Posted: 5/1/2002 12:59:43 PM EDT
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I'd like some help understanding the different ways groups of personnel are organized in the Armed Forces. Words like: Company Division Batallion Battery Squadron Regiment Brigade. . . Are foreign to me. I have some concept of how many men are in a Platoon, but this is a Hollywood lesson only, and I realize that the Silver Screen often distorts reality for the sake of drama. I have no real concept of how many people are in each, or of how the levels of hierarcy are organized. I know, I sound like an idiot, but I'd like to get rid of at least one source of my ignorance. These words so often appear in news reports, and if you could help me to have a better understanding of how many people are involved when "X number of batallions" from a division are committed to action, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance. |
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They are different depending on branch of service and type (Artillery,Infantry,etc) (1966-68)Army... More specific the 82nd ABN Platoon=4squads=20-30 men Company=usually 4 platoons HQ & HQ company about 6 platoons Batallion=4-5 companies Brigade=3 Batallions (+support assets) Division=3 Brigades (+ support units) Batallion=Regiment(older designation) Squadron-Air Force,Tanks? Thats the best I can do and it is ONLY personal experience...Don't know what official compositions are supposed to be! |
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Company Lowest level of command, normally commanded by a Capt, consisting of 2 or more Platoons, but normally 3 with a supporting platoon. Battery The term used for an artillery/air defense unit equivalent to a company Battalion Organization above a company, normally 2 or more companies or batteries with support organization and command and control, commanded by a LtCol. Squadron an Aviation/Cavalry term equivalent to a Battalion Regiment Echelon above a Battalion (Squadron for Cav), commanded by a COL, consist of 2 or more Battalions, support and command and control. In foreign militaries Regts are equivalent of Battalions Brigade Army term for Regimental sized unit for active forces (Regts still exist in the army for the Rangers and Cavalry, but in general Regt in the army refer to historical unit designation, that have little relevance today). In Marine parlances a BDE is a Combined arms unit consisting of a Regt combat/landing team (based on infantry), plus air and support. Division Made of multiple BDE/Regts commanded by a MajGen, range in size from 5000(foreign about 10000 for US) -20000 troops, normally a complete contain organization, with support units, artillery, maneuver and command and control |
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Marine Corps Ground Combat Element (GCE) structure is as follows: From a purely Infantry point (not including the support elements) of view; Marine Division consists of three Infantry Regiments. An Infantry Regiment consists of three Infantry Battalions. Infantry Battalion consists of three Rifle Companies. A Rifle Company consists of three Rifle Platoons. A Rifle Platoon consists of three Rifle Squads. And, finally a Rifle Squad consists of three four man rifle teams. If you include the support elements attached to each it gets more complicated: Marine Division: largest GCE in USMC. Consists of: Infantry Regiment (x3) HQ Batt Artillery Regiment Recon Batt. Tank Batt Light Armored Recon Batt Assault Amphib Batt Combat Engineer Batt Infantry Regiment. Consists of: Infantry Battalion (x3) Headquarters and Service Company Artillery Battalion Infantry Battalion. Consists of: Rifle Company (x3) Headquarters and Service Company Weapons Company Rifle Company. Consists of: Company HQ Rifle Platoon (x3) Weapons Platoon Rifle Platoon. Consists of: Rifle Squad (x3) HQ Rifle Squad. Consists of: Four man fire team (x3) Headquarters and Service Company. Consists of: Comm Platoon Battalion HQ Service Platoon Medical Platoon Chaplain section Scout/Sniper Platoon Weapons Company. Consists of: Mortar Platoon Anti-Armor Platoon Heavy Guns Platoon Company HQ Hope this helps. unfortunately, I'm not completely familiar with the exact # of Marines each element consists of.. To truly comprehend the coordination and killing power the USMC is capable of you need to research the composition of a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). In short its a well coordinated Air, Ground, and Support element task force. Higly mobile and deadly in its efficiency. But thats a topic all to itself.... |
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That's awesome, ChrisLe. Yes, it really does help. I've printed that, and the other posts out; and I'll take a long look to get a better understanding, and then try to find a way to memorize at least the [i]major[/i] categories: Let's see: DRBCPST. . . I think I can find a word for each of those to keep the hierarchy straight. . . Thanks again, everybody. [And I will take a look into the MAGTF] |
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Unfortunately, doc, your data for the organization of Marine Division is slightly off. The DS artillery Battalion is not part of an infantry Regiment, unless a RLT is formed. Although 3 Battalions are standard, West Coast Regiments, have four Battalions, with the fourth on rotational deployment to the West Pac, while East Coasts Regiments have 3 Battalion, with normally 2 on deck with either 1 Deployed to UDP, on the MEU or lock on to the MEU. A GCE can be larger than a division, in fact the only time the MEF has been deployed for combat, SWA, the GCE for I MEF was both 1st and 2nd and element of 3rd and 4th MarDivs |
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STLRN I came pretty close for a squid [:D][:D] Thks for the update. I'm an East Coaster and took the info directly from 2MD's Table of Organization as it stood 6 months ago. Unfortunatley, I spent all of my time down at CLNC fighting the relentless "chigger battalions" that abound. Never was lucky enough to be stationed in lovely Cali... |
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Quoted: Unfortunately, doc, your data for the organization of Marine Division is slightly off. The DS artillery Battalion is not part of an infantry Regiment, unless a RLT is formed. Although 3 Battalions are standard, West Coast Regiments, have four Battalions, with the fourth on rotational deployment to the West Pac, while East Coasts Regiments have 3 Battalion, with normally 2 on deck with either 1 Deployed to UDP, on the MEU or lock on to the MEU. A GCE can be larger than a division, in fact the only time the MEF has been deployed for combat, SWA, the GCE for I MEF was both 1st and 2nd and element of 3rd and 4th MarDivs Is there someone who can translate this jargon for me? |
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A RLT is the Marine version of the Regimental Combat Team, a task organized force of an infantry regiment, a Direct Support (DS) artillery Battalion, normally a company of Amtrack, a Company Tanks, a Company of LAR and a portion of the Recon Battalion. A BLT is the same but based on a infantry Battalion, with a Battery of artillery, a Plt of Amtracks, a reinforced Plt of LAR and a Plt of tanks. A MEU (SOC) is a Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Ops Capable) built around a BLT, a command element, a command element, an air combat element of a composite squadron, and a MEU services support group. It is the smallest of the standing MAGTFs, and there are always 1 deployed in both the Med and the pacific. Prior to going all units of the MEU go on a six month lock on period in which they certified as special operations capable by demonstrating the ability to accomplish 22 standard tasks. A MEF is the largest of the standard MAGTFs, it is built around a GCE of at least a division, a ACE of at least a wing and a Force Service Support Group. SWA, is Southwest Asia (Iraq, Kuwait, etc) UDP is the Unit Deployment Program, in which whole units, infantry battalions, cannon batteries, companies of LAR and AMTRACs and squadrons do a rotating deployment in which they swab gear with another unit in Okinawa. |