transmitting reports and messages. The rifle company
Assistant Rifle Company
clerk also may serve as guidon (company banner) bearer
Commander
during parade formation. He is armed with the M16
The assistant rifle company commander, when
service rifle.
assigned, may be a junior CEC officer or a senior
enlisted man. He is normally placed in a position of line
Rifle Company Messenger
authority and responsibility between the company
commander and the platoon commanders. As a
personnel and material manager within the company, he
Generally, a constructionman (E-3) is assigned to
concerns himself with executing and enforcing the
the company headquarters as a rifle company
policies of the company commander and the
messenger. He primarily performs in this capacity only
commanding officer. The assistant rifle company
during military operations. For work purposes, he is
commander supervises the administration of the
assigned to a work crew/rifle fire team. Although he
company; plans and gives technical support to the
delivers most of his messages on foot, he is also trained
platoon commanders about their crew assignments,
in the operation of communications equipment so he can
project planning and scheduling, safety, and training. He
take over should the rifle company clerk become a
is armed with the service pistol.
casualty. When the company administrative tasks
increase, as they do during home port training periods,
Rifle Company Chief
the rifle company messenger may assist the rifle
company clerk with his duties. He is armed with the
The rifle company chief is the senior enlisted man
service rifle.
assigned to the company, usually a senior chief petty
officer (E-8) or a master chief petty officer (E-9). He is
THE RIFLE PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
the primary administrative assistant and technical
advisor to the company commander. The rifle company
chief is directly responsible to the company commander
The maneuvering elements of a rifle company are
for the administration and efficient operation of the
the rifle platoons. A Seabee rifle platoon consists of a
company and for the discipline, training, and the
platoon headquarters and three or more rifle squads.
performance of the men assigned to the company. He is
Each rifle squad is composed of three or more work
armed with the service pistol.
crew/rifle fire teams. The primary combat mission of the
rifle company, as well as the rifle platoon, is to repel the
Rifle Company Guidon
enemy assault by fire and close combat.
Each rifle platoon headquarters consists of a platoon
The rifle company guidon, generally a petty officer
commander, platoon petty officer, platoon guide,
first class (E-6), acts as a construction expediter and
communicator, and a messenger.
supply coordinator for the company. During combat, he
is stationed near the company commander and is
responsible for the distribution of ammunition to the
Rifle Platoon Commander
platoon guides. He coordinates the ammunition counts
following combat to ensure appropriate redistribution.
The rifle platoon commander is generally a chief
He is armed with the service pistol.
petty officer (E-7). Normally, he is the project
Rifle Company Clerk
supervisor. He is responsible for the training, discipline,
control, and tactical deployment of his platoon. The rifle
platoon commander carries out the orders of the
The rifle company clerk is normally a
company commander and controls his platoon through
constructionman (E-3) with clerical experience. His
his squad leaders. In combat, the rifle platoon
duties consist of preparing company memorandums,
commander positions himself where he can readily
typing, filing, and many other administrative tasks. He
control his squad leaders and, at the same time, remain
is also the company mail orderly. During military
in contact with his company commander. The rifle
operations, he becomes the company staff
platoon commander is generally linked with the
communicator and must be familiar with the operation
company commander by either radio or field telephone
and care of the company communications equipment. In
addition, he is trained in proper procedures for
or both. He is armed with the service pistol.
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