point man

point man (plural point men)

(military) In combat, the soldier who takes point; the soldier who assumes the first and most exposed position in a combat military formation; the lead soldier/unit advancing through hostile or unsecured territory.
- 2013 February 11, Phil Bronstein, “The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden… Is Screwed”, in Esquire Magazine‎:
  The point man is the only one besides the Shooter who could verify the kill shots firsthand, and he did just that to another SEAL I spoke with.
(idiomatic, by extension) A most trusted assistant or associate; the person upon whom one would most rely.
Synonym: right-hand man
- 2005 March 2, Leslie Feinberg, “Even McCarthy was gay baited”, in Workers World‎:
  McCarthy made a name for himself as a point man for a far right-wing current that attacked the Truman administration for the "loss" of China.

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