Vet scaling between basic infantry units is very, very similar. To wit;
Grens:
Unlocks the 'Field First Aid' ability
+40% accuracy,
-20% cooldown, -25% recharge time for Panzerfaust, -23% received accuracy
Cons:
Unlocks the 'Trip Wire Flares' ability
+40% accuracy, +25% molotov range
-20% weapon cooldown, -23% received accuracy, -25% AT grenade recharge
Volks:
-10% received accuracy
+30% accuracy, -20% weapon cooldown
Passive Healing, -10% received accuracy
+40% sight range, +30% accuracy
-30% cooldown, -30% reload
Riflemen:
Unlocks the 'Anti-Tank Rifle Grenade' ability
-23% received accuracy, -20% weapon cooldown
+30% accuracy, -50% ability recharge time, +25% grenade range
Thats just it though, USF pays 280mp for their infantry, and they get inferior veterancy compared to other factions' mainline infantry (10% accuracy is HUGE, especially since it affects weapon upgrades.
Riflemen need more survivability in the lategame if they are expected to cost slightly less per model than grenadiers. They are a close combat unit (Bars do best damage at close, and only at close can they reliably beat lmg grens) that is
1) Not cheap to reinforce per model like conscripts
2) Not able to sprint into effective range like Ass Grens and Conscripts
3) Not survivable like Shocktroopers
As a result, they will bleed far more in the lategame than other respective units. This problem becomes even worse when you take into account the fact that USF pays a very large amount of popcap just for their officers and healing vehicle, as well as the fact that USF relies on low HP units that are not cheap like T34/76s nor survivable like P4s and medium TDs.
A mortar would definitely help USF's early game, but rifleman scaling needs to be looked at as well. Either through rifle veterancy, or a global unlock.
Defensive stance has no cool down timer. You can turn it on and off at will.
It has a cooldown after you turn it off. (about 10 seconds I believe)
Rifles with m1919's will out trade obers, or any other OKW infantry due to free supression. If you think 28mp is expensive try dealing with 50mp per model and a much longer reinforce time.
Everyone seems to fixate on rifle lmgs. They are not an argument for rifles scaling well.
They are in 1 doctrine, which immediatly shows that rifleman are only scaling when they are giving a
noncore unlock.
They are also overperforming (defensive stance), which means that they are not a good reflection of what the base unit can do lategame.