NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The United States Marine Corps is undergoing significant changes in its infantry structure, a move aimed at enhancing its effectiveness in modern warfare scenarios. Commandant General Eric Smith revealed these developments on Monday during the Navy League’s annual Sea, Air, and Space Exposition, emphasizing the Corps' commitment to adapting to contemporary combat requirements.One of the most notable changes is the reversion of the combat squad size back to 13 Marines. This decision comes after the squad had expanded to 15 members during a series of recent infantry battalion experiments. The expansion included the addition of an assistant squad leader and a squad systems operator, roles designed to manage the sophisticated array of sensing and firing technologies being integrated into the Marine arsenal. By reverting to the 13-Marine configuration, the Marine Corps still maintains a larger personnel count compared to the standard nine-soldier squad of the U.S. Army. Furthermore, this adjustment aligns with the historical structure of the Marine squads, which previously consisted of three fire teams, each led by a sergeant instead of a staff sergeant, with the inclusion of a precision fires specialist.In addition to the squad restructuring, the Marine Corps is establishing a new reconnaissance and fires company that will function outside of traditional headquarters and service company boundaries. This new company will be equipped with the battalion’s 81mm mortars and organic precision fire systems, which include drones, while also housing the scout platoon responsible for reconnaissance operations, as explained by Smith.The decision to restructure comes on the heels of the completion of phase one of the Infantry Battalion experiments that took place in 2023. These experiments led to a significant reduction in the size of the infantry battalion, decreasing its personnel from 965 Marines to 811, while simultaneously incorporating advanced technologies aimed at enhancing sensing capabilities, strike precision, communication, and power generation.Each of the battalion’s three rifle companies will now operate with specialized sections focused on operations, signaling, logistics, electronic warfare, and medical support. In line with recent developments, there are also plans to integrate a Navy corpsman into each squad, enhancing medical readiness on the battlefield.The Marine Corps initially introduced the 15-Marine configuration in 2018, a significant shift from the traditional 13-Marine squad model that had been in place since the 1950s. In 2018, then-Commandant General Robert Neller proposed reducing the squad size from 13 to 12, a notion that was ultimately reversed following extensive experimental feedback that suggested the benefits of a larger squad.The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment played a pivotal role in these experiments, conducting six months of testing with new configurations and gear. Their findings culminated in a recommendation for a 15-Marine squad, which was published in the Marine Corps Gazette.In comparison to other nations, Iran employs an even larger formation, organizing its infantry into 16-member squads that include a squad leader, a designated sniper, a two-member rocket team, and three fire teams, each consisting of four soldiers armed with automatic rifles. This information was highlighted in the 2018 issue of Military Review titled “Infantry Building Blocks.”Moreover, China’s dismounted infantry squads typically consist of nine to ten soldiers, primarily tasked with anti-armor missions. Prior to the conflict in Ukraine, Russia centralized its dismounted squads around infantry fighting vehicles such as the tracked BMP or the wheeled BTR armored personnel carrier, as outlined in the U.S. Army University Press publication, “The Russian Way of War.”