History SoYouWantTo / WriteTheSquad

* The Automatic Rifleman or Machine Gunner. Responsible for the heavy weapons side, normally a belt fed Light Machine Gun. Due to the size and weight of these weapons, as well as the sheer volume of fire they put out, it's normally TheBigGuy (RealityIsUnrealistic, in real life this job sucks, so it is often given to the newest member of the squad, who might as well be the youngest! This is to not only to keep ranking FNG's within arm's reach of either the leader or his second, but also because the NewMeat is least able to avoid the fun chore of lugging a dedicated MG plus the ammunition plus spare barrels.) -- Also usually a very headstrong, hot blooded character.

!!'''Prop Department'''
Guns guns guns. The equipment of a squad depends on their service and era. Avoid the temptation to avoid just throwing together every single cool [[SelectiveHistoricalArmory or]] rare firearm. Real squads have to worry about logistics, availability, permission, support, training, and so many other things which dictate the arms they use. This is something to be especially wary of for squads from countires which technically have accepted and do have a wide variety of small arms, like Russia, but only produce a few of them in meaningful numbers and issue even fewer of them widely.

* The Automatic Rifleman or Machine Gunner. Responsible for the heavy weapons side, normally a belt fed Light Machine Gun. Due to the size and weight of these weapons, as well as the sheer volume of fire they put out, it's normally TheBigGuy (RealityIsUnrealistic, in real life this job sucks, so it is often given to the newest member of the squad, who might well be the youngest! This is to not only to keep ranking FNG's within arm's reach of either the leader or his second, but also because the NewMeat is least able to avoid the fun chore of lugging a dedicated MG plus the ammunition plus spare barrels.) -- Also usually a very headstrong, hot blooded character.

* Machine guns such as the [=M249=] or M27 are used by the Automatic Rifleman to provide covering fire, but in some situations, such as close quarter fighting or in a SWAT team, they may not be issued. Occasionally, if the machine gunner in question is TheBigGuy, they might access to [[GatlingGood Miniguns]].

Guns guns guns. The equipment of a squad depends on their service and era. Avoid the temptation to avoid just throwing together every single [[CoolGuns cool]] [[SelectiveHistoricalArmory or]] rare firearm. Real squads have to worry about logistics, availability, permission, support, training, and so many other things which dictate the arms they use. This is something to be especially wary of for squads from countires which technically have accepted and do have a wide variety of small arms, like Russia, but only produce a few of them in meaningful numbers and issue even fewer of them widely.

* TheMedic. Another candidate for TheSmartGuy, the squad medic is highly trained in battlefield first aid, and sometimes becoming a flat out CombatMedic. This role is similar to the CommunicationsOfficer in that it can be an attachment from another service, and is another role that can be filled by a woman. This role also be given to [[TheSmurfettePrinciple the one female in the group]], allowing them to carry out the function of TheHeart or developing a TeamMom tendency.

* MedalOfHonor and the latter Battlefield games are great examples of squads with varied roles and individual characters, especially the Bad Company series. Another good example in video games is Star Wars Republic Commando.
* ZeroDarkThirty is a good reference for the use of marksmen and breachers, as is AmericanSniper.

* TheMedic. Another candidate for TheSmartGuy, the squad medic is highly trained in battlefield first aid, and sometimes becoming a flat out CombatMedic. This role is similar to the CommunicationsOfficer in that it can be an attachment from another service, and is another role that can be filled by a woman. This role also be given to TheChick, allowing them to carry out the function of TheHeart or developing a TeamMom tendency.

Guns guns guns. The equipment of a squad depends on their service and era. Avoid the temptation to avoid just throwing together every single [[CoolGuns cool]] [[SelectiveHistoricalArmory or]] [[RareGuns rare]] firearm. Real squads have to worry about logistics, availability, permission, support, training, and so many other things which dictate the arms they use. This is something to be especially wary of for squads from countires which technically have accepted and do have a wide variety of small arms, like Russia, but only produce a few of them in meaningful numbers and issue even fewer of them widely.

Squad in this context means a small unit of specialists formed to carry out a task. This guide is really intended for post-[=WW2=] military or law enforcement squads, but there's no reason why the tropes can't be used for TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, or HighFantasy. Note, a squad in a NATO military is a 10-15 man unit; the FiveManBand that video games like to call squads are actually fireteams, and there are most usually 2, sometimes 3 of them in a squad.

Squad in this context means a small unit of specialists formed to carry out a task. This guide is really intended for post-WW2 military or law enforcement squads, but there's no reason why the tropes can't be used for TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, or HighFantasy. Note, a squad in a NATO military is a 10-15 man unit; the FiveManBand that video games like to call squads are actually fireteams, and there are most usually 2, sometimes 3 of them in a squad.

* The Grenadier will either use a M4 or AK family of weapon with a GrenadeLauncher fitted underneath, or a larger standalone type, be it [=M32 MGL=], or rocket launchers like [=AT4=] or [=RPG=7=]. Alternatively, [[GrenadeSpam a stash of grenades and C4]] are popular for people who [[ThrowDownTheBomblet embrace the power of explosions]].

* The Grenadier will either use an M4 or AK family of weapon with a GrenadeLauncher fitted underneath, or a larger standalone type, be it [=M32 MGL=], [=AT4=] or [=RPG=7=]. Alternatively, [[GrenadeSpam a stash of grenades and C4]] are popular for people who [[ThrowDownTheBomblet embrace the power of explosions]].

* TheLeader, CommunicationsOfficer, and TheMedic will usually all be equipped with a carbine or submachine gun. Good examples of this include the M4 and the AK family of weapons. The Grenadier will either use a version of this with a GrenadeLauncher fitted underneath, or a larger standalone type.

* Machine guns such as the [=M249=] or M27 are used by the Automatic Rifleman to provide covering fire, but in some situations, such as close quarter fighting or in a SWAT team, they may not be issued.

Occasionally special forces get to use non-standard weapons, but if they do, it's almost certainly something that takes a standard issue round if not the standard magazines, too. Think Delta operators using the [=HK416=], which is a limited issue weapon that uses both the 5.56x45 round and the STANAG magazines of the M4. A more extreme example from real life is the USMC's MARSOC approving the 9x19 Glock 19 (not an issue weapon, but uses the issue 9x19 caliber) for use by special operations marines in place of the standard US military 9x19 Beretta M9 or MARSOC's own 45ACP [=M45a1] (modified [=M1911=]). Cool personal weapons are the exception and not the rule, and as time marches on, standardization becomes increasingly =strict. A team composed of a guy with an M4, a guy with an M14, a guy with a SAW, a guy with an [=M240B=], and a guy with an [=M1014=] would be a logistics nightmare, because 5 different weapons use 3 different calibers, none of them can share feed systems (the SAW can sorta use M4 magazines suboptimally), only 2 weapons are optimized for quick fire and maneuver, 40% of the weapons lack versatility, 3 of the weapons have reduced firepower and increased weight compared to alternatives. What is far more plausible is three guys with M4's, one with an M14, and one with a SAW.\

* TheMedic. Another candidate for TheSmartGuy, the squad medic is highly trained in battlefield first aid. This role is similar to the CommunicationsOfficer in that it can be an attachment from another service, and is another role that can be filled by a woman.
* The Designated Marksman. This is the squad level of the sniper, still focusing on precision shooting, but with less emphasis on camouflage and concealment. Can be either ColdSniper or FriendlySniper.

* The Grenadier. This is another candidate for TheLancer, and is often second in command. Responsible for using a handheld GrenadeLauncher to attack far away targets. In SWAT teams, can often be found with a tear gas launcher to provide a non-lethal option.

* The Designated Marksman will likely use a larger caliber variant of the standard assault rifle, such as the M110, or an older model battle rifle such as the M14. Scopes, bipods, and match-grade ammunition are also necessary.
* Machine guns such as the M249 or M27 are used by the Automatic Rifleman to provide covering fire, but in some situations, such as close quarter fighting or in a SWAT team, they may not be issued.

Occasionally special forces get to use non-standard weapons, but if they do, it's almost certainly something that takes a standard issue round if not the standard magazines, too. Think Delta operators using the HK416, which is a limited issue weapon that uses both the 5.56x45 round and the STANAG magazines of the M4. A more extreme example from real life is the USMC's MARSOC approving the 9x19 Glock 19 (not an issue weapon, but uses the issue 9x19 caliber) for use by special operations marines in place of the standard US military 9x19 Beretta M9 or MARSOC's own 45ACP M45a1 (modified M1911). Cool personal weapons are the exception and not the rule, and as time marches on, standardization becomes increasingly strict. A team composed of a guy with an M4, a guy with an M14, a guy with a SAW, a guy with an M240B, and a guy with an M1014 would be a logistics nightmare, because 5 different weapons use 3 different calibers, none of them can share feed systems (the SAW can sorta use M4 magazines suboptimally), only 2 weapons are optimized for quick fire and maneuver, 40% of the weapons lack versatility, 3 of the weapons have reduced firepower and increased weight compared to alternatives. What is far more plausible is three guys with M4's, one with an M14, and one with a SAW.\

* Setting. Similar to time period, this helps to shape the type and role of the squad. A post apocolyptic band of survivors wouldn't usually have access to air support, for example. Special forces, such as Delta, the Navy [=SEALs=], and the British SAS are a rich source of squad based adventure.

* The Automatic Rifleman or Machine Gunner. Responsible for the heavy weapons side, normally a belt fed Light Machine Gun. Due to the size and weight of these weapons, as well as the sheer volume of fire they put out, it's normally TheBigGuy (RealityIsUnrealistic, in real life this job ucks, so it is often given to the newest member of the squad, who might well be the youngest! This is to not only to keep ranking FNG's within arm's reach of either the leader or his second, but also becuase the NewMeat is least able to avoid the fun chore of lugging a dedicated MG plus the ammunition plus spare barrels.) -- Also usually a very headstrong, hot blooded character.
* The CommunicationsOfficer. Often also TheSmartGuy and TheLancer. Responsible for keeping in touch with home base, other units, and assets like air support and artillery. In modern settings, this is one of the roles that can be filled by a female soldier. In some forces, such as the [=SEALs=], this can be an Air Force NCO attached for this purpose (the 2010 Medal of Honor reboot has a good examplke of this).

* The Designated Marksman will likely use a larger caliber varient of the standard assault rifle, such as the M110, or an older model battle rifle such as the M14. Scopes, bipods, and match-grade ammunition are also necessary.

* The Breacher is likely to use a shotgun, either as a main weapon, or a smaller sawn off secondary weapon, in addition to breaching charges and battering rams.

Squad in this context means a small unit of specialists formed to carry out a task. This guide is really intended for post-WW2 military or law enforcement squads, but there's no reason why the tropes can't be used for TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, or HighFantasy.

* The Automatic Rifleman or Machine Gunner. Responsible for the heavy weapons side, normally a belt fed Light Machine Gun. Due to the size and weight of these weapons, as well as the sheer volume of fire they put out, it's normally TheBigGuy (RealityIsUnrealistic, in real life this job is often given to the newest member of the squad, who might well be the youngest!). Also usually a very headstrong, hot blooded character.

Camouflage, body armour, and helmets are order of the day, with SWAT and counterterrorist teams using black or dark blue for intimidation in dark situations. Individual variations are minor - having each character in a completely different outfit is very rare in real life.

* Setting. Similar to time period, this helps to shape the type and role of the squad. A post apocolyptic band of survivors wouldn't usually have access to air support, for example. Special forces, such as Delta, the Navy Seals, and the British SAS are a rich source of squad based adventure.

* The CommunicationsOfficer. Often also TheSmartGuy and TheLancer. Responsible for keeping in touch with home base, other units, and assets like air support and artillery. In modern settings, this is one of the roles that can be filled by a female soldier. In some forces, such as the SEALs, this can be an Air Force NCO attached for this purpose (the 2010 Medal of Honor reboot has a good examplke of this).

* Setting. Similar to time period, this helps to shape the type and role of the squad. A post apocolyptic band of survivors wouldn't usually have access to air support, for example.

* MedalOfHonor and the latter Battlefield games are great examples of squads with varied roles and individual characters, especially the Bad Company series.

* The Grenadier. This is another candidate for TheLancer, and is often second in command. Responsible for using handheld GrenadeLaunchers to attack far away targets. In SWAT teams, can often be found with a tear gas launcher to provide a non-lethal option.
!'''Pitfalls'''
!'''Potential Subversions'''
!'''Writers' Lounge'''
!!'''Suggested Themes and Aesops'''
!!'''Potential Motifs'''
!!'''Suggested Plots'''
!'''Departments'''
!!'''Set Designer''' / '''Location Scout'''

!!'''Casting Director'''
!!'''Stunt Department'''
!'''Extra Credit'''

!!'''The Epic Fails'''

Squad in this context means a small unit of specialists formed to carry out a task. This guide is really intended for post-WW2 military or law enforcement squads, but there's no reason why the tropes can't be used for Twenty Minutes into the Future, or High Fantasy.

* TheMedic. Another candidate for TheSmartGuy,

* The CommunicationsOfficer. Often also TheSmartGuy and TheLancer. Responsible for keeping in touch with home base, other units, and assets like air support and artillery.

!'''Necessary Tropes'''