What is "fireteam"

n. (context US military English) A small unit of infantry

A fireteam is a small military sub-subunit of infantry designed to optimize " bounding overwatch" and " fire and movement" tactical doctrine in combat. Depending on mission requirements, a typical fireteam consists of 4 or fewer members; a grenadier, an automatic rifleman, a rifleman, and a designated team leader; the role of each fireteam leader is to ensure the fireteam operates as a cohesive unit. Two or three fireteams are organized into a squad or section in coordinated operations, which is led by a squad leader.

The creation of effective fireteams is seen as essential for creating an effective professional military as they serve as a primary group. Psychological studies by the United States Army have indicated that a soldier's' survivability and the willingness to fight is more heavily influenced by the desire to both protect and avoid failing to support other members of the fireteam than by abstract concepts or ideologies. Historically, nations with effective fireteam organization have had significantly better combat performance from their infantry units in combat than those limited to operations by traditionally larger units.

Fireteams are the second smallest organized unit in the militaries that use it; the smallest being three or fewer soldier support or specialist teams (such as anti-tank teams, HMG teams, mortar teams, sniper teams, EOD teams, or military working dog teams) that are designed to operate independently.

Fireteams are the primary unit upon which modern infantry organization is based in the British Army, Royal Air Force Regiment, Royal Marines, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force Security Forces, Canadian Forces, and Australian Army.

FireTeam is a 1998 video game developed and published by Multitude for Windows.