The US military is studying highly trained, squad-sized units it believes can better confront foes practicing irregular or hybrid warfare, senior US military officials said.

As part of the US Joint Forces Command’s national programme for small unit excellence initiative, military leaders are studying ways to enhance smaller-unit capabilities to face foes using these approaches.

The study found that dispersed, smaller, enhanced-capability units can quickly aggregate or disaggregate themselves according to the threat they are confronted with – conventional, irregular or hybrid.

To offer flexibility, smaller units run with more delegation of power to lower levels of leadership allowing faster decision making.