light infantry
Fast-moving foot troops
Light infantry are foot soldiers equipped and trained for speed and mobility rather than heavy combat.
They carry minimal gear, operate in loose formations, and excel at reconnaissance, skirmishing, and rapid deployment over difficult terrain.
Historically contrasted with line infantry, who fought in dense formations with heavier equipment.
Modern light infantry units remain optimized for missions where agility matters more than firepower: The light infantry moved quickly through the mountains.
- skirmishersLight troops in loose formation
- riflemenSoldiers armed with guns
- chasseursLight infantry or cavalry
- commandoSpecial operations soldier
- special operationsCovert military missions
irregular warfare · velites · nimble · guerrilla tactics · behind enemy lines · reconnaissance · sharpshooter · hit and run · foot soldier · grenadier · rapid deployment · mobile · quick march · mountain warfare · expeditionary forces · marine · shock troops · ambush
- ancient armiesphalanx, legion, hoplites, pikemen, spearmen
- military forcesarmy, allied forces, soldiers, troops, coalition forces
- soldiersprivate, grenadier, grenadiers, fusilier, fusiliers
- historical warfaremusket, bayonet, cannon, flintlock, cavalry
- colonial militaryredcoats, militia, minutemen, Continental Army, musket
- French militaryFrench Foreign Legion, French Army, legionnaires, chasseurs, gendarme
light infantryheavy infantry
Armored foot soldiers
mechanized infantry · armored divisions · hoplites · men-at-arms · tank battalions
light infantrymechanized infantry
Troops using armored vehicles
armored cavalry · tank corps · armored brigades · cavalry regiments · mounted infantry
light, lightly, lighting, lighter, lighted, lights, lightness, enlighten, enlightened