Two fireteams form an 'assault group' which is analogous to most other militaries' understanding of a fireteam two assault groups and a vehicle group of one driver and one gunner form a section of ten soldiers. In the Canadian Army 'fireteam' refers to two soldiers paired for fire and movement. A team is effective so long as its primary weapon remains operational. In open terrain, up to 500 metres (1,600 ft) can be covered by an effective team, although detection range limits effectiveness beyond 100 metres (330 ft) or so without special equipment. In combat, while attacking or manoeuvring, a fireteam generally spreads over a distance of 50 metres (160 ft), while in defensive positions the team can cover up to the range of its weapons or the limits of visibility, whichever is less. Conscription makes fireteam development difficult, as team members are more effective as they build experience over time working together and building personal bonds. It is less useful for armies employing massed infantry formations, or with significant conscription.
These requirements have led to successful use of the fireteam concept by more professional militaries. Successful fireteam employment relies on quality small unit training for soldiers, experience of fireteam members operating together, sufficient communications infrastructure, and a quality non-commissioned officer corps to provide tactical leadership for the team. A fireteam is capable of autonomous operations as part of a larger unit. The concept of the fireteam is based on the need for tactical flexibility in infantry operations. Fireteams are the most basic organization upon which modern infantry units are built in the British Army, Royal Air Force Regiment, Royal Marines, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force Security Forces, Canadian Forces, and Australian Army. US Army doctrine recognizes the fire team, or crew, as the smallest military organization while NATO doctrine refers to this level of organization simply as team. Historically, nations with effective fireteam organisation have had a significantly better performance from their infantry units in combat than those limited to operations by traditionally larger units. Two or three fireteams are organised into a section or squad in co-ordinated operations, which is led by a squad leader. The role of each fireteam leader is to ensure that the fireteam operates as a cohesive unit. Depending on mission requirements, a typical fireteam consists of four or fewer members: an automatic rifleman, a grenadier, a rifleman, and a designated team leader. A fireteam or fire team is a small military sub-subunit of infantry designed to optimise " bounding overwatch" and " fire and movement" tactical doctrine in combat.