Which New Airman Will Get Sex First....that was the Air Force way 20+ years ago...

Here you go: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/944/32415

I just checked dictionary.com Enter the term and they give you a pretty good thumbnail of how it relates to the others. Just remember that numbers of troops vary wildly in these things, i.e. one of our divisions may be about 20K troops, but in other times and other armies, or with casualties it may be much less. An Iraqi division is about 8-10K, what we would call a heavy regiment.

Good luck!

Try this: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,74845,00.html

Definitions of Military Terms as used in the course

Strategy:
The science or art of planning and directing large scale military operations. Strategies are developed to win campaigns, tactics to win battles.

Tactics:
The science or art of engaging enemy forces in battle with reference to short range objectives (as opposed to long range strategic objectives)

Battle Doctrine:
The concept of how to fight a battle with the available equipment, tactics, and personnel

Infantry section:
The smallest military unit commanded by a junior NCO, non commissioned officer: 5-11 riflemen

Infantry platoon:
unit of 40 50 men (in sections) commanded by a Lieutenant

Infantry company:
unit of 180 200 men made up of three or four rifle platoons commanded by a Major.

Infantry battalion:
unit of 800 900 men containing 3 rifle companies and one support company with heavier weapons, especially mortars and anti tank guns, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel

Division:
A military unit large and diverse enough to operate with a fair degree of self sufficiency. Possesses its own transport, artillery, signals, engineers, etc. as well as fighting components.

Regiment:
In the German & American Armies a sub unit of a division, composed of three battalions. Equivalent unit in British and Canadian Armies is 'Brigade'.

Regiment: (Britain and Canada)
A military organization based in a specific locality, with a distinct name, dress and 'traditions'. British regiments often created a number of battalions, i.e., 1st, 2nd, 3rd Green Howards, but no Canadian regiment sent more than one battalion overseas.

Loose lips...

I hope someone can answer my question. I have heard terms like Squadron, Brigade, Battalion, Company, Platoon, etc, but I don't know the organization or total numbers associated with each of them. Can some point to a web site that clearly shows (for example) an organization chart of how many battalions are in a Brigade? Does each branch of the military have different groups to identify them? For example, does a Regiment only exist in the Marine Corps?

OK, Military Organization 101.

Ground forces:

Squad: 8-13 men, led by a Sergeant.

Platoon: 4 squads, 2nd or 1st Lieutenant

Company: 4 platoons, Captain or Major (rarely the latter). If the unit is part of a Cavalry regiment, it's a "troop."

Battalion: 4 companies, Lt. Col. If it's part of of Cavalry regiment, it's a "squadron."

Regiment: 4 Battalions. Colonel. Usually only found in the USMC, except for Army Cavalry Regiments.

Brigade: 4 Battalions, plus support troops. Capable of limited independent ops. (The Army's "7th Cavalry Regiment" is really a brigade; the Army keeps the 7th Cavalry designator for reasons of maintaining unit lineage--this is very important for esprit de corps and unit cohesion.)

Division: 4 Brigades. Commanded by a two-star general.

Corps: 3-5 divisions, dependent on mission. Commanded by a three-star general.

Air Wing (USN/USMC side, not so sure about the Air Farce or RAF):

Squadron: 12 planes. Commanded by a Lt. Colonel.

Marine Air Group: 3-5 squadrons, depending on specific organization and mission. The Navy calls this a "Carrier Air Wing." Commanded by a Colonel (USMC) or a Captain (Navy). (A Navy Captain is equivalent in rank to a Marine Colonel.)

Mairne Air Wing: 3-5 Air Groups, dependent on mission. Commanded by a two-star general.

Special units:

Marine Expeditionary Force: 1 Division + 1 Air Wing + 1 Force Service Support Group (FSSG, logistics troops).

Carrier Battle Group: 1 Aircraft Carrier + variable number of cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and logistics ships, commanded by a two-star admiral.

There are regiments in the Army but with the exception of the 3rd Armored cavalry and the 2nd Cavalry, and the 11th cavalry, they are ceremonial. The 75th ranger regiment operates independent battalions.
A squadron...is an Army Cavalry battalion sized formation.
A Troop is the cavalry's version of a company, but it is oversized and more powerful.

Army battalions in the Brigades and Divisions are named with Regimental numbers, but those are purely ceremonial. Only the Airborn regimetns of the 82nd Airborn and 101st air assult serve together. But they do at the discretion of the Divisional commander.

I don't know of a handy website, but I'm sure someone will find you one.

The basic organization of most infantry units is something like this:

Squad
Platoon
Company
Battalion
[Regimental units matter in the UK and in the Marine Corps, are purely for military history purposes in teh US Army],br> Brigade- usually an ad hoc grouping of Battalions in a Division, but can exist as a separate unit -e.g 173rd Airborne Bde(SEP)
Division
Corps
Army
Army Group
Theater Command

Various armies use different sizes of these units. Also, some units use different designations, for example, US Cavalry units use the following:

troop = company
squadron = battalion,
and
Artillery typically use
section = platoon
battery = company.
Artillery batteries range from 4-8 guns, I think 6 gun batteries are standard in the US for 105mm (reserve and marine only) and 155mm, 4 gun batteries for 8". A section is typically two guns, but can be one.

Former redleg -- graduate of Commanche County Cannon Cocker's College for Confused Cannoners.

How the heck is this loose lips information when it is publicly and historically available information?

I appreciate the concern but let's use come common sense about "loose lips."

I don't care WHAT the computer says, Private, that tube's pointed at downtown Lawton!

Good Point...nevermind. And, Thanks for serving!

I don't care WHAT the computer says, Private, that tube's pointed at downtown Lawton!

Are you referring to the famous (but perhaps apocryphal) incident in the 1950s, in which a 240mm (11") round is reputed to have landed at the intersection of Sheridan and Gore? Sorry, but I wasn't the safety officer for that shoot. When I was teaching survey at the School, there was a round fired on the East range that went 3200 mils out of azimuth (safety officer -- some poor ROTC newbie just out of OBC -- was cashiered, but not jailed-no damage or injuries because it landed on the West range) and a couple of other rounds a little out of safe.

From the Blockhouse on Signal Mtn., drop 500, right 200, and Fire For Effect!

From what I understand, not-so-apocryphal--there are allegedly pictures of the crater it made.

Jest funnin' ya.

US Army Chain of Command

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.

Marine Corps Chain of Command

Team: Three individual Marines assigned to a specific team.

Squad: Three Teams are assigned to a specific squad.

Platoon: Three squads are usually assigned to a specific platoon.

Company (or Battery): Three platoons are assigned to a Company (sometimes called a battery). The Company/battery is the lowest level of command with a headquarters element (example, a Company Commander, or Company First Sergeant).

Battalion: Three companies/batteries are assigned to form a battery a batallion.

Regiment: Three batallions form a Regiment (Sometimes called a Brigade).

Division: Three Brigades are assigned to make up a Division.

Marine Corps: Three or more divisions make up the Marine Corps.

Air Force Chain of Command

Airman: (single Air Force member)

Section: Two or more airemen can form a "section." Generally, the section is the place (duty section) where the person works. For example, the Administrative Section, or the Life Support Section. It's not absolutely necessary to have a "section." For example, many aircrewmembers and security policemen don't have a "section." Instead, they belong (as a group) to a "flight."

Flight: Two or airmen can form a flight. Two or more sections can also form a flight. It depends upon how the Squadron is organized.

Squadron: Two or more flights form a squadron. The squadron is the lowest level of command with a headquarters element (example, a Squadron Commander, or Squadron First Sergeant). In the Air Force, a squadron commander is generally in the rank of Lt Col (O-5), although smaller squadrons may be commanded by majors, captains, and sometimes even lieutenants.

Group: Two or more Squadrons form a Group. In the Air Force, Groups are usually based upon assignment of squadrons with similar functions. For example, the Supply Squadron, Transportation, and Aircraft Maintenance Squadron would be assigned to the Logisics Group. The flying squadrons would be assigned to the Operations Group. The Dental Squadron and the Medical Squadron would be assigned to the Medical Group, etc. The group commander is usually a colonel (O-6).

Wing: Two or more groups compose a Wing. There is usually only one Wing per Air Force base, and the Wing Commander is quite often considered to be the "Installation Commander." Wing commanders most often hold the rank of O-7 (Brigadier General).

Numbered Air Force: A numbered Air Force (Example, 7th Air Force) are usually assigned for geographical purposes, and are primarily used only during wartime. In peacetime, they generally only consist of a limited number of headquarters staff who's job it is to prepare and maintain wartime plans.

Thanks to all of you for your responses...you're great!!

Concur, nothing here so far even begins to approach sensitive.

Part of the confusion and wide range of numbers is due to "built in" flexibilities and differences. Do not confuse a ground squadron (armor, cav, infantry, or marine) with air. Ditto regiments.

An armor battalion, for example is typically 58 tanks or so. Four people to a tank, 232 folks, right? Nope.

An armor bn is organized into 5 companies. 4 are armor and one HHC. When I was last in one, each armor company had 14 tanks and a handful of folks above and beyond the tank crewman (c. 63 or so folks). The HHC of an armor bn though, was 313 folks. That included a mortar platoon, a scout plt, mechanics, (two tanks w/crew) and bn staff. I don't think that's changed too much.

Infantry will vary wildly, depending on type. Mechanized infantry (bradley's), if I recollect right, will have three infantry companies, an HHC and a anti-tank company. All but the HHC will have roughly similar numbers of bradleys as tanks in an armor company, but in addition to the crew of 2? there's a squad per. Consequently, infantry companies have a whole lot more folks. In addition to the 4.2 mortars (at bn), the infantry also has some light mortars (81 mm) somewhere, maybe an extra platoon per company?! Somebody help here.

Flexibility was mentioned. In the Army, the Brigade is where things really start to get interesting. A mech brigade will typically have from 3-5 battalions, usually 50/50 or more infantry bns. Brigades will task organize. This means a company from say an infantry bn will be attached to an armor bn and vice versa. When organized like that, they become infantry and armor task forces, respectively. That attached company typically swaps a platoon or two with their "new" sister units, creating infantry or armor teams. Whether a particular bn or company task organizes or remains "pure" is dependent upon their mission.

Divisions will typically have 2-4 brigades. Corps will have 3-5 divisions. Lots of flexibility in all that. Especially when considering that divisions and corps have a whole lot of assets that "come" with the headquarters. Typical divisions will have an artillery brigade, a whole nother level of maintenance support, enigeers, etc, etc. Corps are effectively unique, each having different amounts of additional stuff/folks.

Cav and scout organizations used to typically be a mix of armor, infantry/scouts, and artillery. Today, not so much, unless someone has task organized them.

Ground regiments are comparable to brigades. Army air regiments are a different matter. At one time, all apaches were part of a single, um, they were labeled a regiment/squadron or brigade, but it had some six "regiments" subordinate to that one.

Air Force squadrons are another matter entirely.

Brigades will be like 3,000 folks strong (2-4 range)
Divisions will be 10,000 (9-13 range)
Corps will be about 100,000 (80-150 range)

thanks...I was wondering that also!

BUMP!