PREMISE: As useful as formations are, the constituents of the group also have optimal placement in order to maximize each person's strength while minimizing their weaknesses. The following is an extension of the formations outlined previously. These formations become irrelevant if all members of the group use the same weapon, but can provide valuable insight if working with mixed-armed individuals.

• Light/Medium: Refers to Light or Medium Tactical Gear.
• Medium/Heavy: Refers to Medium or Heavy Tactical Gear.

Two-person mixed levels of armament do have an optimal way of moving together.

• Side-by-side travelling allows both to fire on oncoming targets, but leaves the back open to surprise attacks. In this case, it does not matter whether the one with heavier weaponry is on the right or left unless a particular side is suspected of being attacked. In that case, the one with heavier gear should be away from the possible side attack.
• Staggered lines allow the one following to better guard the rear. The heavier armed person should follow since the larger weapons can usually fire farther than the smaller ones allowing the lighter-armed person to engage the enemy first while the heavier-armed person can give good cover fire.
• One facing forward & one facing back covers both sides, but movement pace is reduced. Again, the heavier-armed person should follow such that cover fire can be given to the lighter-armed person in front.

Three person formations allow for a little more coverage and flexibility, mixed groups again have an optimal way to travel.

• Standard vanguard formation best for frontal assaults allowing all members for fire forward while the two flanking members can also easily cover the sides. During frontal assaults, one usually wants to hit hard and quickly which is why the heavier-armed person usually leads with the two lighter-armed members flanking.
• In unknown regions or tighter passageways, a staggered line formation may be used. Sides are covered but the one with heavier gear should be in the middle, able to cover either front or back or sides in case of enemy attack.
• Spread out formation to cover all-sides is sometimes recommended when an attack from the enemy is imminent, but the direction from which they are approaching is unknown. The position of the heavier-armed person is not as important. However, the heavier-armed member is typically used to lead the group.

Four person formations offer even more flexibility but further reduce the groups ability to perform any sort of covert operation.

• Vanguard attack pattern good choice for frontal assaults, but leaves the back open to surprises. The heavier-armed members usually lead this formation. This allows the lighter-armed members to rush to either side or forward to engage the enemy while the heavier-armed members can give suppressing cover-fire.
• Two by two formation still gives good firing power forward while allowing the two in back to guard the rear. Like in the two-person formations, the heavier-armed members work better following, allowing them to fire over the lighter-armed members in front or giving cover-fire while the lighter-armed members engage in closer proximity to the enemy.
• The staggered line formation works best for traversing tight areas or when the direction of attack by the enemy is in question. The heavier-armed members should travel between the lighter-armed members both for cover and so they can provide cover-fire.

Five or more person formations begin getting more complicated simply due to the number of members in the group. Large groups are usually better divided into smaller ones. The more people in a given area, the easier it is for the enemy to hit any one. The figures above suggest possible group formations which can be extended for greater numbers of people.