Final answer:
A Rifleman is a soldier skilled with rifles, whose role has evolved with firearm advancements.
Step-by-step explanation:
A Rifleman is characterized as a soldier or person skilled in the use of a rifle, a firearm designed for precision shooting. Historically, the role of riflemen has evolved alongside the advancements in firearm technology. The development of handheld guns, such as the early arquebus, marked a significant change in warfare dynamics. Once heavy and difficult to manage, these weapons have progressively become more potent, accurate, and easier to carry. Riflemen have been quintessential in various military structures, from standing armies to specialized units.
The rapid upgrade in weapons technology during times of conflict, such as World War I, revolutionized the role of the rifleman as new service rifles and automatic machine guns, such as the .30-06 round service rifle and the Maxim gun, became standard. These advancements led to changes in military tactics and often delineated shifts in social class structures, where armed peasant infantrymen began to supplant the mounted elite.
The Rifleman has been an integral part of military history, evolving from the use of simple long guns to being equipped with sophisticated weaponry capable of high accuracy and rapid fire.