Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!cbnews!military
From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: ARMY UNIT DESIGNATIONS.......
Keywords: reply to article 1859....
Message-ID: <10379@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 19 Oct 89 03:33:36 GMT
References: <10147@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)

In article <10147@cbnews.ATT.COM>, mes@tellab5.tellab5.CHI.IL.US (Martin Swinney) writes:
> 
> 
> From: mes@tellab5.tellab5.CHI.IL.US (Martin Swinney)
> 
> To the individual who stated in (article 1859) that Airborne unit's received 
> 
> desg.of numbers at and above 500. Please explain the following errors.
> 
> 	 A) 1st and 2nd of the 75th Ranger Battalion - Airborne (still active)
> 
> 	 B) All WW2 Glider/Airborne Batt. 300 ser.
> 
> 	 C) 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, Batt. of the 325th (still active)
> 	 
> 	 D) 1st, 5th, 7th, 12th, Group Special Forces (still active)


   The official force structure of the Army requires that all batallion
   size units of the regimental system be equivilant to the basic branches
   of the army.  There is no Airborne branch, Ranger branch, nor Special
   Forces branch - as such.  They are basically Infantry Units manned by
   Infantrymen.   Their mission, structure and special purpose may be
   further delineated, for example:

           1st Battalion, 75th Infantry (Ranger)(Airborne).  
           1st Battalion, 503d Infantry (Airborne)
           2nd Battalion, 33rd Infantry (Light)
           1st Battalion, 26th Infantry (Mechanized)

    All the personnel assigned to that unit are basically infantrymen, wear
    the crossed rifle insignia, and the light blue infantry colors.  

    They may call themselves "75th Rangers", "503d Airborne", "26th Mech"
    and perhaps never admit they're "Infantry", but they are (and in the
    final analysis that's exactly what they are - they may arrive on the
    battlefield differently - but to 'close with and destroy the enemy'
    is to do so by FOOT.)  

    So, the basic branches of the Army (Infantry, Armor, Artillery, Engineers,
    Aviation, Cavalry, Air Defense Artillery, Military Intelligence, etc etc,
    dictate the title of the units.  Armor officers are in Armor Battalions,
    not Tank Battalions.   

    The rhyme and reason for current designations are historical and meant
    to keep faith with the traditions of each unit - the lineage and honors
    each unit has earned. 
 
    I have lots of books, material, and research papers on the units, histories
    and the regimental system of the US Army and the British Army - I'd be
    glad to research any further information.  Or simply answer inqueries -
    

                    "Those are Regulars, by God!"
                               - MG Lambert, Commander of the British
                                             7th Infantry Regiment
                                             Battle of New Orleans, 1815

                    "Steady men, fire at my order."
                                - Commander of the US 4th Infantry Regiment
                                  Battle of New Orleans, 1815


                     1 Battalion, 4th Infantry now serving with
                     3rd Infantry Division (Mech), Germany

                     1 Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment (Mech)
                     now serving with the British Army on the
                     Rhine, Germany 


   
   major mike