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I'm
often asked what the elements of command are for the U.S. Army.
The basic
bulding block of all Army organizations is the individual soldier. A small
group of soldiers organized to maneuver and fire is called a squad. As
elements of the Army's organizational structure become larger units, they
contain more and more subordinate elements from combat arms, combat support
and combat service support units.
A company
is typically the smallest Army element to be given a designation and affiliation
with higher headquarters at batalion and brigage level. This alphanumeric
and branch designation causes an "element" to become a "unit."
Squad
- 9 to 10 soldiers. Typically commanded by a sergeant or staff sergeant,
a squad or section is the smallest element in the Army structure, and
its size is dependent on its function.
Platoon
- 16 to 44 soldiers. A platoon is led by a lieutenant with an NCO as second
in command, and consists of two to four squads or sections.
Company
- 62 to 190 soldiers. Three to five platoons form a company, which is
commanded by a captain with a first sergeant as the commander's principle
NCO assistant. An artillery unit of equivalent size is called a battery,
and a comparable armored or air cavalry unit is called a troop.
Battalion
- 300 to 1,000 soldiers. Four to six companies make up a battalion, which
is normally commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a command sergeant
major as principle NCO assistant. A battalion is capable of independent
operations of limited duration and scope. An armored or air cavalry unit
of equivalent size is called a squadron.
Brigade
- 3,000 to 5,000 solders. A brigage headquarters commands the tactical
operation of two to five organic or attached combat battalions. Normally
commanded by a colonel with a command sergeant major as senior NCO, brigades
are employed on independent or semi-independent operations. Armored cavalry,
ranger and special forces units this size are categorized as regiments
or groups.
Division
- 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers. Usually consisting of three brigade-sized
elements and commandeed by a major general, divisions are numbered and
assigned missions based on their structures. The division performs major
tactical operations for the corps and can conduct sustained battles and
engagements.
Corps
- 20,000 to 45,000 soldiers. Two to five divisions consitute a corps,
which is typically commanded by a lieutenant general. As the deployable
level of command required to synchronize and sustain combat operations,
the corps provides the framework for multi-national operations.
Army
- 50,000 + soliders. Typically commanded by a lieutenant general or higher,
an army combines two or more coprs. A theater army is the ranking Army
compoenent in a unified command, and it has operational and support responsibilities
that are assigned by the theater commander in chief. The commander in
chief and theater army commander may order formation of a field army to
direct operations of assigned corps and divisions. An army group plans
and directs campaigns in a theater, and is composed of two or more field
armies under a designated commander. Army groups have not been employed
by the Army since World War II.
Above
Information Derived from DA Pamplet 10-1
There is
no set size (number of troops) assigned to any specific element. The size
of an element of command depends primarily upon the type of unit and mission.
For example, an aviation company would have a different number of troops
assigned than an infantry company because it has a different mission,
different equipment, and therefore different requirments.
Note: The
usual structure is battalion -> brigade -> division, with battalions
organized into regiments as the exception. An example of this exception
would be calvary regiments. Calvary is unique in that battalions are called
"squadrons" and companies are called "troops."
However,
most battalions that are actually part of brigades still have a regimental
affiliation, such as 1/34 IN Rgt. 1st Battalion of the 34th. This affiliation
is pretty much just historical and symbolic these days. It has no real
significance as far as the chain of command goes. For example, the infantry
battalions of the 3d Brigade of the 2d Infantry Division are 1st Bn 23rd
Infantry, 2d Bn 3d Infantry, and 5th Bn 20th Infantry. Each battalion
is affiliated with a different regiment but part of the same brigade.
This goes
back to the old days when the structure was battalion -> regiment ->
brigade -> division. Up through the first part of the 20th century
a division was made up of 2 brigades, each of which had 2 regiments. This
was called a "square" division. During WW2, the U.S. Army transitioned
to "triangular" divisions of 3 brigades each (most other armies
had gone triangular during WW1). They did this by cutting out the regiment
level, but since the regiment traditionally was thought of as a soldier's
"home," battalions kept their regimental designation even though
the regiments as functional units were no more.
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