Pistol: Defined in the XML editor as Type: Pistol. Semi-auto or slower, lightweight and (most of them are) compact. Having one on each merc is a good idea but not necessary since hipfire exists. Still, they're very fast to draw and shoot.
Machine Pistol: Defined in the XML editor as Type: Machine Pistol. Automatic fire on a very lightweight platform means not a lot of shots will make it on target. But maybe thats what you want (suppression, extremely close close quarters battle).
SMG: Defined in the XML editor as Type: Submachine gun. Fires pistol cartridges such as 9x19mm. Usefulness isn't as good as Carbines since they use weaker ammunition (at least until you get AET rounds) but at least they're lightweight and use very common calibers.
Carbines: Cosmetically shorter "Assault Rifles" than the full-size rifles and functionally have less range and faster raise and shoot times. Probably will have more recoil than their larger bretheren but the lesser weight helps as a secondary weapon at night or when forced to use quick shots. HK MP5A4 is an excellent example.
PDW: SMGs or Assault rifles that use uncommon, especially armor-piercing, ammunition.
Assault Rifle: Defined in the XML editor as Type: Assault Rifle.
IAR: Infantry Automatic Rifle, essentially a beefed up Assault rifle designed for automatic fire. RPK/-74 and Colt IAR are exapmles. They are magazine fed.
LMG: Traditional Light Machine gun. 5.56x45mm/5.45x39mm/7.62x39mm machine gun that are belt fed. M249 SAW is an example.
GPMG: General Purpose Machine gun. 7.62x51mm/7.62x54R. HK 21E/FN MAG/Pecheneg are excellent examples.
Precision rifle: Blanket term for any significantly accurate or accurized rifle. Type: Sniper Rifle gives a good indicator of what's useful for this, but any assault rifle can do except at extreme ranges. Good optics are a must-have.
Shotgun: Weapons that shoot 12 gauge or .410 bore. Have very unique kinds of ammunition.
Grenade launcher: Attachment or stand-alone weapon that shoots rifle grenades, be it 37mm, 40mm, 20mm, etc grenades.

1-4 mobile squads that set out to conquer areas, these guys keep the best guns and plenty of ammo
2+ militia training squads that follow your mobile squads as they spread out; theres less squads here because theres less places you can train militia
1-3 logistic squads that stay with vehicles and move equipment around in a hurry

Major Roles
Machine Gunners: 1+ gunner per squad, put them down somewhere you can anticipate where the enemy will be running to you once you start shooting. These guys will be putting the most lead (or brass ) downrange, almost exclusively in long bursts (5+ rounds), attempting to hit or suppress the enemy, even if they can't see them personally. Note: They're not the best at suppressing but they're certainly better at it than aimed, semi-automatic fire.
Weapons: Anything that has automatic fire will work, but you'll see the best results if you use LMGs or at minimum IARs (infantry automatic rifles) during the daytime or in highly lit sectors (hint city sectors or use of illumination grenades/break lights). Keep a carbine of the same ammo as the main weapon or at least an automatic SMG/PDW on them for nighttime. I recommend no more than one GPMG per squad, at least until you get to Meduna. Then you'll probably NEED the firepower.
Attachments: the LMGs should have bipods, clamp-on or RIS, for certain. They're going to be firing from a fixed position and should therefore take advantage of that. Otherwise, a separate foregrip is a good idea. Optics of your choice, although I recommend no more than a 4x. IARs are a bit more lightweight and can be used instead of Carbines. Carbines should have a reflex sight of some sort, bonus points for suppressors.
Armor: Give them the best Helmet/Chest armor you have. Don't give them leg armor if they're prone (attacks will hit chest rather than head). Definitely give them a metal plate in their armor.
Traits/Skills: Should have high strength or Auto Weapons. High health is a bonus.
Important Notes: These are the most important unit(s) of your squad and relationship synergy should include your gunners as much as possible. May not be viable to use until you get past your first major city. Additionally, you NEED one of these per squad (unless it's a special stealth squad you're doing, in which case you shouldn't be reading this at all )

Grenadiers: 1-2 (per gunner) grenadiers, they either carry LOTS of throwing grenades (if Demolitions) or rifle grenades (if Heavy Weapons). These guys are practically designed for utility work: illumination/smoke/stun grenades in general help your team push back the DOZENS of enemies and buy your team enough time to keep shooting. These guys are more for utility than killing power (although they certainly can do it); don't be stingy on your grenades, once you get to your first major city, you'll get dozens of grenades to refill your supply.
Additionally, these are the mercs of the highest priority that I recommend you should have healing items with, specifically first aid kits. If for some reason they have Paramedic/Doctor traits, that's even better and you should therefore bring a Medical Kit with you to save time on healing. If not, at least let your Riflemen do this task.
Weapons: Assault rifles of a common (either with enemy drops or what the rest of your squad is using) caliber and either an attached or stand-alone grenade launcher for Heavy Weapons, and lots of throwable grenades for Demolitions users. These guys should have high Explosive attributes, so you can use them to equip C4/TNT/etc with remote/detonators and arm them in case you want to blow a wall open.
Attachments: Rifle attachments are less important for grenadiers but at least give them better iron sights for their rifles if you can manage it.
Armor: Your grenadiers will be the most mobile front line troops and will likely be taking the most punishment. Give them Flak jackets at minimum and upgrade to EOD armor (full) whenever you get drops. If their LBE lets you add a metal insert for additional armor, DO IT. Just remember: Move OR use grenade in one turn, the AP penalties are harsh.
Ammunition: Grenades have multiple ammunition types.
Normal: Explosive and knocks down/suppresses enemy.
Stun: Deals breath damage, will keep them on the ground for several turns, letting you deal with them or other threats.
Tear Gas: More useful on already stunned enemies to keep them from getting their breath back.
Mustard Gas: AoE HP/BP damage. Again, more useful vs stunned enemies.
Flare/Illumination: Night use only: The enemy actively tries to avoid lit areas at night. Light up the night and funnel them into a dark spot to your own advantage! Keep in mind you won't be able to see those at the extremities of the light, so layer it appropriately (place another flare at the first one's extremities for decent results, i.e. one radius length from the center)
Smoke: Thick fog that blocks all sight. Takes a few turns to get pretty big, but it's a lifesaver for mercs that are taking too much fire. Use for tactical retreats but be wary that the enemy will likely charge right through it.
Fire: I haven't used this but I think it's rather self-explanatory. I believe this is great vs tanks too.
Flashbang: Nothing says anything louder than Flashbangs! Using it next to an enemy will completely blind him for a few turns. Great for urban/indoor combat, although outdoor use is pretty good too!
Signal Flare: Use to mark artillery targets.
Traits/Skills: Heavy Weapons and/or Demolitions, although having a high Explosive attribute or at least very good Dexterity/Wisdom scores will do in a pinch. Grenades are usable by all mercs, but I give special mention to this class since Demolitions get a range bonus and Heavy Weapons get a speed bonus.


Marksmen: 1-2 marksmen (per gunner), they have high dexterity and marksmanship (since Marksman trait is rare) and carry a heavier caliber weapon (as well as good optics) and sit back a few (10, +/- 5) tiles to stay out of enemy sight. These guys aim for headshots if they can but otherwise aim for the legs to knock enemies down; going for outright kills is preferable but especially early game you're not going to be scoring a lot of headshots. Keep in mind that anyone above a yellow shirt at or past taking Drassen will likely have armor, and you should pick your ammo accordingly (dont give your mercs a ton of glaser ammo, you wont be using it all in your rifles)
Weapons: Precision rifles. Give these guys the weapons that have the most accuracy you can find. Sniper rifles are obviously the way to go. I recommend Semi auto over bolt action unless they have the Marksman trait. Match ammunition is a must for those without marksman/sniper traits, buy it and use it ASAP. Backup weapons should be a fast/lightweight automatic. SMGs/PDWs/fast carbines are the order of the day and should be used while walking around at night. Alternatively, specialty night weapons such as the VSS Vintorez would be perfect as a backup, especially at night.
Attachments: Good optics are necessary, and Advanced Angled Foregrips are highly recommended. RIS bipods help too. Keep in mind you might rail kits to add the RIS attachments, for example the KAC SR-25 will need an AR-RIS kit
Armor: Order of the day is camouflage. Anything you can do to make you blend into the environment will help you.
Traits/Skills: Marksman/Sniper trait, although high dexterity/marksmanship/wisdom is required for anyone to assume this role regardless if they have the traits or not.

Shotgunners: 1-2 shotgunners (per squad). These mercs will be utilizing shotguns to lay suppressive fire onto the enemy using buckshot or flechette rounds in semi or full automatic fire (recoil's heavy so autofire's not all that useful). Hitting the enemy is always a plus but it's not what their primary use is for. If they DO hit the enemy, buckshot tends to take a LOT of breath points away (potentially knocking them out), while flechette works well enough (it pierces armor decently). Like Marksmen but even easier, you've got a very good shot (pun intended) at tagging the enemy's legs, making them fall down; with multiple particles in buckshot/flechette, theres a higher chance of doing just this, making it much easier. These mercs are prime candidates to double as spotters or radio operators, as they won't have much use at extreme ranges. Coincidentally these are the most readily equipped for dealing with Bloodcats.
Weapons: Semi-auto, six/10/20 shell magazine (for faster reloads) with a compact (Ithica/double barrel sawnoff/super shorty) for emergencies. Should also have a handgun although this is of least importance. Pick something that uses common ammo between this/these merc's squadmates. Personal recommendations: AA12/USAS12 are the only two full auto shotguns, take that as you will. Vepr 12/Saiga 12k are 6 rounders but let you add AK optics. Ithica model 37 is a good cqb shotgun, use with any specialty ammunition (tear gas/flashbang) to help out the team as you see fit.
Attachments: These mercs have the lowest priority for attachments, although a good choke is important. Rifled choke for everything except buckshot and flechette, and your choice between improved/full choke for those two.
Ammunition:
Ball/Slug: Heavy damage, but one slug. Since shotguns arent really good for longer ranges, i recommend using this in the more compact shotguns and using them in CQB.
Buckshot: Equivalent of Hollowpoints/Glaser ammo for other weapons but with the added bonus of spread for additional suppression.
Flechette: Essentially armor-piercing buckshot. Little bit less damage vs unarmored targets but deals a lot more than buck will vs armored targets. Use whenever you can.
Frag: Havent used, sorry.
Lockbuster: Keep a few of these on you for those stupid civilian doors that keep locking up at night for when you're heavily outnumbered and need to get into somewhere FAST. Alternatively, use these instead of lockpick tools. You'll still need to disarm trapped chests or whatever.
Incendiary: Havent used, sorry
Tear Gas: Theoretically as good as the actual grenades of the same type. Use to keep enemies from getting back up when stunned.
Duplex: Havent used, I suppose they'd work much like Ball/Slug rounds
Baton: The entire point of buckshot vs armored targets is now usable vs unarmored targets...but you have to actually hit them.
Flashbang: lol
Traits/Skills: Honorable mention to Hunter for shotgun bonuses. Honestly any merc will do, this is a low-priority utility role that could otherwise be filled in with automatic fire for suppression or grenades for the utility rounds. Still, with the occasional shotgun drop, you've still got plenty of options, why not use them? Alternatively, shotguns are great to give spotters, medics, and/or radio operators, as they have other tasks to worry about.

Riflemen: The rest of your squad should be made up of riflemen carrying common ammunition Assault Rifles or at least carbines. PDWs are okay for urban sectors/at night, but these guys are going to be a marksman-lite/gunner-lite mix, combining somewhat-accurate aim with occasional short (3-ish) bursts of automatic fire. This should be the default option for any merc you wish to add to your squad; upgrade them from here if you have the equipment/they have the skills. I left this for last because it's the most basic...and the most boring. Equip them like suggested until you have something better for them to do.
Weapons: Assault rifles, although SMGs and Rifles will work too. These get equipped last, after everyone else is outfitted with new weapons (besides ammunition).
Attachments: Anything, really. A decent optic's always nice, and you're more than welcome to add anything. Underbarrel grenade launchers/shotguns (once the infinite-ammo-glitch-fix goes live for shotguns, that is),
Traits/Skills: No 'requirements' persay, since everyone else should be upgraded to one of the other roles when/if their attributes are significant enough/equipment availability is there.


Keep in mind the above suggested number for how many of each role per squad is just my suggestion. You can have more gunners or marksmen if you want, just keep in mind of your squad's makeup and adjust your tactics accordingly.

Medic: Their job is to simply patch another merc up if they get injured, and act on their given major role when otherwise not tasked out.
Equipment: Carry at least one 1st Aid Kit. Paramedics/Doctors carry Medical Kits and perform Surgery if hurt mercs are sufficiently injured (ini dependent if it's only doctors/parameds that can perform surgery).
Traits/Skills: High medical/dexterity for speed of bandaging, Paramedic/Doctor for surgery during combat and healing stats out of combat.

Spotter: Carries a set of binoculars and uses the spotting mechanic. Can/probably should carry a PDW/SMG as well as ammunition for other mercs in the same squad.
Equipment: Binoculars.

Assistant Gunner
Equipment: Has LBE gear that allows belt feeding from their vests so the gunner they're assisting doesnt have any chance to run out of ammo. LRAK vest is a good idea. Can easily double as a spotter.
That's about it. How you use him/her is up to you.

Radio Operator:
Better described here.
This is a specialized subclass that I'm afraid I have little experience with. You will need a radio set and Radio Operator trait, however. Currently theres not many mercs that have it, so an IMP or two would be useful to have around with this trait.

Door Buster: Unlocks doors and is fast and dextrous to do it
quickly and get out of the way for troops to get in/out.
Equipment: Locksmith kit/Utility knife for sneaky OR Lockbuster rounds in a shotgun OR Crowbar/Rambo Knife/Foot (Kick door) OR Explosives (Be it breaching charge or C4/etc)
Traits/Skills: Technician/Engineer is useful for the lockpick bonus, Stealthy's good to stay unnoticed, Athletics is good for actually getting to the lock quickly without getting shot, Demolitions will let you arm a bomb easier/help your breaching charge work better. High Agility's nice for faster movement speed, high dexterity will help for lockpicking, high strength for busting down the door, etc.

Highest priority is listed first.
Healing: Gunner, Grenadier, Rifleman, Shotgunner. Marksmen should retreat before healing (but why are they getting shot in the first place?)
Ammunition: Grendiers (Grenades), Shotgunners, Gunners and their supporting riflemen, Riflemen, Marksmen, Grenadiers (Ammo)
Movement/Setup in locations: Spotters, Door Busters (if applicable), Marksmen, Gunners with supporting riflemen if applicable, all other
Optics: Marksmen, Gunners (so they have something), Riflemen, Gunners (upgrading), Grenadiers

Training Militia should be done after securing a sector. How you do that is up to you.
Cities are made up of one of more sectors in which to train militia, You need one for each sector, blah blah blah.

Significant Roles
Militia Trainer: Very obviously, someone who should be doing nothing in his spare time but cranking out Militia.
Equipment: PDW/SMG at minimum, but really anything on the ground after a significant battle will do. Take something, anything.
Placement on Tactical Map: Keep in mind whenever you move people to a new sector, they stay on the side of the map from which they entered from. You want to maneuver them into a building, preferably in a room without windows and ideally with only one door and lots of cover. A good example is the dentist shop in Drassen Mine. Hide in the westmost corner (behind the door when it is opened) or on the opposite side of the door (two tiles away from the door) and you'll get interrupts as the enemy runs in, for example. You want to replicate that in other places.
Traits/Skills: You need about 20 or so Leadership by INI default to train militia. Having the Teaching skill helps. Militia trainers tend to have worse stats in general, so you want to put them in places where their skills wont be terribly taxed.

Mobile Militia Trainer: Also very obvious, these guys have enough Leadership to train Mobile Militia. Equipment, placement, and traits/skills are the same as normal militia trainers with the exception of needing 40 or so leadership to train.

Escorts:
This is where the Gunslinger and any other close-quarter-battle traits come in handy. Place these guys close to the door during an encounter with plenty of AP ammo for their handguns/a few melee items (so they dont lose all their items from breaking/overuse) and just let the enemy come to you.
Equipment: Handgun(s) for gunslingers with plenty of AP ammo, Brass Knuckles for people with Hand-to-Hand, multiple bladed weapons for people with Melee

Other Potential tasks
Radio Operators:
Thats right, just stick them in the back of a safe room and have them Radio Scan. Make sure to give them a few sets of batteries.

Repairmen:
Enemy drops tend to have shite levels of durability remaining. Let your Technicians/Engineers take some downtime to repair a truckload of items for your Mobile Squads.

Medics:
Leaving Paramedics/Doctors that otherwise don't have very good stats inside of cities to operate on injured soldiers is another good idea. It gives you time to bring back weapons and ammo (and have them repaired by any repairmen you've got)

Now obviously you should have a vehicle (helicopter) by the time you're ready to leave Drassen, but once you open up the map, you're going to have three squads.

SKYRIDER HERE, WHERE YOU WANT THE BIRD!?
Your Para-Logistic squad is going to be different than your two vehicle squads due to the unique and uniform movement cost, ability to ignore enemy troops, and vulnerability to SAM sites.

You should have about 2-3 people on the chopper. They should have as much empty space as possible with as many large/backpack LBE slots as possible to carry large equipment. Strength doesn't matter since the chopper doesn't care either.

It's a good idea to have at least one paramedic/doctor on the chopper (except when he's on the ground giving emergency help out of a city), and even that's not terribly necessary since there's the hospital in Cambria.

Now the idea behind this squad is twofold:

• They carry things from the Drassen Airport to your mobile mercs
• They get your injured emergency help (Paramedics/Doctors to mercs or mercs to Parameds/Doctors/Cambria Hospital)

The chopper would be more useful if the SAM sites werent a problem and if the chopper could flat out LAND (instead of hovering, which eats up fuel/money), as well as if it had its own inventory. At least it can fly around without any passengers!

HMMWV and Ice Cream truck
These two vehicles will help you move mercs and equipment between already conquered cities. Driving all the way from Drassen to i.e. Grumm isn't terribly efficient, but transporting mercs from Grumm to Chitzena (if there's a need) is easier since all you need to do is drive on the road.

These vehicles have inventories in them, but require a driver. Enemies tend to shoot at the vehicles as well, so be prepared to repair the car if you take it into an enemy sector.