What is the mission of the Marine Corps Rifle Squad?

• A. To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy, by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy assault by fire and close combat.
• B. To provide security for coastal sites and maintain lines of communication.
• C. To conduct only reconnaissance missions and avoid direct engagement.
• D. To train and equip infantry units for deployment.

Answer: (A)

The mission of the Marine Corps Rifle Squad is to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy’s assault by fire and close combat. This framing covers both offense and defense: in offense, the squad uses coordinated suppressive fire to enable movement and contact with and defeat the enemy; in defense, it holds and fights to repel an assault with aimed fire and close-quarters combat if the enemy breaches.

This is the guiding purpose of the squad as a flexible, maneuver-focused unit. It isn’t about security duties for coastal sites, nor solely doing reconnaissance, nor training and equipping other infantry units. Those are important tasks in other roles or units, but they do not define the rifle squad’s primary mission.