Read the unit list before clicking
The squad screen appears after you select a faction and enter the deployment flow. Look for a regular infantry unit with an available space if this is your first match. The official release information organizes each 50-player force into command, infantry, reconnaissance, armour, mortar, and helicopter units, so joining the correct unit type determines which roles and responsibilities appear next.
An open squad can be joined while it has room. A full squad has no free player slot, and a locked squad requires approval from its leader. The exact button label and feedback can change with the interface, so follow the current release screen rather than a beta screenshot; the state itself is the important part.
What a locked squad means
A lock does not automatically mean the squad is broken or unavailable forever. It means the leader is controlling entry, which may be useful for a coordinated group or a unit with a specific task. Send one join request and wait for the interface response instead of repeatedly requesting entry.
If the request is not accepted, choose another unit with room. The collected sources do not establish a universal timeout, rejection message, or rule that forces a leader to explain the decision. This guide therefore does not invent one; it focuses on the options visible to the player.
Choose an available role
After entering a unit, select a role that is not already occupied. The current Steam release page lists infantry roles such as Squad Leader, Rifleman, Grenadier, Engineer, Medic, Specialist, and Machine Gunner, while other unit types expose their own roles. Availability is controlled by the current squad composition, not by a static list on this website.
For a new player, use a role whose immediate purpose you understand and tell the leader that you are learning. Do not take Squad Leader, Commander, Pilot, or another specialist position merely because it is visible. Those roles affect other players through spawns, orders, transport, supplies, or command communication.
Pick a spawn that keeps the unit together
Joining a squad does not automatically place you next to it. On the deployment map, review the available team and squad spawn points and choose one that keeps you connected to the unit. A squad outpost is meant to support that squad, while broader team positions can serve more players.
If a forward spawn disappears, select another active point and check the map before deploying. Do not assume that waiting on an unavailable location will restore it. The safest first-match objective is to regroup with the unit rather than creating a separate route across the map.
Use the correct communication channel
Squad communication is the default place to ask where to spawn or what role is needed. Proximity voice is for nearby players, while command communication is tied to leadership roles. Keep the first callout short: identify that you are new, then ask for a concrete task.
The research confirms that communication and the chain of command are central to the game. It does not safely confirm every default key or controller button after launch, because earlier playtests had voice and binding issues. Check the current Communication settings and use the dedicated push-to-talk guide for troubleshooting.
Why specialist squads may not suit a first match
Reconnaissance, armour, mortars, and helicopters are not simply alternate infantry skins. The official release page describes six battlefield units, and several depend on paired roles, specialized equipment, or coordination with leadership. Joining one without understanding its job can remove a useful slot from a team system.
Start with infantry long enough to understand objectives, sectors, spawning, and voice. Then move to a specialist unit after reading its controls and duties. This is a learning recommendation, not a claim that the game permanently locks new players out of those units.
If every visible squad is full or locked
First, confirm that you are looking at the correct unit category and that the server still has room on the selected faction. Wait briefly for a slot or request one appropriate locked unit, but avoid spamming several leaders. If no suitable unit opens, the interface may allow a new unit to be created, which makes the creator responsible for leading it.
Creating a unit should not be treated as a way to bypass the list and play alone. The official structure expects units to follow a chain of command and work with the team. If you are not ready to lead, joining another server or waiting for a normal slot is more honest than occupying a leadership role without using it.
Squad-joining checklist
- Select the faction and open the deployment unit list.
- Choose a regular infantry squad with an open slot.
- If it is locked, send one request and wait for the response.
- Select a role that is available and appropriate for your experience.
- Check the deployment map and spawn near the squad.
- Use squad voice to ask for the current objective or task.
- Follow markers and stay close enough to support the unit.
This process answers the reliable part of the search question without pretending that every server uses the same social rules. The current interface remains the authority for whether a unit is open, full, locked, or accepting requests.