Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - Organisation

Organisation

In the New Zealand Army, an Infantry Platoon is commanded by a second lieutenant or a lieutenant with a Platoon Sergeant (holding the rank of sergeant), a Platoon Signaller and a medic (where relevant) comprising the Platoon Headquarters. The Platoon is sub-divided into three sections of between 7–10 soldiers, each commanded by a corporal with a lance corporal as the Section second-in-command (Section 2iC). Each section can be sub-divided into two fire-teams, commanded by the Section Commander and 2iC respectively, as well as normal two man Scout, Rifle and Gun Teams. In recent years the section organisation consists of the two fire team concept, where the section is divided into two fire teams with a Gun team in each and one commanded by the section corporal and the other section lance corporal with a section marksmen in each team and the leftover riflemen divided equally among the two fire teams. The section corporal is still in overall command and is in contact with the other fire team via radio if the situation changes.

There are three platoons in a Rifle Company, which is commanded by a major, and three rifle companies within an infantry battalion, which is commanded by a lieutenant colonel. An infantry battalion will also contain an organic Support Company (signals Platoon, mortar Platoon, DFSW "Direct Fire Support Weapons" Platoon which includes 7.62 mm MAG 58s in the sustained fire role, 84 mm Carl Gustav recoilless rifle, Browning .50 Caliber machine-guns, and Reconnaissance Platoon. It used to include an Assault Pioneer platoon but this has been taken away due to government cost cutting) and a Logistics Company (transport and stores). For a battalion total of around 400 to 500 soldiers depending on retention levels.

The above organisation is a greatly reduced battalion strength, as a full strength battalion should field 800 to 1,000 soldiers. This is due to consecutive governments downsizing the New Zealand military to reduce costs.