Job Description of a United States Army Infantry Team Leader

by David Lipscomb
Infantry team leaders are essential in bringing the fight to the enemy.


Hemera Technologies/ Images

Army infantry small fighting units are composed of even smaller groups of fire teams and squads. As the job title suggests, team leaders control fire teams, which are small groups of four or five soldiers. Two of these fire teams comprise a squad. The role of each fire team leader is to ensure the team operates as a cohesive unit.

Starting Off

All infantry recruits must pass basic training, followed by AIT, or Advanced Individual Training. The purpose of AIT is to immerse the infantryman in basic squad formations, movement, tactics and weapons handling. This is where future fire team leaders first learn their craft. As the soldier advances through the ranks to corporal and then to sergeant, he becomes eligible to lead small fire teams.

Duties and Responsibilities

Fire team leaders report to the squad leader. Each fire team leader directs his small group of men in basic fire and maneuver techniques. Enhanced strategies are detailed prior to an assault. In addition to directing the fire location and team movement, each team leader ensures that his soldiers are properly equipped and have the right amount of ammunition.

Issuing Commands

Fire teams move in structured formations, depending on the terrain, engagement threat and other factors. Fire is used in instances of limited visibility or when the vegetation is thick enough to hamper the ability to see ahead more than a few feet. Fire team leaders give this order to keep the men in a single row and in visible range of the man in front. Wedge formations are standard. They are deviated from only in cases when file formation is more suitable. The fire team leader makes the decision in these cases.

Flexibility and Knowledge

Each fire team leader must understand the job at least two levels up. Combat is a fluid and always-dangerous scenario, so it's possible that the platoon sergeant and team leader will be put out of commission. If this happens, each fire team leader must be ready to assume greater leadership roles to maintain unit continuity and cohesiveness. Additionally, each fire team leader must have a thorough understanding of the mission's objective, making sure the soldiers under him are disciplined and ready for any scenario.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Hemera Technologies/ Images
bibliography-icon icon for annotation tool Cite this Article