Fireteam echelon (left/right)
Echelon left/right comprises the fireteam creating a single diagonal line going rearwards from the given side of the point man, which is usually the fireteam leader. Echelon left means the fireteam will be on the point man’s left, while echelon right means the fireteam will be on the point man’s right.
Used when the fireteam has another element covering the echelon’s weak side (the left side of an echelon right, and vice versa). Most commonly used to create a squad wedge formation, which is two fireteam echelon formations connecting to form a protective wedge for the squad leader element.
Pros:
- Allows excellent volume of fire on the specified side
- Allows good volume of fire forward and rearward
- Easily transitions to other formations
Cons:
- Vulnerable to the opposite side without an adjacent element
- Somewhat difficult to maneuver
- Not suitable for restrictive terrain
