Overmatch: Enabling the Infantry Rifle Squad as the Foundation of the Decisive Force
Abstract
Upon assuming duties as the Chief-of-Staff of the United States Army, General Martin Dempsey announced a priority focus on the infantry squad. Anticipating uncertainty in the future operational environment, and an enhanced role of the squad based on an increasing battlespace, Dempsey established a requirement to ensure that the rifle squad would be enabled with what he termed "overmatch." While previous attempts by the Army to reform the composition of the squad have focused on adjusting manning or fielding new weapons systems, overmatch was not achieved. A more effective method to enable a squad with overmatch is to increase squad capability, focusing specifically on developing the human dimension. Case studies of squads operating in both combined arms maneuver and wide area security operations illustrate the impact of the human dimension on small units, and the potential to achieve overmatch at the squad level. The success demonstrated by squads in the contemporary operating environment, which provides insight into future expectations of the rifle squad, indicates the potential operational or even strategic contributions that can be expected from a small infantry unit when enabled with overmatch.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 23, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA587318
Entities
People
- Philip J. Mundweil
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College