What is the role of a point man?

The role of a point man, especially in a military context, is crucial and has a significant impact on the effectiveness and safety of the entire unit. As discussed by Jocko Willink, the point man is responsible for navigating and ensuring the correct path is followed. This role is incredibly vital as the point man has the ability to lead the platoon out of harm's way or towards strategic objectives. If the point man does not know where they are going or makes a navigation error, the entire platoon can become lost or compromised. Thus, in many ways, the point man is viewed as one of the most important roles in a platoon during operations where navigation and position are critical 1.