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What does a platoon guide do in basic training?

Author

Olivia House

Updated on March 03, 2026

What does a platoon guide do in basic training?

In a basic training unit, the platoon guide is the senior recruit in the platoon chosen by his or her Drill Instructor as a liaison between the Drill Instructor and the platoon and the recruit leadership of the platoon.

Simply so, what is the purpose of platoon?

Platoon, principal subdivision of a military company, battery, or troop. Usually commanded by a lieutenant, it consists of from 25 to 50 men organized into two or more sections, or squads, led by noncommissioned officers.

Likewise, how does a platoon work? A platoon usually consists of three to four squads or sections. A company contains three to five platoons and a total of 60 to 200 soldiers. It's commanded by a captain with a first sergeant as the commander's principal NCO assistant. If the element is an artillery unit, it's called a battery rather than a company.

Similarly, it is asked, what percent of recruits fail basic training?

​Yes, it is possible to fail basic training. You could go through the trouble of leaving your home, job, family and friends and come back a failure. In fact, this happens to about 15% of recruits who join the military every year. Too many recruits I speak to think that it is impossible to fail basic training.

What rank do you have to be to command a platoon?

Platoon, principal subdivision of a military company, battery, or troop. Usually commanded by a lieutenant, it consists of from 25 to 50 men organized into two or more sections, or squads, led by noncommissioned officers.

How many is a platoon?

A small military unit consisting of ten to eleven soldiers, normally led by a staff sergeant. Platoon. A platoon is four squads: generally three rifle squads and one weapons squad, normally armed with machine guns and anti-tank weapons.

What is smaller than a platoon?

A section is a military sub-subunit. It usually consists of between six and 20 personnel. NATO and US doctrine define a section as an organization "larger than a squad, but smaller than a platoon." As such, two or more sections usually make up an army platoon or an air force flight.

What is the highest rank in a platoon?

A platoon is typically the smallest/lowest echelon military unit led by a commissioned officer—the platoon leader or platoon commander, usually a lieutenant (O-1/2). However the rank of the officer may range from warrant officer (W-1) to captain (O-3), or even major (O-4), in rare cases.

What rank is a platoon sergeant?

Sergeant First Class (Platoon Sergeant) (E-7)
Platoon sergeant is a duty position, not a rank. The platoon sergeant is the primary assistant and adviser to the platoon leader, with the responsibility of training and caring for soldiers.

How many medics are in a platoon?

Only the infantry specialty has more Soldiers in the force. The combat medic was established during World War II-prior to that enlisted medical personnel served as hospital stewards or litter bearers. The medics typically are deployed at the platoon level, with each medic responsible for about 40 troops.

What rank is a PSG?

In the United States Army, a platoon sergeant is usually a Sergeant First Class (E-7) and is the senior enlisted member of the platoon.

Can a drill sergeant hit you?

Except this is the new Army, an army that no longer allows drill sergeants to be cussing, ranting, abusive beasts. They cannot slap, hit, kick, punch or call privates names anymore.

Do you shower together in basic training?

In basic training, you take group showers. There's no way out of communal showers. They're required. Your instructor will give you a time limit for your shower and tell you when you may take your shower during the day or night.

What happens if you fight a drill sergeant?

A drill sergeant demands a lot from his recruits because he can do it himself, not because he's being a douchebag. Still, if you do punch your drill sergeant in the face, the consequences of that are worse than if he just punched you back. Initiating a fight with your instructor will get you jailed and court-martialed.

Do military recruiters lie?

shows. Unfortunately, some (perhaps even many) recruiters do lie. Obviously it's a detestable thing to give misleading information just to help your sales numbers, especially when it's a substantial stretch of a recruit's life that may result in him or her in a combat environment.

Are there days off in basic training?

When you finally wrap up the weeks spent in basic training, chances are you'll have earned a couple days off. Depending on your branch, as will be covered later, the times and days and duration you'll be given free time all vary.

Can you smoke in basic training?

For example, you are not allowed to smoke in basic training. Before you leave for basic training, quit smoking. Also, there is no snacking at basic training. A few weeks before you leave basic training, simply start a diet to eat three square meals a day.

Do they go through your phone at basic training?

There are no cell phones allowed in Basic Training. This is a consistent rule for all of the military branches: Do not expect your service member to be able to call you, text you, or receive your messages when they are in Basic Training. The Marine Corps does not allow any cell phone access until after graduation.

Is Failing a PT test an honorable discharge?

Unless there is something adverse in your record or performance, people separated for APFT failures generally receive HON discharges.

What happens if you dont pass basic training?

The US Army will try its best to hold onto recruits, so getting kicked out of basic training isn't easy. If you're having difficulty with a specific aspect of basic training, you will be “recycled.†This means that you will be put into training with another unit that's in an earlier part of the basic training cycle.

What rank commands a company?

captain

What is a group of 5 soldiers called?

Brigade or Regiment

Brigades are made up of 2,000-5,000 soldiers, normally split among three to five battalions. The armed cavalry and ranger forces of this size are called regiments or groups, not brigades. Commanders of brigades or regiments are one-star brigadier generals or colonels.

How big is a tank platoon?

The tank platoons, each consisting of 4 M1A1 tanks, are the basic tactical unit with which the company accomplishes its mission.

Is a brigade bigger than a regiment?

In the United States Army, a brigade is smaller than a division and roughly equal to or a little larger than a regiment. a brigade executive officer, usually a lieutenant colonel (if commanded by a colonel)

Is platoon a true story?

Smithsonian: The Real Story: Platoon Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning film ""Platoon"" brought the true horror of the Vietnam War to the big screen. Based on Stone's own experiences as a soldier in the conflict, the film captivated millions of viewers all over the world.

What is the difference between a brigade and a regiment?

Definition of Regiment and Brigade: A regiment is a unit of the army that usually has several battalions of the same force. A brigade is a unit of the army that has several battalions that belong to multiple units. It is a mixed type of unit.

Who commands a regiment?

Regiments were usually commanded by a colonel, assisted by a lieutenant colonel and a major, as well as additional staff officers and enlisted men in the regimental headquarters.

What is a group of soldiers called?

Troops are soldiers, especially when they are in a large organized group doing a particular task. A troop is a group of soldiers within a cavalry or armoured regiment.

Do platoons have names?

Also known as a platoon nickname, the platoon name, or mascot, is a symbol or term that best defines the platoon. Platoon names are important because they help “identify†the platoon. Having a good name will also improve morale and enable Soldiers to be part of a team with its own unique identity.

Is colonel a high rank?

Colonel, the highest field-grade officer, ranking just below the general officer grades in most armies or below brigadier in the British services. A colonel was traditionally the commanding officer of a regiment or brigade.

Is colonel higher than major?

Major, a military rank standing above captain. The rank of major has always been below that of lieutenant colonel. In a regiment commanded by a colonel, the major was third in command; in a battalion commanded by a lieutenant colonel, the major was second in command.

Is Lt colonel a high rank?

The pay grade for the rank of lieutenant colonel is O-5.

Lieutenant colonel (United States)

Lieutenant colonel
Non-NATO rankO-5
Next higher rankColonel
Next lower rankMajor
Equivalent ranksCommander (United States Navy and United States Coast Guard)

What is highest rank in Army?

The highest rank attainable in the Army is the five-star General of the Army. Often called a "five-star general", the rank of General of the Army has historically been reserved for wartime use and is not currently active in the U.S. Army.

Does lieutenant outrank sergeant?

The LT absolutely does not outrank the sergeant major or first sergeant. Sure, on paper, all Army officers outrank all enlisted and warrant officers in the military. Instead, they mentor the lieutenants, sometimes by explaining that the lieutenant needs to shut up and color.

What is the lowest rank in the Army?

Private

How many 4 star generals are there?

The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Army. It ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general) and below General of the Army (five-star general). There have been 248 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Army.

Is Captain higher than lieutenant?

In the British Army and in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, a second lieutenant is the lowest ranking commissioned officer. Above him in those U.S. services comes a first lieutenant—lieutenant in the British Army—and then a captain.

What are the ranks of NCOS?

An Army sergeant, an Air Force staff sergeant and a Marine corporal are considered NCO ranks. The Navy NCO equivalent, petty officer, is achieved at the rank of petty officer third class. At the E-8 level, the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force have two positions at the same paygrade.

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