squad

Squad is a term used across military, policing, sports, and gaming contexts to denote a small, cohesive group of people working together. Its defining role is to provide a balance of mobility, firepower, and command within a larger organization.

In military usage, a squad is a subunit of a platoon and is typically commanded by a noncommissioned officer, such as a sergeant or corporal. Sizes commonly range from about 8 to 12 soldiers, though the exact composition varies by country and doctrine. A squad often consists of two or more fireteams, each led by a team leader. Fireteams are the basic maneuver elements within a squad, enabling flexibility and specialization, such as riflemen, automatic riflemen, and grenadiers. The term and structure are not universal; some armed forces use the term section instead of squad and organize their forces differently.

In policing and security, a squad refers to a small unit of officers assigned to a geographic area or a particular investigation or operation. The concept mirrors military organization in emphasizing teamwork, rapid response, and delegated leadership.

In sports, a squad denotes the roster of players available for competition or the main team for a given event. Large clubs may maintain multiple squads for different leagues or tournaments, with selection based on strategy, form, and fitness.

In video games, especially team-based or tactical genres, a squad is a group of players who coordinate actions and share objectives. Some games support persistent or hierarchical squad structures to enhance communication and strategy.

Etymology: the word derives from French escouade, meaning a small military party, from Italian scuadra or squadra, reflecting its historic use as a scouting or fighting unit.