#1: Understanding Leader Rank In Depth / Command Circles Author: vobbnobb, Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 6:59 am — Leader Rank
An insignia indicates the team leader’s rank. The leader of any given team can be
either the leader of only that team, or the leader of several teams. You are the
highest-ranking leader as company commander, but there are also platoon, squad,
team, and assistant team leaders. Platoon leaders command four or more teams,
squad leaders command two to four teams, and team leaders command only their
own team.
If a leader is incapacitated, the subordinate leaders are “promoted” to fill the
vacancy left by the incapacitated leader. The lowest level of leader is assistant
leader (infantry) or assistant (vehicle); if either of these lowest-level leaders is
incapacitated, an enlisted man is “promoted” to take the incapacitated leader’s
place.
If no insignia is displayed, the team is commanded by a team leader. Team leaders
can affect only the men on their team; they cannot rally men on other teams. If an
insignia is displayed, the team is commanded by a squad leader (or higher).
Squad leaders can affect the men on all the teams under their command.
You can also determine a team leader’s rank in the hierarchy by the size of the
leadership circle that surrounds each team leader. If the circle is thick, the team
leader is also the company commander. A medium-sized circle represents a
platoon leader. If the circle is thin, the leader is a squad leader. Leadership quality
is indicated by the color of the circle, ranging from green (best) to red (worst).
