Editing Platoon (section)

====Marine Corps====
In the [[United States Marine Corps]], infantry rifle platoons nominally (per [[Table of organization and equipment|TO&E]]) consist of 43 Marines and are led by a [[Platoon leader|platoon commander]], usually a second lieutenant (O-1), assisted by a [[platoon sergeant]], a staff sergeant (E-6). The platoon headquarters also includes a [[platoon guide]], a sergeant (E-5), who serves as the assistant platoon sergeant, and a messenger ([[Private (rank)|private]] or [[private first class]]). Rifle platoons consist of three rifle squads of 13 men each, led by a sergeant (E-5). In the attack (especially if part of the assault echelon) or in a deliberate defense, rifle platoons are usually augmented with a two-man mortar forward observer team and are often reinforced with a seven-man machinegun squad and/or a four-man assault weapons squad from the infantry company's weapons platoon.

An infantry rifle company (3 per infantry battalion) has a weapons platoon. The infantry battalion consists of a headquarters and support company (H&S), three rifle companies, and one weapons company. The weapons company platoon is usually led by a first lieutenant (O-2) and a gunnery sergeant (E-7) because of the generally larger number of Marines (up to 69 in the 81mm mortar platoon) in these platoons (the heavy machine gun platoon being the exception with only 28 members) and the more complex weapon systems employed. A rifle company weapons platoon has a 60mm mortar section of 13 Marines with three [[M224 mortar|M224 LWCMS 60mm mortar]] squads, an assault section of 13 Marines and six [[Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon|SMAW]] rocket launchers divided into three squads of two teams each, and a medium machine gun section of 22 Marines and six [[M240 machine gun|M240G]] general-purpose machine guns divided into three squads of two teams each. The infantry battalion weapons company consists of three heavy weapons platoons: 81mm mortar platoon (referred to as "81s platoon or 81s"), heavy machine gun platoon (.50cal HMG and 40mm AGL), and anti armor platoon ([[FGM-148 Javelin|Javelin]] missile and antitank TOW missile launchers). Each of these three platoons is divided into sections. Three sections of two squads each in the heavy machine gun platoon, two sections of four squads each in the 81mm mortar platoon, one section of two squads with four teams each in the Javelin missile section, and one section of four squads with two teams each in the antitank TOW missile section. Marine rifle or weapons platoons would also have from one to four Navy [[Hospital corpsman|hospital corpsmen]] assigned along with the Marines.

Platoons are also used in reconnaissance, light armored reconnaissance (scout dismounts), combat engineer, law enforcement (i.e., military police), [[Marine Corps Security Force Regiment|Marine Security Force Regiment (MSFR), and Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST)]] companies. In armored vehicle units, platoons consist of sections containing two or three vehicles and their crews:
* tank and light armored reconnaissance platoons consist of two sections, each containing two tanks/light armored vehicles and crews
* assault amphibian vehicle (AAV) platoons consist of four sections, each containing three AAVs and crews (Per T/O 4652M.)
* combat engineer assault breacher sections consist of two CEV assault breacher vehicles and crews

In low altitude air defense (LAAD) batteries, the firing platoons consist of three sections, each consisting of a section leader and five two-man Stinger missile teams. In artillery batteries, the firing platoon consists of six artillery sections, each containing one gun with its crew and prime mover (i.e., a truck to tow the artillery piece and transport the gun crew and baggage).