stanc Wrote:Infantry platoon leaders are officers. They are also front line soldiers, not rear echelon, "secondary" troops.
Our military has a habit of thinking that the next war is going to be fought like the one before it. I agree with you that infantry platoon leaders are front line troops, but a platoon leader's primary role is to lead and direct his men. His secondary role is to fire upon the enemy. In the trench warfare of WWI infantry platoon leaders were issued the Colt 1911A1 or in some cases the S&W M1917. They were not issued rifles like the Springfield 1903. This is exactly why in WWII officers were issued the carbine rather than the Garand.