From Tactical Airsoft review mag

Rifleman
By: Arthur Lowther

You sitting there with your gear all set out. Setting it up for the first MilSim Op your planning on attending. You just received your registration packet in the mail it has all the details and your all kinds of excited. You get to the page that shows your assignment. Rifleman And your excitement deadens.

Rifleman! That’s boring! Man…You’re going to be cannon fodder! You start thinking of all the other position. Oh Sniper! Or Team Leader! Or even Assault or Heavy Weapons… anything but rifleman…why you…now you don’t even want to go.

Through out history in every military organization there is always one place no one wants to be. Point. Traditionally the Point position is always a rifleman… and every one starts in the Infantry just as that, a Rifleman.

The Rifleman position in a fire team is always the least coveted of positions. In actuality it should be the most sought after. The Rifleman has the most flexibility to do almost every mission possible. Lets look at the Gear utilized and what makes up the Rifleman Position. The Rifleman position within a fire team consists of its namesake, a rifle. Depending on the country you are representing in your MilSim image depends on the weapon you will utilize. U.S. Military standard rifleman weapon is the M16a1. England is the L85 Bullpup, Germany utilizes a G36K. For most all others the every present AK-47 persists.

The Rifleman takes orders directly from a fire team leader, or their squad leader. Usually placed in most formations to the front. The Rifleman is usually always the first to make contact and engage enemy positions. Due to the Rifleman’s light load out of weapon and gear, they can respond quicker and assault through most attacks with ease.

Now for the myths and general misconceptions of the Rifleman Position.
1. No, a Rifleman is not Rambo – The rifleman is often times holding the lives of his/her whole squad or fire team in their hands.
2. No Riflemen are not Snipers
3. No Riflemen do not carry heavy weapons
4. No, Riflemen don’t usually carry a side arm. – The primary weapon of the Rifleman is their rifle. In most cases they will never need a secondary weapon or a backup. That is something that has been created for the “Special Forces” look in the Airsoft Community. The Rifle is the only weapon they need.

These are some general thoughts about being a Rifleman. Many times they are used to make a position that people feel is “unglamorous” more appealing. The rifleman position is generally “Point” or what is known as “point” the forward most posted soldier in a formation. The “points” acts a scout in most cases moving slowly forward sweeping the way for the rest of the team, watching for ambush, improvised explosives devices and signs of enemy locations and movement

This is what makes the Rifleman the one of the most important positions while a squad or fire team is on the move. That Rifleman has to be on top of his/her field craft. Has to know what they are doing. If not, the potential of walking into an ambush and the whole team being whipped out is present.

It was presented earlier about Rifleman not being Snipers, this holds true to fact, BUT Rifleman can be designated certain other duties to include those of the Rifleman position.

1. DM or Designated Marksman – Using an Optical sight system, the Rifleman operates as a Designated Marksman, taking shots at enemy personnel, marking targets with Tracer rounds etc. They are not Snipers, as they do not conduct themselves in sniper teams but rather as a member of their squad and fire team. DMs are more about taking distance kill shots and less about gathering intel.

2. Scout – Most every Rifleman acts as a Scout, slightly in advance of the Fire team or squad. As stated previously looking for ambush signs, enemy locations etc.

These are two primary roles of a Rifleman. In Airsoft the rifleman is pretty much every airsofter out there. Unless you are actually using a Sniper Weapon System or a Heavy Weapon you’re a Rifleman with out even knowing it. Conducting your actions on an every day basis within your team and squad. A good squad leader/fire team leader relies heavily on their rifleman, as they are the eyes and ears of the squad/fire team. Often forward of the team, riflemen see and hear things many others don’t pick up on. Also due to their light load out rifleman make excellent runners. Able to get intel back to rear area’s and make it back alive.
Playing as a Rifleman in your squad or fire team even on your team can lead you to have greater understanding of your weapons capabilities, tactics and strategy. As well as allow you to further branch out in different avenues when you’re a bit more experienced.

In the Military every member starts as a basic rifleman, with their rifle and standard gear, as so it should be in Airsoft. If you want to get a good grasp on what you need to be doing as an Airsofter. Start as a Rifleman.

A lot of different positions are very specialized, meaning they focus primarily on one sort of skill set or the other. The great thing about filling the Rifleman role is you can multi role, and train in a variety of disciplines. Riflemen want to be good at their field craft. Be able to move silently through underbrush, keeping a low profile, and remaining camouflaged. Be able to navigate from point A. to point B. with minimal stops in-between to gauge their location. Utilize terrain features to make pinpoint accurate locations of position. Be able to provide cover fire in direct contact. Move rapidly forward on the Flanking movement that will get their team out of a jam.

The Rifleman position in and of it self is a complete skill set, rather then just a position. Encompassing primarily every other position within a Fire team/Squad. Rifleman should be trained in Navigation, Field Craft, Stealth/Camouflage, Direct Fire, Supporting Fire, Fire and Maneuver, Marksmanship, Formation and Hand Signals. Just to name a few of the many skills needed to fulfill the Rifleman position.

But your sitting here going…no way…why they are just on point, they are expendable. But that’s the point. They aren’t. An assault on an enemy position can be successful or falter all depending on the Rifleman within the Squad/Fire team.

So next time your setting up your team training, or even your individual training start with the basics. Regardless of who is your Sniper, Heavy Weapons, Recon, or whatever titles you give your individuals with special weapons or mindset. Set every one as a Rifleman. Start them off at the basics, work on that field craft, navigation, and formations. You can field a team completely full of Rifleman and take that field dominate on it and push the enemy from it. IF your Riflemen have the mindset to do it and the training behind the mindset. But if you look at the Rifleman position as nothing more then a “Rookie” or the ever hated “Newbie” position…your seriously cutting your effectiveness on the field to pieces.

The Rifleman, It starts and ends with this position. This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine.