A platoon guide is a position, but not a rank, in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

and

Marine Corps Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

. The guide sets the direction and cadence of the

march March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the second of seven months to have a length of 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March ...

. In an infantry

platoon A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrol A patrol is commonly a group of personnel, such as Law enforcement officer, law enforcement officers, military personnel, or Security guard, secur ...

the platoon guide is a non commissioned officer (by Table of Organization Oa sergeant in the US Marine Corps) who acts as an assistant

platoon sergeant In many militaries, a platoon sergeant is the senior enlisted member of a platoon, who advises and supports the platoon's commanding officer in leading the unit. Singapore In the Singapore Armed Forces, a platoon sergeant serves as the bridge ...

. The platoon guide is responsible for ensuring the platoon is supplied with ammunition and rations and, in combat operations, may be tasked by the platoon commander to take temporary charge of casualties or enemy prisoners of war/detainees until they are evacuated to the rear. The Army changed the platoon guide title to assistant platoon sergeant after World War II and eliminated the position after the Korean War. In a

basic training Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique deman ...

unit, the platoon guide is the senior recruit in the platoon chosen by his or her

Drill Instructor A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces, fire department, or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. Foot drill, military step, and marching are typically taught by drill instructors. Australia Aus ...

as a liaison between the Drill Instructor and the platoon and the recruit leadership of the platoon.p.29 Hitchcock Thomas ''One of the Few, the Proud, the Marines'' Dorrance Publishing, 18/06/2010 In Marine Corps training units the platoon guide also carries the platoon guidon. This is derived from 19th-century guide sergeants, who carried marker flags to denote the flanks of an infantry regiment, and was applied to smaller units as tactics changed.

Notes

{{reflist Military life Military ranks Military ranks of the United States Army Military ranks of the United States Marine Corps United States military enlisted ranks