all marines. Does not protect the head in anyway.
Heat Absorbent Coif	A close-fitting cap that covers the top, back, and sides of the head. Can also be adjusted to cover the lower part of the face so it keeps the user warm in harsh conditions. Part of the marine uniform on snow planets.

Automated Equipment Rack

Each Equipment Rack starts with 45 points for you to spend on additional items for your deployment. These are all listed below.

Essential Squad Leader KitSquad KitUtilitiesEngineering SuppliesExplosivesMedical SuppliesSpecial AmmunitionRadio Keys

Equipment:	Description:
Operations Map	A map of the current operation area so you and other squad leaders can coordinate effectively with the command staff. For you to survive, you need to know the ins and outs of the battlefield. The maps can be a useful asset when you’re new to the role.
Mini Extinguisher	A portable fire extinguisher, highly useful for saving inventory space compared to the traditional extinguisher.
Box of Zip-ties	A box containing 14 one use zip-ties for apprehending disgruntled colonists and loose cannon marines. Found in the Squad Leader Vendor.
Laser Designators	A pair of binoculars, with a laser targeting function. It is used to mark an area for CAS or a mortar target to the targeted location. Has a targeting ID for CAS to identify which laser is which. Ctrl + Click a turf to target something. Ctrl + Click designator to stop lasing. Alt + Click designator to switch modes. Laser Designators Different Modes: Rangefinder Mode: After Ctrl + Clicking the desired target a green laser will appear after which that tile's Longitude and Latitude coordinates will be displayed in a pop up menu. Coordinates used for Mortars and Orbital Bombardments CAS Mode: After Ctrl + Clicking the desired target a red laser will appear from which any pilot doing a flyby mission can select this mark as a CAS target.
C4 Explosive Charge	C4 is typically issued to Squad Leaders, Specialists (Using the Demolitions Loadout), Engineers and Responders. C4 is primarily used for quickly breaking into secure buildings, but its also the most effective method to destroy alien tunnels. The minimum time that can be set on a charge is 10 seconds and detonates in a 1.5 meter radius. Combat Engineers and Squad Leaders start with 1 in their vendor though they can buy additional blocks for 5 points, Demolition Specialists and Scout Specialists start with 2 in their crate. Anyone with Trained level of engineering can plant C4.

Equipment:	Description:
M4RA Sniper Kit	A marine kit that gives you an M4RA, along with attachments to go alongside it. Contains the following - M4RA Battle Rifle S8 4x Telescopic Scope Suppressor Extended Barrel 2 M4RA Armor Piercing magazines
Mini Pyro Kit	A marine kit that gives you access to the powerful M240 Flamethrower along with equipment to refuel it and to extinguish any friendly fiery incidents. Contains the following - USCM Pyrotechnician G4-1 Fuel Tank M240A1 Incinerator Unit 2 Incinerator Fuel Tank 1 Large incinerator Fuel Tank (Gel) Pocket Extinguisher Underbarrel Extinguisher
M2C Heavy Machinegun Kit	A gun case containing the M2C heavy machine gun. It doesn't come loaded, but it does have spare ammunition. You'll have to order extras from requisitions. Contains the following - Machinegun Instructional Pamphlet M2C Heavy Machinegun 4 M2C Box Magazines M2C Magazine Storage Belt
M41AE2 Heavy Pulse Rifle Kit	A gun case containing the M41AE2 heavy pulse rifle. You can get additional ammunition at requisitions. Contains the following - M41AE2 Heavy Pulse Rifle M41AE2 Box Magazine M41AE2 Holotarget Box Magazine
M56D Heavy Machinegun Kit	A gun case containing the M56D heavy machine gun. You'll need to order resupplies from requisitions or scavenge them on the field. How do they fit all this into a case? Wouldn't you need a crate? Contains the following - M56D Heavy Machinegun 2 M56D drum magazines M56D Tripod Wrench Screwdriver Machinegun Instructional Pamphlet M56D Drum Storage Belt
M79 Grenade Launcher Kit	A gun case containing the modernized M79 grenade launcher. Comes with 3 baton slugs, 3 hornet shells and 3 star shell grenades. Contains the following - M79 Grenade Launcher 3 Starshell Grenades 3 HIRR Baton Slugs 3 AGM Hornets
MOU-53 Shotgun Kit	A gun case containing the MOU53 shotgun. It does come loaded, but you'll still have to find ammunition as you go. Contains the following - MOU-53 Shotgun MOU-53 Stock
XM88 Heavy Rifle Kit	A gun case containing the XM88 Heavy Rifle, a prototype weapon designed for use against heavily armored infantry targets and light vehicles. Contains an ammunition belt, two boxes of ammunition, the XS-9 Targeting Relay attachment, and the stock for the rifle. XM88 Heavy Rifle XM88 Stock XS-9 Targeting Relay 2 Boxes of .458 SOCOM XM88 Ammunition Belt
Basic Engineering Supplies Kit	Basic engineering supplies to allow you to construct fortifications and restore power to areas. Contains the following - Construction Pouch 50 Metal 30 Plasteel 15 Barbed Wire Electronics Pouch 3 High Capacity Batteries 3 APC Circuit Boards Welding Goggles

Equipment:	Description:
Whistle Costs:3 points	A whistle, usually reserved for Squad leaders and the Command Staff, to help coordinate marines. To use the whistle you can click on it while it's in your hand or you can wear it in your mask slot and then click it with an empty hand. Click and drag to take it out of your mask slot.
Range Finder Costs:3 points	A pair of binoculars, with a laser targeting function. This one is only used for gathering coordinates for mortar targets, supply drop coordinates and Orbital Bombardment coordinates. Ctrl + Click turf to acquire its coordinates. Ctrl + Click rangefinder to stop lasing. The tile's Longitude and Latitude coordinates will be displayed in a pop up menu
M2 Night Vision Goggles Costs:20 points	Grants you the ability to see in the dark at the expense of battery power.This item is fragile and can break if you are slashed in the head. If broken you will need an engineer to repair it using a screwdriver.
H5 Pattern M2132 Machete Scabbard Costs:4 points	A large leather scabbard used to carry an M2132 machete. It can be strapped to the back or the armor.
H6B pattern M2132 machete scabbard Costs:4 points	A large leather scabbard used to carry a M2132 machete. It can be strapped to the pouch slot.
Mini Extinguisher Costs:3 points	A portable fire extinguisher, highly useful for saving inventory space compared to the traditional extinguisher.
Motion Detector Costs:5 points	The Motion Detector highlights anything not wearing an ID that is on your screen and a few tiles off screen. For example, if an alien is on the other side of a wall, it will be highlighted and give off a high-pitched pinging sound. Hold the motion tracker in your hand or store it in your belt slot, and turn it on either by clicking on it or Z (in hotkey mode). Motion Tracker Range Modes: You can cycle through two different range modes, Long Range and Short Range by right clicking the motion detector and then clicking on Toggle Range Mode. Long Range: The motion detector will detect movement on your whole screen and further at a slow rate. Short Range: The motion tracker covers a smaller amount of your screen but detects movement at a faster rate.
M4 Pattern Armor Costs:30 points	A well tinkered and crafted hybrid of Smart-Gunner mesh and M3 pattern plates. Robust, yet nimble, with room for all your pouches. Stats: Armor Melee = 20 Armor Bullet = 20 Armor Bomb = 15 Armor Internal Damage = 20 Armor Bio = 25 Armor Slowdown = 0.55
Powerloader Certification Costs:45 points	A pamphlet that grants +1 to the powerloader skill, allowing you to use the powerloader.
Large Shotgun Shell Pouch Costs:10 points	It can contain more handfuls of shells, or bullets if you choose to for some reason. A large shotgun shell pouch. It can contain handfuls of shells, or bullets if you choose to for some reason. Contains 7 slots.
Fulton Device Costs:5 points	A system used by the USCM for retrieving objects of interest on the ground from a AUD-25 dropship. Can be used to extract unrevivable corpses or crates, typically lasting around 3 minutes in the air. There are 20 uses in the stack.

Equipment:	Description:
Insulated Gloves Costs: 3 Points	Protects users against electrical shocks.
Metal x10 Cost: 5 Points	Stack of ten (10) sheets of metal. Can be constructed into standard Metal Barricades or other misc items.
Plasteel x10 Cost:7 Points	A ten (10) sheet stack of plasteel. Used in the construction of durable Plasteel Barricades.
Plastique Explosive Cost:5 Points	C4 is typically issued to Squad Leaders, Specialists (Using the Demolitions Loadout), Engineers and Responders. C4 is primarily used for quickly breaking into secure buildings, but its also the most effective method to destroy alien tunnels. The minimum time that can be set on a charge is 10 seconds and detonates in a 1.5 meter radius.
Breaching Charge Cost: 7 Points	Breaching charges are primarily used for tactical entry into a room or building. The breaching charge explodes inwards towards the room it has been planted against. This means that when the charge has exploded it launches shrapnel inside the room, and can be swiftly followed up by a room entry. Unlike C4 you can stand next to the breaching charge when it explodes to take full advantage of the shrapnel launched out and push straight away. Available to Squad Engineers and Squad Leaders Additionally can be vended from the armaments vendor in requisitions and ordered via ASRS. Anyone with Trained level of engineering can plant a Breaching Charge Cannot: Break reinforced walls. Break burrower tunnels. Be planted on mobs. Timer: Minimum Timer: 10 seconds. Maximum Timer: 60 seconds.
Sandbags x25 Cost:10 Points	Holds twenty five (25) empty sandbags. Must be filled with dirt (or snow) manually. Dirt not included.
M89 Signal Flare Pacl Costs:15 points	A packet of five M89-S Signal Marking Flares. Used for signaling close air support dropships to strafe an area.
Tools Pouch Cost:10 Points	Designed to hold all your different types of tools. Issued to Engineers, part of the Combat Technician Support Kit, or found inside the ColMarTech automated armaments vendor in Requisitions. Contains 4 slots. Holds the following items below: Screwdriver Wirecutters Security Access Tuner Wrench
Welding Goggles Costs:5 Points	A pair of Welding Goggles. Goes on the eyes slot.

Note:You have 45 points to spend on additional items.

Weapon:	Description:
M40 HEDP High Explosive Packet	Contains three HEDP high explosive grenades. Costs 18 points.
M40 HIDP Incendiary Packet	Contains three HIDP incendiary grenades. Costs 18 points.
M40 HPDP White Phosphorus Packet	Contains three HPDP white phosphorus grenades. Costs 18 points.
M40 HSDP Smoke Packet	Contains three HSDP smoke grenades. Costs 9 points.
M74 AGM-Frag Airburst Packet	Contains three AGM-F airburst grenades. Costs 20 points.
M74 AGM-Incendiary Airburst Packet	Contains three AGM-I incendiary grenades. Costs 20 points.
M74 AGM-Hornet Airburst Packet	Contains four AGM-H hornet grenades. Costs 20 points.
M20 Mine Box	Contains three claymores. Can also be acquired via Requisitions or asking a Squad Engineer if they have spare. Costs 20 points.

Equipment:	Description:
Adv Burn Kit Costs:2 points	Used to treat moderate to high burn damage.
Adv Trauma Kit Costs:2 points	Used to treat moderate to high brute damage. Also treats mild infections.
Advanced First Aid Kit Costs:12 points	Advanced first aid kit with more complicated medical supplies.
Medical Splints Costs:1 point	Used to hold that broken/fractured bone of yours in place so you don't die.
Autoinjector Costs:1 point each	Can vend an autoinjector filled with any one of the following chemicals. Unique chemicals that can only be vended in injector format are bolded. Bicaridine Dexalin+ Dylovene Inaprovaline Kelotane Oxycodone Costs:2 Points Tricord
Health Analyzer Costs:4 points	Basic tool of every single medic - this miraculous item allows you to see the patient's status, showing the damage, bleeding, internal bleeding and broken bones.
Sensor Medical Hud Costs:4 points	A much older heads-up display that displays the last known biometric data from suit sensors of any given individual. Functions nearly exactly the same as the standard issue Medical Hud except it only works if either you or the other person is wearing a jumpsuit. Requires at least 1 level in medical.

Magazine:	Description:
M41A Armor Piercing Magazine Costs:6 points	Holds forty (40) 10x24mm AP rifle rounds. Has better armor penetration, but lower overall damage.
M41A Extended Magazine Costs:6 points	Holds sixty (60) 10x24mm rifle rounds. Holds more ammunition than the standard magazines.
M39 Armor Piercing Magazine Costs:5 points	Holds forty eight (48) 10x20mm AP rounds. Has better armor penetration, but lower overall damage.
M4RA Armor Piercing Magazine Costs:4 points	Holds twenty (20) 10x20mm rounds. Has better armor penetration, but lower overall damage.
M39 Extended Magazine Costs:5 points	Holds seventy two (72) 10x20mm rounds. Holds more ammunition than the standard magazines.

Note:You have 45 points to spend on additional items.

Radio Keys:	Description:
Engineering Radio Encryption Key Costs:5 points	An encryption key for a radio headset, Allowing you to access the engineering channel with :n.
Tactics Radio Encryption Key Costs:5 points	An encryption key for a radio headset, Allowing you to access the tactics channel with :t.
JTAC Radio Encryption Key Costs:5 points	An encryption key for a radio headset, Allowing you to access the JTAC channel with :j.
Supply Radio Encryption Key Costs:5 points	An encryption key for a radio headset, Allowing you to access the supply channel with :u.

Support Equipment/Abilties

Supply Drops and Orbital Bombardment

Squad Leaders have the authorization to call in Supply Drops and Orbital Strikes. Both of these functions can be called in via the usage of Tactical Binoculars. Supply drops allow the squad to resupply in the field by airdropping supply crates, and Orbital strikes enable the Almayers heavy cannons to lock on and fire at the designated position.

Supply Drop

1. Squad Leader uses the Tactical Binoculars to find out the coordinates of a suitable drop site and relay it to the Staff Officer
2. Staff Officer input the coordinates
3. Requisitions Officer moves the crate full of supplies onto the squad's launch pad, the overwatch Launch Pad Status will then update
4. Staff Officer launches the crate
5. The crate will then be dropped near the coordinates so it's best to make sure the squad leader set the beacon in an open area

• Supply drops can penetrate up to glass ceilings (examine the floor tile to see the ceiling type).
• 5 minute cooldown between launches

Orbital Bombardment

1. Squad Leader uses the Tactical Binoculars to find out the coordinates for bombardment and relay it to the Staff Officer
2. Staff Officer input the coordinates
3. Staff Officer fires upon the Squad Leader's request

• Orbital Beacon can penetrate up to underground (but not deep underground) ceilings (examine the floor tile to see the ceiling type).

When triggered, the Almayer will fire its orbital cannon, after a short delay and target roughly the position of the beacon. It's very dangerous in roughly a 6 tile radius (13x13) around the beacon itself, depending on the munition in the cannon. It is advised to STAND CLEAR OF THE SIGHT OF IMPACT. The Orbital Cannon will then need to be reloaded by the maintenance technicians with a cooldown so it won't always be available.

Close Air Support

Squad leaders have access to the JTAC channel to co-ordinate with pilots and other support available to them. The pilots have the unique ability to launch fire missions that allow you to co-ordinate a devastating strike against your enemies. To do so, you'll need to utilize your tactical binoculars on the CAS MARKING MODE (the red laser) and lase a tile (zoom in by using the binoculars and ctrl+click a tile). The pilot will take off and target your laser. You should co-ordinate with your pilot to give a specific direction and offset of the airstrike. Once you confirm the offsets and directions (if any), the pilot will commence bombardment shortly afterwards. It is VERY IMPORTANT to keep the laser up for as long as possible in order for the dropship to fully launch the airstrike. Stopping the laser will cancel the airstrike and aborting the fire mission.

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Tactics and Fighting

On the frontlines:

Whether it’d be on small skirmishes, large-scale offensives or just the random encounters of hostiles in the AO, you and your squad will need to fend off the invaders or if you’re attacking, eliminating the hostile that is present. Be sure to put your fireman carry training to use, in order to save squad members in perilous situations. To perform a fireman carry you need to be on grab intent (yellow), then grab your target and upgrade the grab (aggressive grab) and drag their sprite onto yours while on grab intent.

• Squad organisation

You are the man that can lead from the front when ever you’re going out on patrol or moving to another location, everyone is going to follow the SL since you are the person leading them so where ever you are going, they better support you.

Your squad consists of the two to four engineers, two to four medics, one specialist, one smart-gunner and an endless swarm of grunts. Where you are the man on the ground giving orders, they will need to follow. You may want some men to cover the rear or the sides of your squad, preventing the enemy from attacking weak points.

Fire Teams

With the ability to assign fireteams, your squad can be split up into smaller teams to cover more objectives. There are currently 2 ways of selecting Fireteams:

1) Examine a marine and at the bottom of the examine tab, click on Manage Fireteams. This menu will pop up:

(You can Shift + Click to examine, if you have hotkeys enabled)

Once someone is already in a Fireteam, you can either Promote him to Team Leader, or remove him from the Fireteam, simply by examining the player again, click on Manage Fireteams, and those new options will pop up.

2) There is another option where you can manage Fireteams simply by clicking in the Squad Leader's indicator, and once again, a menu will pop up which will show a status for each marine, that you can manually input to individual marines saying if they are MIA / KIA, etc, so that may help command with the logistics.

Fireteams are extremely important to give the squad more maneuverability and organization if you are tasked with multiple objectives. For example:

Fireteam 1 will patrol around the F.O.B.

Fireteam 2 will help repair the power plant.

Teamleaders are essential when it comes to spliting your squad. They are the ones that lead your fireteams but keep you informed on their location, casualties, status reports, etc and are highly usefull for flanking and supporting maneuvers.

• Situational analysis:

When in the heat of battle, you’ll need to assess the current situation, how many hostiles are in the area, who are injured and who isn’t and how much control of the battlefield you have.

Certain situations will require quick judgment and others, a more calculated choice. While the marines are fighting for control of the frontlines, you will need to support them in their offensive and make the call on when to push or when to retreat.

Other times will be defending at specific locations, and whether it’d be in entrances or at the FOB, you’ll need to devise a plan of action. Will your squad flank from a different location and fight your way from another angle, possibly forcing the enemy away from the defender’s position? Or will you gather your men to hold your ground until a relief force arrives?

Every decision you make has a cost to it; whether it’s lives or time, you will have casualties.

• Corridors and tight spaces:

Every so often your commanding officer will task you with searching areas where you may find it challenging to retreat from. This is especially evident in tight spaces. Cave systems and narrow corridors are a gamble to investigate. This is due to possible guerrilla fighters lurking in the darkness or behind corners and suddenly BAM, it’s an ambush, and your entire squad is wiped off the face of the sector.

To deal with situations like these, there are very few practical solutions to use. You can’t predict an ambush from occurring, but you can send scouts ahead of your position to “test the waters.” Squad leaders will know this is suicide, but you must protect the lives of your squad members and to bring as many of them home.

Although a cowardly way of preventing an ambush is to run at the first sight of danger. This only applies to patrolling and scouting objectives. You’ll have most of your marines hopefully back in one piece, but the downside is that the enemy might reinforce the unsecured position and you’ve gathered little to no intelligence on the sector you were tasked with scouting.

• Assaulting the enemy:

With the possibility of having your squad, accompanied by other troops, to bring the battle to the enemy’s doorstep, you will need to fight alongside your marines. Although how you will fight is primarily up to you, many squad leaders prefer a more aggressive stance with an active role in combat as to some passive squad leaders, directing the battle behind the frontlines and supporting them with supplies and other essentials.

An Aggressive stance:

What many squad leaders tend to do is join the marines in the fighting at the frontlines, although there’s nothing wrong with it, you’re more likely to die from direct conflict with an enemy. Although your firepower of issuing orbital strikes and inspiring leadership will bolster the marines to act, you are putting yourself in harm's way.

You’ll be fighting with the main force of the marines, gunning down enemy contacts as well as directly supporting your squad. Exploit weak points in the enemies defenses and advance with your men to push the enemy to eliminate the threat.

A Passive stance:

With your marines on the frontlines, you are behind them or close to them to observe the battle and issue orders when necessary. You will primarily deploy supply beacons to re-supply the marines and mainly your support class marines. Although this means that you’ll need to rely on one of your marines to issue an orbital strike as well as the loss of another gun on the field.

You’ll primarily watch the battle unfold, seeing from a safe distance and calling them back when your marines are either too deep in the hot zone or pointing out gaps in the offensive.

• Sacrifices

No one wants to sacrifice good men and women for a cause that may be unjust and fruitless. But sacrifices must be made to save the lives of the many. As a leader, the decision weighs on your shoulders for quick decision making, and some of them will cost lives. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. You will have to make the tough calls that will leave some of your marines to their doom to save the rest of the squad.

• Defending the F.O.B:

If hostile forces defeat your offensive and launch a counterattack against your defenses, prepare for the worst. Expect most of the enemies forces to invade, this is the battle that determines the outcome of the next few moments, whether it’d be retreating to the ship or another marine offensive. Expect siege units and other supporting enemies to attack as well as the bulk of the enemies forces.

Depending if your engineers and other squad engineers have fortified the F.O.B or not, it will either hinder or help you defend the area.

How the enemy will fight depends on what siege units they have.

They will either bombard you or directly attack through hit and run means. And you will need to respond to these dangers in an appropriate way.

Abilities: Orders

Orders are a timed active ability that characters trained in leadership can activate. The duration of the ability is related to how high the characters leadership skill is, an example being that the commanders order will last longer than a squad leads. The intensification of the ability is also determined by the leadership skill, the higher it is the more intense the orders effects are on surrounding players. Note that these abilities do not stack and that the abilities cover your visual view range and no further. To choose an order to activate go into the IC tab in the top right then select "Issue Order".

Orders:	Description:
Move!	Increased mobility and chance to dodge projectiles.
Hold!	Increased resistance to pain and combat wounds.
Focus!	Increased gun accuracy and effective range.

Your Skillset

Master Elite Expert Specially Trained Trained CQC Endurance Fireman Carry	Master Expert Specially Trained Trained Medical Surgery
Master Expert Specially Trained Trained Construction Engineering JTAC Leadership Vehicles	Specially Trained Trained Firearms Police Powerloader Melee Piloting Domestic Intel
Trained Research Navigation Execution	Trained Smartgun M5-RPG M4RA Battle Rifle M42A Scoped Rifle M92 Grenade Launcher M240-T Incinerator

To find out about how the skill system works head over to the skills system page.

Guides

• Regular/Operation squad management thingies by Kesserline
• Leadership phenomenon : Squad Cohesion by Kesserline
• Some Psychology and Management as a SL by Kesserline
• Tactics on the field : some tips by Kesserline
• Rigga's SL guide: Part 2 Electric Boogaloo By Swagbag

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Good luck, your squad depends on your decisions during the mission.