The Infantry Rifle and Platoon Squad: The Official U.S. Army Field Manual FM 3-21.8 (FM 7-8), 28 March 2007 revision

by U.S. Department of the Army

This field manual provides a doctrinal framework on how Infantry rifle platoons and squads fight. It also addresses rifle platoon and squad non-combat operations across the spectrum of conflict. Content discussions include principles, tactics, techniques, procedures, terms, and symbols that apply to small unit operations in the current operational environment (COE). FM 3-21.8 supersedes FM 7-8, Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad, dated 22 April 1992. The primary audiences for this manual are Infantry rifle platoon leaders, platoon sergeants, and squad and fire team leaders. Secondary audiences include instructors in U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) schools, writers of Infantry training literature, other Infantry leaders and staff officers, and Reserve Officer Training Candidate (ROTC) and military academy instructors.

598 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

The Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency within which the United States Army is organized, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has statutory authority 10 U.S.C. § 3013 to conduct its affairs and to prescribe regulations for its government, subject to the limits of the law, and the directions of the Secretary of Defense and the President.

The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army (principal deputy to the Secretary) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (principal deputy to the Chief of Staff.)

The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States, and was renamed by the National Security Act of 1947 to the Department of the Army on September 18, 1947. By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949, the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status.

Reviews

[Bernie4444]

No two wars are ever the same

This is not the manual I grew up with. It is new and improved; hence the change in nomenclature. The manual itself is part of a complete system. The system is described as best as possible at the beginning of the book. We get an overview of war itself and the purpose it serves. Eventually, we get to the nuts and bolts tactics of “The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad.”

Being in armed reconnaissance (Tet-68) was not as grueling as being in a rifle platoon. It was not as necessary to hone the skills on a daily bases but everyone is a soldier first. Ever wonder how a hand full of professionals can outmaneuver, think and act against a bigger or better-equipped force? It is mostly training and drills combined with the flexibility to carry out the commander’s intent and take advantage of targets of opportunity. To do this you have to know the commander's intent and recognize targets of opportunity.

The field manual is best used for its intended purpose. However, as with many other manuals one can build character and apply not the specific tactics but their purpose to other disciplines.

In a mechanized war, it is easy to forget that something needs to be taken and held. I have always had respect for those that can.

Even though I never acquired a military attitude I found it intriguing to try to outmaneuver those that follow the book. I would have paid for my time at the National Training Center (Mojave) and similar locations.

[R.]

What else is there to say? This is a soldier's bible.