CPL-FTO-2026 AIRPORT SAFETY, RESCUE AND FIRE
FIGHTING DIVISION (ARFF) |COMMERCIAL PILOT
LICENSE (CPL) COURSE: FIRE TEAM OPERATIONS –
EXAMINATION (2025/2026) ACADEMIC YEAR
(Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), Emergency Response & Airport Fire
Safety Assessment) CPL Fire Team Operations – Aviation Fire Safety &
Emergency Response
Practical, Theoretical & Scenario-Based Emergency Operations
MISSION STATEMENT
In May 1944, Headquarters, Marine Corps standardized the 13-man rifle squad, which has
remained the standard unit organization into the 21st century based on its flexibility and
effectiveness. The mission for a Marine Corps rifle squad is to locate, close with, and destroy the
enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy's assault by fire and close combat. This
mission consists of offensive and defensive elements. "To locate, close with, and destroy," refers
to the offensive element of the Marine rifle squad while "Or repel the enemy's assault," refers
to the defensive element.
SQUAD LEADER
The potential firepower of a Marine squad is conservatively estimated at 400 well-aimed rifle
and automatic rifle shots per minute with an additional 15 rounds from the grenade launchers.
The squad composition is:
One squad leader (sergeant)
1|Page
,Three fire teams of 4 Marines
The squad leader is equipped with:
M4 service rifle
OKC-3S bayonet
Compass
The squad leader takes position where they can best
carry out the orders of the platoon commander and control and observe the squad.
Squad Leader's Responsibilities
The squad leader carries out the orders issued by the platoon commander. Responsibilities
include:
Squad discipline
Appearance
Training
Control
Conduct
Welfare of troops
Care, condition, and economical use of weapons and equipment
In combat, the squad leader is also responsible for:
Tactical employment
Fire discipline
Fire control
2|Page
,Maneuver
THE FIRE TEAM
The fire team was created with the advantage of being an independent maneuver element
centered around an automatic weapon.
Each of the four Marines who make-up the fire team have specific assignments.
A fire team leader/grenadier (corporal)
Automatic rifleman (lance corporal)
Assistant automatic rifleman (lance corporal)
Rifleman (private)
Fire Team Leader
A corporal often serves as the fire team leader/grenadier. The senior fire team leader will often
serve as an assistant squad leader and assumes the duties of the squad leader in the squad
leaders absence.
Equipped with:
M16/M4 service rifle
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, M203 grenade launcher
OKC-3S bayonet
Compass
The fire team leader is responsible for:
Maintaining communications with the squad leader
Fire discipline and control
Condition, care, and economical use of weapons and equipment
The fire team leader takes position to best observe and control the fire team. Normally, the
leader is close enough to the automatic rifleman to exercise effective control of fires.
Automatic Rifleman
The senior lance corporal on the team, the automatic rifleman, is normally able to accomplish
the tasks of the rifleman and assistant automatic rifleman.
This automatic rifleman can be equipped with one of the following:
M27 infantry automatic rifle (IAR) with OKC-3S bayonet
M249 squad automatic weapon (or SAW) with combat knife (or Ka-Bar)
The automatic rifleman is responsible for:
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FIGHTING DIVISION (ARFF) |COMMERCIAL PILOT
LICENSE (CPL) COURSE: FIRE TEAM OPERATIONS –
EXAMINATION (2025/2026) ACADEMIC YEAR
(Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), Emergency Response & Airport Fire
Safety Assessment) CPL Fire Team Operations – Aviation Fire Safety &
Emergency Response
Practical, Theoretical & Scenario-Based Emergency Operations
MISSION STATEMENT
In May 1944, Headquarters, Marine Corps standardized the 13-man rifle squad, which has
remained the standard unit organization into the 21st century based on its flexibility and
effectiveness. The mission for a Marine Corps rifle squad is to locate, close with, and destroy the
enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy's assault by fire and close combat. This
mission consists of offensive and defensive elements. "To locate, close with, and destroy," refers
to the offensive element of the Marine rifle squad while "Or repel the enemy's assault," refers
to the defensive element.
SQUAD LEADER
The potential firepower of a Marine squad is conservatively estimated at 400 well-aimed rifle
and automatic rifle shots per minute with an additional 15 rounds from the grenade launchers.
The squad composition is:
One squad leader (sergeant)
1|Page
,Three fire teams of 4 Marines
The squad leader is equipped with:
M4 service rifle
OKC-3S bayonet
Compass
The squad leader takes position where they can best
carry out the orders of the platoon commander and control and observe the squad.
Squad Leader's Responsibilities
The squad leader carries out the orders issued by the platoon commander. Responsibilities
include:
Squad discipline
Appearance
Training
Control
Conduct
Welfare of troops
Care, condition, and economical use of weapons and equipment
In combat, the squad leader is also responsible for:
Tactical employment
Fire discipline
Fire control
2|Page
,Maneuver
THE FIRE TEAM
The fire team was created with the advantage of being an independent maneuver element
centered around an automatic weapon.
Each of the four Marines who make-up the fire team have specific assignments.
A fire team leader/grenadier (corporal)
Automatic rifleman (lance corporal)
Assistant automatic rifleman (lance corporal)
Rifleman (private)
Fire Team Leader
A corporal often serves as the fire team leader/grenadier. The senior fire team leader will often
serve as an assistant squad leader and assumes the duties of the squad leader in the squad
leaders absence.
Equipped with:
M16/M4 service rifle
3|Page
, M203 grenade launcher
OKC-3S bayonet
Compass
The fire team leader is responsible for:
Maintaining communications with the squad leader
Fire discipline and control
Condition, care, and economical use of weapons and equipment
The fire team leader takes position to best observe and control the fire team. Normally, the
leader is close enough to the automatic rifleman to exercise effective control of fires.
Automatic Rifleman
The senior lance corporal on the team, the automatic rifleman, is normally able to accomplish
the tasks of the rifleman and assistant automatic rifleman.
This automatic rifleman can be equipped with one of the following:
M27 infantry automatic rifle (IAR) with OKC-3S bayonet
M249 squad automatic weapon (or SAW) with combat knife (or Ka-Bar)
The automatic rifleman is responsible for:
4|Page
