USMC Rifle Company

• 1 x Company HQ
• 3 x Rifle Platoon
• 1 x Platoon HQ
• 3 x Rifle Squads
• 1 x Weapon Platoon
• 1 x Weapons Platoon HQ
• 1 x Mortar Section
• 1 x Anti-Tank Section
• 1 x Machinegun Section

Company HQ

• 1 x Captain
• 1 x Gunnery Sergeant
• 2 x Corpsman
• 2 x RTO (Radio Telephone Operator) (one of which is for the Arty FO)
• 2 x Rifleman (Runner)
• 1 x 1st Lieutenant (Artillery Forward Observer)

Rifle Platoon HQ

• 1 x 2nd Lieutenant
• 1 x Platoon Sergeant
• 1 x Right Guide
• 2 x Corpsman
• 1 x Radio

Rifle Squad

• 1 x Sergeant (Squad Leader)
• 3 x Corporals (Fireteam Leaders)
• 1 x M-79 40mm Grenade Launcher ('Blooper')
• 3 x Rifleman with M-14 Modified
• 6 x Rifleman with M-14

Each squad was broken down into three fireteams of 4 men. Each fireteam has an NCO as leader, an automatic rifleman (M-14 modified) and 2 riflemen (assistant automatic rifleman and scout) armed with the standard M-14.

Each Rifle Squad has an M-14 Modified, equipped with a bipod, for use as an automatic weapon. Unless otherwise noted all personnel are equipped with the M-14 prior to 1968. From 1968 on the USMC were issued with the M-16 though it was not uncommon for units to retain the Modified M-14's for their firepower.

The M-79 grenadier was usually directed by the squad leader.

Weapons Platoon HQ

• 1 x 2nd Lieutenant
• 1 x Platoon Sergeant
• 1 x Corpsman
• 1 x Radio
• 1 x Mortar FO
  • 1 x Radio

All troops in the platoon were armed with the standard M-14 prior to 1968, and M-16 post-1968

It was common practice to distribute the Machine Gun and Antitank elements of the Weapons Platoon amongst the Rifle Platoons within the Company so that each Platoon would have the supplementary firepower of 2 x M-60 GPMG and 2 x 3.5" Rocket Launchers

Mortar Section

• 1 x Sergeant
• 3 x Corporal
• 9 x Rifleman
• 3 x M-29 81mm Mortar

Each tube has a crew of three (tube, baseplate and ammo) plus a Corporal acting as the squad commander. The section is commanded by a Sergeant.

See also:

• USMC 81mm Mortar Section - an article submitted by USMC Veteran Michael Stewart that details the organisation and operation of this unit
• USMC 81mm Mortar Section Forward Observer - recollections of an FO's radio operator, USMC Veteran Mike Pomakis, in Vietnam

Anti Tank Section

• 1 x Sergeant
• 3 x Corporal
• 18 x Rifleman
• 6 x 3.5" Rocket Launcher

Often referred to as the Assault Section and commanded by a Sergeant. Three squads, each comprising 2 weapons teams armed with an M-20 3.5" bazooka or M-67 90mm Recoilless Rifle. Each squad is commanded by a Corporal and each team consists of 1 x Gunner, 1 x Loader, 1 x Ammo Bearer.

By 1969 most M-20's and M-67's had been replaced by the lighter M-72 LAW.

Machine Gun Section

• 1 x Sergeant
• 3 x Corporal
• 18 x Rifleman
• 6 x M-60 GPMG

The section is commanded by a Sergeant and consists of three M-60 GPMG teams with 2 x M-60 per team. Each team was commanded by a Corporal and consisted of 2 x Gunner, 2 x Assistant Gunner, and 2 x Ammo Bearer. The marines were trained to fire the M-60 using a tripod.