Military unit

Encyclopedia : M : MI : MIL : Military unit

A military unit is an organization within an armed force. It may consist of any number of soldiers, ships, vehicles, or aircraft. Armies, navies, and air forces, are organized hierarchically into groups of various sizes for functional, tactical and administrative purposes.

Technically, a unit is a homogeneous military organization, such as a battalion (infantry), or regiment (cavalry), and its administrative and command functions are considered to be at the unit level. Smaller organizations (companies, platoons, sections), are minor units, as opposed to battalions and regiments, which are major units.

Larger military organizations (brigades and higher) are formations. A formation is a collection of separate units, each with their own command structures.

The specific composition of a military organization is sometimes called an "Order of Battle" or Orbat for short.

Hierarchy of military organization

This article gives an overview of some of the terms used to describe military units in armed forces across the world. Whilst it is recognized that there will be differences between armies of different nations, it seems that a large proportion are modelled on the British and/or American models. Readers interested in the detailed specifics of a national army (including the British and American) should consult the relevant entry for that country.

Symbol Name No. of personnel No. of subordinate units Officer in command
XXXXXX region or theatre 200,000 + 2+ army groups general or field marshal
XXXXX army group 100,000 + 2+ armies general or field marshal
XXXX army or Red Army front 50,000-60,000+ 2+ corps general or field marshal
XXX corps or Red Army army 30,000-50,000 2+ divisions lieutenant general
XX division 10,000–20,000 2-4 brigades or regiments major general
X brigade 3000–5000 2+ regiments or 3–6
battalions or Commonwealth regiments brigadier general, brigadier or colonel or major general
III regiment or group 2000–3000 3–4 battalions colonel
II battalion or Commonwealth regiment 300–1000 2–6 companies or squadrons lieutenant colonel
I company, squadron or artillery battery 60–250 2–8 platoons or troops captain or major
••• platoon or troop 25–40 2+ squads or sections first or second lieutenant
•• section or patrol 8–12 2+ fireteams corporal to staff sergeant
• squad or crew 8–12 2+ fireteams corporal to staff sergeant
Ø fireteam 4–5 n/a lance corporal to sergeant
Ø fire and maneuver team 2 n/a any

Symbol	Name	No. of personnel	No. of subordinate units	Officer in command
XXXXXX	region or theatre	200,000 +	2+ army groups	general or field marshal
XXXXX	army group	100,000 +	2+ armies	general or field marshal
XXXX	army or Red Army front	50,000-60,000+	2+ corps	general or field marshal
XXX	corps or Red Army army	30,000-50,000	2+ divisions	lieutenant general
XX	division	10,000–20,000	2-4 brigades or regiments	major general
X	brigade	3000–5000	2+ regiments or 3–6 battalions or Commonwealth regiments	brigadier general, brigadier or colonel or major general
III	regiment or group	2000–3000	3–4 battalions	colonel
II	battalion or Commonwealth regiment	300–1000	2–6 companies or squadrons	lieutenant colonel
I	company, squadron or artillery battery	60–250	2–8 platoons or troops	captain or major
•••	platoon or troop	25–40	2+ squads or sections	first or second lieutenant
••	section or patrol	8–12	2+ fireteams	corporal to staff sergeant
•	squad or crew	8–12	2+ fireteams	corporal to staff sergeant
Ø	fireteam	4–5	n/a	lance corporal to sergeant
Ø	fire and maneuver team	2	n/a	any

Rungs may be skipped in this ladder: for example, in the UK the battalion can be a regiment-sized formation, though in some arms, such as the infantry, it is a purely administrative grouping of battalions. Likewise, only large military powers may have organizations at the top levels (for example, today, Canada's largest organization is at the brigade level).

Army, army group and theatre are all large formations which vary significantly between armed forces in size and hierarchy position.

Different arms and countries may also use traditional names, creating considerable confusion: for example, a British or Canadian armoured regiment (battalion) is divided into squadrons (companies) and troops (platoons), whereas an American cavalry squadron (battalion) is divided into troops (companies) and platoons.

Military unit

Hierarchy of military organization

See also