MARINE

Squad Leader

Difficulty: Hard
Supervisors: Command Staff
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Duties: Lead your team. Follow orders from command.
Guides: Leadership
Unlock Requirements: Nine hours as any squad role.
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.

Squad Based Requisitions

You will have an additional job to accomplish during the start of the operation. Squads now have their own personal requisitions. Your job (and if you're not available an acting squad leader) is to man the requisitions and distribute supplies among your fellow squad marines. Your designated squad requisitions will be located west of your squad's preparations room.

The Squad Requisitions has most of what Requisitions has but at a lower capacity. Certain weapons and kits are exclusive to requisitions but the majority is can be distributed at your squad requisitions room.

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 Commander, 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 highly protective set of armor reserved for squad leaders in the USCM.
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:

Large General Pouch

A general purpose pouch used to carry even more small items and also magazines. Contains 3 slots.

Large Magazine Pouch

Special issue pouch that can hold up to three magazines and/or handfuls of shotgun shells. Issued to Squad Leaders and Specialists. Can be ordered by Requisitions.

Contains 3 slots.

Flare Pouch

Can hold 8 flares (including activated flare). Refillable with a M94 Flare Pack.

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.

Ointment	Pain-stop autoinjector	First-aid autoinjector	Gauze

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:
File:Gas mask.png Gas Mask	A face-covering mask that can be connected to an air supply. It is currently purely cosmetic.

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 SetLeader SuppliesSpecial AmmunitionGun Attachments

Equipment:

Description:

M240A1 Incinerator Unit

The ultra-deadly M240A1 is one of the most fearsome and savage weapons in the arsenal of the Colonial Marines. Firing extra-thick sticky napthal fuel from detachable fuel tanks, the M240A1 is able to both set hostiles ablaze and to section off an area with a wall of fire. For extended field operations, users of the M240A1 often find themselves refilling their tanks with whatever flammable material is available, usually from the G-41 fuel tanks. Welding fuel is an alternate choice, readily available though not as effective.

Currently, one incinerator can be found in the Squad Leaders Equipment vendor, though he can buy additional for 12 points each. More incinerators can be ordered from requisitions if required.

**Ammunition:**
Incinerator Tank	Holds sixty (60) units worth of ultra thick napthal. This will set ablaze any and all targets hit.
Large Incinerator Tank (Gel)	A large fuel tank full of heavier gel fuel. Unlike its liquid contemporaries, this stuff shoots far, and burns up fast. Handle with exceptional care. Holds ninety (90) units worth of gel fuel.

**Attachments:**
Muzzle Attachments	None
Rail Attachments	Rail Flashlight Magnetic Harness
Underbarrel Attachments	None
Stock Attachments	None

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.

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.

Tactical Binoculars

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.

**Tactical Binocular Different Modes:**
Rangefinder Mode: After Ctrl + Clicking the desired target a green laser will appear after which that tiles Longitude and Latitude coordinates will be displayed in chat. Coordinates used for Mortars and Orbital Bombardments. Can be used on any tile. 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. Can only mark a location with a laser (up to glass ceilings, examine a tile to see ceilings).

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:

Advanced first aid kit
Costs:10 points

Holds an array of advance medical items. Advance Burn and Trauma kits for burn and brute damage respectively as well as splints for fractured limbs and a tricord autoinjector for healing over time.

**Contains:**
Tricordrazine autoinjector	3 Advanced trauma kits	2 Advanced burn kits	Splints

Incinerator Tank
Costs:3 points

Holds sixty (60) units worth of ultra thick napthal. This will set ablaze any and all targets hit.

M240A1 Incinerator Unit
Costs:12 points

The ultra-deadly M240A1 is one of the most fearsome and savage weapons in the arsenal of the Colonial Marines. Firing extra-thick sticky napthal fuel from detachable fuel tanks, the M240A1 is able to both set hostiles ablaze and to section off an area with a wall of fire. For extended field operations, users of the M240A1 often find themselves refilling their tanks with whatever flammable material is available, with welding fuel being an effective and popular choice. A big drawback to the M240A1 is that due to the nature of the tanks, they cannot be refilled unless they are completely empty.

Currently, one incinerator can be found in the Squad Leaders Equipment vendor, though he can buy additional for 12 points each. More incinerators can be ordered from requisitions if required.

**Ammunition:**
Incinerator Tank	Holds sixty (60) units worth of ultra thick napthal. This will set ablaze any and all targets hit.
Large Incinerator Tank (Gel)	A large fuel tank full of heavier gel fuel. Unlike its liquid contemporaries, this stuff shoots far, and burns up fast. Handle with exceptional care. Holds ninety (90) units worth of gel fuel.

**Attachments:**
Muzzle Attachments	None
Rail Attachments	Rail Flashlight Magnetic Harness
Underbarrel Attachments	None
Stock Attachments	None

M40 HIDP Incendiary Grenade
Costs:8 points

Exploding in a 5x5 radius, incendiary grenades are a powerful area of denial weapon that can deal immense damage to a hostile target if its caught in the fire. Difference with this grenade is that its effects linger for a while making it useful in keeping Xenomorphs back.

Motion Detector
Costs:5 points

A device that detects movement, but ignores marines. The screen will show the amount of unidentified movement detected (up to 9). For example, if a xenomorph 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). You can switch modes with Alt+Click.

**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.

C4 Explosive Charge
Costs: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.
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.

Sandbags x25
Costs:15 points

Holds twenty five (25) empty sandbags. Must be filled with dirt (or snow) manually. Dirt not included.

M40 HSDP Smoke Grenade
Costs:2 points

Standard issue USCM smoke grenade, does what it says on the tin. Primarily useful to deal with insurgents in colonies or potential hostile boarders.

Whistle
Costs:5 points

A whistle 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.

Sensor Mate Glasses
Costs:5 points

A much older heads-up display that displays the last known biometric data from suit sensors of any given individual. When worn, allows you to see marines and other personnel's health bars, essentially giving you at quick glance an idea of what condition they are in. If the bar's empty, the patient's dead - yet if they still have a green heart rate icon next to the bar, they can still be brought back to life with a defibrillator.

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.
L42A 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.
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.

Attachment:

Benefits:

Drawbacks:

Angled Grip
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Majorly decreased wield delay Slightly decreased recoil Slightly increases accuracy Slightly decreased bullet spread

**One Handed:**
Slightly decreases accuracy Slightly increased bullet spread

**Both:**
Increased weapon size

Extended Barrel
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Moderately increases accuracy

**Both:**
Slightly decreases damage

Gryoscopic Stabilizer
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Slightly reduces bullet spread

**One Handed:**
Majorly reduces bullet spread Moderately increases accuracy Greatly reduces the accuracy penalty for moving.

**Both:**
Moderately reduces burst spread

**Both:**
Moderately decreased firing speed

L42Synthetic Stock
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Moderately increases accuracy Moderately reduces recoil Greatly reduces bullet spread Slight reduction of the accuracy penalty when moving

**Wielded:**
Major wield delay

**One Handed:**
Moderately decreases accuracy Moderately increases recoil Greatly increases bullet spread

Laser Sight
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Slightly increases accuracy

**One Handed:**
Slightly increases accuracy Moderately reduces bullet spread Slight reduction of accuracy penalty when moving

**Both:**
None

U7 Underbarrel Shotgun
Costs:6 points

**Both:**
Adds the ability to fire three semi-auto buckshot rounds Reloadable with additional buckshot Toggled by using Activate Weapon Attachment

**Both:**
The short barrel reduces the ammo's effectiveness Slightly reduced accuracy compared to an actual shotgun Slightly reduced knockdown/stun effect compared to an actual shotgun Slightly reduced accuracy when firing compared to an actual shotgun Moderately reduced damage compared to an actual shotgun Can only be loaded with buckshot

Shotgun Stock
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Moderately increases accuracy Moderately reduces recoil Greatly reduces bullet spread Slight reduction of the accuracy penalty when moving

**Both:**
Slightly increases weapon melee damage

**Wielded:**
Major wield delay Slightly decreases movement speed.

**One Handed:**
Moderately decreases accuracy Greatly increases bullet spread Moderately increases recoil

**Both:**
Increases weapon size Slightly decreases firing speed

M41A Solid Stock
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Moderately increases accuracy Moderately reduces recoil Greatly reduces bullet spread Slight reduction of the accuracy penalty when moving

**Both:**
Slightly increases weapon melee damage

**Wielded:**
Major wield delay Slightly decreases movement speed.

**One Handed:**
Moderately decreases accuracy Greatly increases bullet spread Moderately increases recoil

**Both:**
Increases weapon size Slightly decreases firing speed

Quickfire Adapater
Costs:6 points

**Both:**
Moderately increases firing speed

**Both:**
Moderately decreases accuracy Decreases burst-fire shots by 1 (from 3 or 4) Moderately increases spread

Recoil Compensator
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Greatly reduces recoil

**One Handed:**
Moderately reduces recoil

**Both:**
Moderately increases accuracy

**Both:**
Moderately decreases damage

Red Dot Sight
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Greatly increases accuracy

**One Handed:**
Slightly increases accuracy

**One Handed:**
Slight decrease in accuracy for moving.

Submachinegun Stock
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Moderately increases accuracy Moderately reduces recoil Greatly reduces bullet spread Slight reduction of the accuracy penalty when moving

**Both:**
Slightly increases weapon melee damage

**Wielded:**
Major wield delay Slightly decreases movement speed.

**One Handed:**
Moderately decreases accuracy Greatly increases bullet spread Moderately increases recoil

**Both:**
Increases weapon size

Suppressor
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Slightly increases accuracy

**Both:**
Greatly decreases firing sound Removes muzzle flashes Removes firing messages Slightly decreases recoil Slightly decreases bullet spread

**Both:**
Slightly decreases damage

Vertical Grip
Costs:6 points

**Wielded:**
Moderately increases accuracy Slightly decreases recoil Slightly decreased bullet spread

**Both:**
Moderately reduces burst spread

**Wielded:**
Slightly decreases movement speed

**One Handed:**
Moderately decreases accuracy Slightly increased bullet spread

**Both:**
Increased weapon size Slight increase of the accuracy penalty when moving

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

Squad Leader uses the Tactical Binoculars to find out the coordinates of a suitable drop site and relay it to the Staff Officer
Staff Officer input the coordinates
Requisitions Officer moves the crate full of supplies onto the squad's launch pad, the overwatch Launch Pad Status will then update
Staff Officer launches the crate
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

Squad Leader uses the Tactical Binoculars to find out the coordinates for bombardment and relay it to the Staff Officer
Staff Officer input the coordinates
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.

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.

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

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

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