I still have to wonder why "rear echelon squad" is a frontline combat unit.
That's literally the opposite of what rear echelon personnel are.
No no no..
Just becuase you are Rear Echelon does not mean you do not still opperate as a soldier, first and foremost.. still even to this day.
For example, my brother is a Mechanic in the British Army, this is a RE role... but he would still have the option to go out on patrols etc. And he is a trained Paratrooper as well, attached to 2 Para.
So his main role is servicing the Paras vehicles, but he can fight along side them just the same.
Virtually nobody in the army is not trained first and foremost to fight.