Being the best Squad Leader you can be When you decide to create a squad you are taking on a very important role. You are not just another player you are a moving spawn point, a small base, a fortress. This means that anyone in your squad can spawn at your location! Think of how powerful a tool that is! However, with this power comes huge responsibility. You must be prepared to be the brains, eyes, ears, and mouth of the operation. This is not to say that everyone in your squad is merely a grunt, however it is very important that you be on top of things. I have outlined 4 steps below that WILL make you a better squad leader Characteristics of a Good Squad Leader Good Communication Skills - You MUST be able to communicate efficiently with your squad Seasoned Veteran - You MUST know your map and be a rather decent player Being Aware of all things that are happening - You MUST be able to use logic to deduce what may be happening next on the battlefield. Step 1: Naming your squad If you are playing in a public server and don't have friends or a clan already laid out, naming your squad is very important. Some of the best names that should encourage team play are as follows. Blackhawk: often brings in team players. Teamwork: This is one of the more popular because it says it right there. Mics Only: This is my personal favorite because it encourages people with mics to join your squad. In the next step I will show you that communication is a key part of having a successful squad. Aviators: Having an "Aviators" squad can be VERY useful in BF2. On most maps there is usually no more than 4 or 5 people in the air. If you establish a squad for those players, it can encourage communication between the aircraft and make domination of the skies inevitable. Step 2: Establishing Communications with your Squad I know that communication is stressed in many of our tutorials, however, because you gain such an advantage with the application of good communication skills I must stress it again. This is not a lie! Without communication, your squad will not function properly! Communication is so important that the majority of this tutorial will revolve around the proper communication techniques. The first thing I do when I create a squad in a public server is determine the communication abilities of the other players in my squad. First, I test my mic to make sure the other squad members can hear me. If I do not get a verbal response on VOIP I then ask people to respond with "Roger That" if they can hear me. Note: If your squad members do not have mics but can hear you, your responsibilities as a squad leader have just increased two fold. Now you are the one they will rely on for ALL communication. Step 2a: Communication: What do I have to do? You might now be thinking, well what do I have to say to these people? The answer is EVERYTHING! If you are playing in a public server you must assume that everyone in your squad is oblivious to what is going on. No offense to your fellow teammates, but if you don't assume this you will find that many of your squad members will be left in the dark. It is up to you to tell them where enemy fire is coming from, where you are going next, what flag just went neutral, where enemies will be coming from next, Who should do what, what kit players should select, and so on. In saying this I must stress that talking too much can totally piss off your squad members. I've been in numerous squads where the squad leader is barking orders at his teammates, telling them what to do but he doesn't even know what the heck is going on. Make sure when you decide to be a squad leader you know what you are getting yourself into. It is a HUGE responsibility. Step 2b: Communicating with the Commander The communications abilities of a squad leader also include the ability to talk with the commander. This is your responsibility. Request Artillery, UAV, Supplies, and MORE! Often times you will be working to a flag with your squad behind the front lines. The Commander knows what you are doing is important and may give you a UAV, however if he does not, ask him to do a scan and let you know the current status of enemy positions. Squad Leader: (Approaching Suburbs from the South) "Hey Commander, this is squad 4 could you do a scan and let us know how the Suburbs look?" Commander: (Sitting in his cushy office) "Sure let me get a scan going." Scan Initiated Commander: "looks like you have a few guys coming up the hill west of your position, other than that you look clear. Here, I'll try to spot them out for you" Commander: "Enemy Infantry Spotted!" Commander: "Enemy Sniper Spotted!" While this is an ideal situation, it does happen often. If the commander knows you are a competent squad leader using team tactics, he will most likely be more than willing to communicate with you. As we all know, the better your squad does on the battlefield, the better the commander score at the end of the round. Step 3: Constant Awareness There are many things going on during a round in BF2. As a squad leader you must know what is going on not only near your current location, but also in the surrounding areas. For example, If a flag near you goes neutral you know that the enemy is there. Once that flag is captured, through logic you can determine the enemy's next move. The use of logic is key when being a squad leader. While I can't give you a lesson on using basic logic skills I can tell you the things you need to be aware of. You should be able to... Determine the most probable position that enemies will be moving next at all times. Know what flag the enemy just neutralized, what flag your team just neutralized, where the enemies are, etc. Decide the best place for your squad in order to best help your team. Use your Judgment to decide where to go next. Communicate enemy positions and your intentions to your squad. Examples of Communications Squad Leader: (Mashtuur) "We have a sniper on the water tower, 1337h4xor go take him out, Medic123 go with him and give him some support." Squad Leader: (Karkand) "They just neutralized the Suburbs, we need to go there and make sure they don't cap it." Squad Leader: (Sharqi @ TV station) "I'm going to wait down here on the cliff, you guys go in and try to take the flag." Squad Leader: (Have a Tank with Damage) "Jimmy7349 re-spawn as Engi, our tank needs repairs" Step 4: Kit Selection There is no definite rule for kit selection techniques in BF2. It is nice to have a variety of kits while in a squad. However, different maps have different circumstances and thus require different kits. On predominately infantry based maps you may need more medics, whereas on a map like Gulf of Oman you may need more engineers or AT. One thing that does hold true is that if you have a good squad, the squad leader should select support. Think of yourself as a base where your squad members can fall back to in order to get supplies. You will often be away from your squad giving them support. In these situations, suppressing fire is very useful while your squad captures a flag. However, you do not want to make yourself the center of attention for the enemy so be careful and use your judgment in determining when you can engage the enemy safely. In addition, there is also no rule for Kit selections because of the constantly changing status of the battlefield. As a squad leader it is your responsibility to inform the squad of changing conditions on the battlefield. In other words, if a tank is closing in on your position you must notify your squad that if anyone dies and cannot be revived, they must re-spawn as AT or Spec Ops. There is a recurring theme above that I hope I have made clear. The most important aspect of being a good squad leader is to be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with your squad and commander. Your role as a squad leader is very important! You will find that the best squad leaders will often times NOT have the most points in their squad, will NOT have the most kills, will NOT have very many flag captures. On the other hand, often times their squad WILL be the best on the team and their team WILL win. If your team wins and you have the best squad, be proud because it was you that made the win possible!