Finish the Squad Leader tutorial
Getting Started can be skipped; the leadership tutorial cannot.
OUTPOST · GARRISON · MARKS · COMMAND CHANNEL
How do you play Squad Leader in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam?
Complete the Squad Leader tutorial, then run one job: keep the squad returning to a useful Outpost, add a recoverable Garrison, mark what the unit can act on, and pass only the information that changes the next movement.
Reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Current evidence separated from version-sensitive values
QUICK ANSWER
Complete the Squad Leader tutorial, then run one job: keep the squad returning to a useful Outpost, add a recoverable Garrison, mark what the unit can act on, and pass only the information that changes the next movement.
CHOOSE YOUR CURRENT STATE
Diagnose the Squad Leader job that is failing
Unlock, spawn network, marks and command relay fail at different stages. Fix the one in front of you.
Replace the Outpost first
Keep the unit returning to the current task before adding a new Garrison.
Add a backup Garrison
One frontline spawn is a single point of failure.
Say type, landmark and direction
A ping without a call is weaker than one short sentence.
FIELD BRIEFING
What to verify before acting
The tutorial is the access gate, not an XP table
Official launch guidance says the Squad Leader tutorial must be completed before the role can be selected. Getting Started can be skipped with Esc; that skip does not unlock leadership.
- Finish the Squad Leader tutorial in Basic Training
- Return to role selection after completion is recorded
- If the seat is taken, join or create another infantry unit
- Do not invent a career-level substitute for the tutorial check
Outpost for the squad, Garrison for the team
An Outpost is the unit's local return point. A Garrison is team infrastructure. Keep an Outpost close enough to return, then add a backup Garrison so one sweep does not erase every approach.
- Place or update the Outpost when the objective moves
- Add a Garrison off the hottest marker
- Tell the squad which spawn to use after a wipe
- Exact supply costs and spacing remain a current-build check
PROCEDURE
Follow these steps
Complete the Squad Leader tutorial, then confirm the role is selectable and the infantry seat is free.
Open the tactical map, name the active objective, and give the squad one sentence: attack, defend or relocate.
Place or update the squad Outpost so fallen players return to the current task rather than a rear HQ walk.
Add a backup Garrison away from the single hottest point, then tell command that the team spawn exists.
Mark contacts the squad can act on: type, landmark and direction. Cancel stale marks when the fight moves.
Pass only the information that changes Commander or neighbouring-squad plans; keep the unit together when the objective flips.
COMMON PITFALLS
Avoid these mistakes
- Taking the seat without finishing the required tutorial, then diagnosing a progression bug.
- Dropping the only Garrison on the objective center under constant contact.
- Marking every gunshot without saying what the mark is.
- Publishing original-game Garrison costs or meter spacing as Vietnam facts.
OFFICIALLY FEATURED SQUAD LEADER MATCH
US Squad Leader communication and spawn rhythm
This creator match was selected in the official gameplay showcase. Use it for command rhythm and unit cohesion, not unpublished spawn costs or lock distances.
QUICK ANSWERS
Squad Leader Playbook questions
How do you unlock Squad Leader in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam?
Complete the Squad Leader tutorial. Official launch guidance says Getting Started can be skipped, but the Squad Leader and Commander tutorials must be finished before those roles can be selected.
What should a Squad Leader do first?
Name the current objective, place or update the squad Outpost, and keep the unit together. Add a backup Garrison when supplies and ground allow, then make short marks the squad can use.
What is the difference between an Outpost and a Garrison?
An Outpost is the squad-level return point. A Garrison is team infrastructure. Use the Outpost for the unit's current task and Garrisons for redundant team approaches.
Does this page publish Garrison costs or lock distances?
No. Those values remain a current-build check. This playbook covers the job, not unpublished numbers imported from the original Hell Let Loose.
Should a new player take Squad Leader?
Not for the first match. Learn movement, sectors and communication as Rifleman first, then take leadership when you can keep an Outpost alive and make a short useful call.
SOURCES & EVIDENCE BOUNDARY
What this guide can verify
These guides separate first-party release facts, dated catalogues and observed gameplay behavior. Version-sensitive values or features remain unstated when the current sources do not verify them.
Official unit overviewHell Let Loose: Vietnam official game pageOfficial role directoryHell Let Loose: Vietnam on SteamOfficial launch tactics, issues and hotfix threadDev Comms Thread & Launch UpdatesOfficially featured role and equipment showcaseHell Let Loose: Vietnam gameplay showcaseOfficial current-build changelog · September 3, 2026Patch 1.4 | Full Changelog