Terran Alliance Marine Corps troops traditionally operate in 6-man squads, comprising of 5 enlisted marines plus an officer. Each squad member has their own distinct role within the squad: Technician, Demolitions, Mechanic, Medic, and Scout. The officer (a Squad Captain, usually) is trained in the basics of all roles, in addition to the art of command. Originally, Marine squads operated more like shock trooper units, operating either on their own or in conjunction with "more traditional" ground forces such as the Army. However, over time the Marine Corps has gained sufficient numbers to operate as a ground force in their own right - in more recent deployments squads are deployed alongside other squads, sometimes with specialized squads such as a Medical or Fire Support squad. Squads are either deployed via orbital drop or via dropships.