Command Squad

Command Squad Field Manual

Your First Squad Match: What to Expect

A minute-by-minute walkthrough of your first Squad match — staging, spawning, moving with your squad, dying well, and finishing the round wanting more.

Beginner7 min readUpdated Reviewed

The first match is where most new Squad players either get hooked or bounce off. Knowing the rhythm in advance removes almost all of the confusion. Here’s how a round actually unfolds.

Staging phase

You’ll load into a lobby-like period where both teams are locked at their main base. This is not dead time:

  1. Join a squad from the squad list — one with a named SL, not one you create yourself.
  2. Pick your kit. Rifleman, as covered in the New Player Guide.
  3. Listen. Your SL will outline a plan on squad radio — usually which objective you’re heading for and how you’re getting there.
  4. Say hello and say you’re new. One sentence: “Hey, first match, I’ll stick with you — shout if I’m doing something dumb.” You’ve just recruited nine tutors.

The opening minutes

When staging ends, everyone moves at once. Your squad will either pile into a vehicle or move on foot. Stay with them. If you get in a vehicle, take a passenger seat — leave gunner positions to players who know the weapon systems.

Expect the first contact to be confusing. You’ll hear gunfire without seeing anyone. That’s normal Squad. Watch where experienced squadmates point their weapons, use cover, and keep moving with the group.

The middle of the match

The loop you’ll settle into:

  • Move with your squad toward an objective.
  • Fight — or more often, suppress, flank, and relocate. Firefights in Squad are about position, not reflexes.
  • Die. Wait on the respawn screen; a medic may revive you (don’t give up instantly if squadmates are nearby — being revived costs no ticket, respawning does).
  • Respawn where the SL says — rally point or HAB — and rejoin the squad.

Useful things you can do with zero experience:

  • Drop your ammo bag when someone asks (Rifleman’s superpower).
  • Help dig — shovels build and repair FOB structures. Ask “want me to dig?” and you’ll make a friend.
  • Watch a direction. “I’ve got east” is a real contribution while others reload and plan.
  • Call out contacts: direction, distance, what you saw — the communication guide has the formula.

Things that will happen (and are fine)

  • You’ll get lost. Open the map, find your squad’s marker, walk toward it.
  • You’ll be shot by someone you never saw. Angle and patience beat aim in this game; it gets better fast.
  • You might team-kill or be team-killed. Apologize (or accept the apology) in chat and move on. On Command Squad servers that’s the expected etiquette — it’s literally in the rules.
  • A whole plan will collapse. The plan surviving isn’t the point; having one is.

End of round

Tickets hit zero, the screen tells you who won, and — this is the part nobody warns you about — you’ll want to immediately queue the next one. Before you do: if your SL was good, say thanks. If the server felt right, that’s what we’re going for.

Make your second match better