Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!news.cs.indiana.edu!att!cbfsb!cbnewsc!cbnews!cbnews!military From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Military Units Message-ID: <1991Mar6.041335.24483@cbnews.att.com> Date: 6 Mar 91 04:13:35 GMT References: <1991Mar4.210659.7340@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (william.b.thacker) Organization: The Boeing Co., MMST, Seattle, Wa. Lines: 142 Approved: military@att.att.com From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) > From: dennett@Kodak.COM (Charlie Dennett) > [mod.note: I'd call this a Frequently-Asked Question. How about a > volunteer to put together a standard answer from the responses that > are posted to this ? - Bill ] A heavy load but I'll answer some basics with some general comments - details to follow: > After hearing unit names like division, company, brigade, corps, etc., > I'd like to know how these all fit together. For example, I think a > corp is made up of divisions. I'm curious as to numbers and command > structure. (I believe regiments were disbanded back in the 1950's. > Is that correct?) I'll give you a "standard" organization. But, the real beauty of U.S. organizations is the capability to add, detract, mix and match units at all levels, called, "task organization" - "tailored for combat". A Corps consists of 2-3 divisions, a separate brigade, an armored cavalry regiment, and numerous artillery, combat support, and combat service support units. A "Corps" is the highest level of "tactical" unit for manuever and fire support. A Division consists of 3 brigades, an artillery 'brigade', a support command('brigade'), and aviation, engineer, airdefense, combat intelligence, signal battalions. A "Division" is the lowest level of tactical formation with the capability to sustain and support itself. A Brigade consists of 3-5 manuever battalions - and receives its "slice" of support from Divisional elements. An 'Armor Brigade Task Force' might consists of two tank battalions and one mechanized infantry battalion, supported by a DS 155mm SP artillery battalion, an attack helicoptor company, an engineer company, a combat intelligence company, an airdefense battery, an MP platoon, and other combat support. A Tank Battalion consists of three Tank Companies, a Combat Support Company, and a Headquarters Company. A Tank Company consists of three Tank Platoons. A tank company task organized with an infantry platoon, and some engineers and other support, is a "Company Team". A Tank Platoon consists of four M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks. of two tank battalions and one mechanized infantry battalion. A > I've also heard of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne > Division. Are there, or were there ever, divisions numbered between > these - 83rd Division, 84th Division, etc.? I assume there is only one > division of each number. In other words, there is not also an 82nd > Infantry Division. Is this correct? Does anyone have a list of US Army > divisions? I'd like to see one if it is available. Are divisions > consecutively numbered starting with the 1st division? Yes, during WWII, there were divisions numbered way into the 100s. However, the Army tries to retain on 'active duty' those units with the 'best' history and honors. There are also current National Guard divisions; 26th (Mass), 42d (NY), 47th (Minn) to name a few. There are also Army Reserve Divisions (Training Divisions); 80th (Va), 84th (Ill), 108th (NC) to, again, name a few. And, yes, there is a 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) and a 1st Armored Division and a 1st Cavalry Division. Current active duty divisions: 1st Infantry Division (Mech) (Big Red One) Ft Riley, KS 2nd Infantry Division (Light) (Indianhead) Korea 3rd Infantry Division (Mech) (Rock of the Marne) Wurzburg, Germany 4th Infantry Division (Mech) Ft Carson, CO 5th Infantry Division (Mech) (Red Diamond) Ft Polk, LA 6th Infantry Division (Light) Ft Richardson, Alaska 7th Infantry Division (Light) (Bayonet) Ft Ord, CA 8th Infantry Division (Mech) (Pathfinders) Bad Kreuznach, Germany 9th Infantry Division (Mtz) (Old Reliables) Ft Lewis (phasing out) 10th Mountain Division (Light) Ft Drum, NY 24th Infantry Division (Mech) (Acorn) Ft Stewart, GA 25th Infantry Division (Light) (Tropic Lightning) Hawaii 82nd Airborne Division (All American) Ft Bragg, NC 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile)(Screeming Eagles) Ft Campbell, KY 1st Cavalry Division (First Team) Ft Hood, TX 1st Armored Division (Ironsides) Ansbach, Germany 2nd Armored Division (Hell on Wheels) Ft Hood, TX 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead) Frankfurt, Germany > What types of divisions are there. I've heard of Airborne, Armored, > Infantry, Light Infanty, and Cavalry (what is cavalry in this day and > age). What others are there and why are they called what they called? See the above designations. They describe either the mission of the force or how they arrive on the battlefield. Airborne - parachute into battle, Armored - shock action with tanks, Mechanized Infantry - infantry riding in armored personnel carriers (M113 & Bradleys), Light Infantry - are foot mobile (train in air assault), Airmobile - ride helicoptors to the battle. "Cavalry" denotes a unit who's mission is "eyes and ears". Cavalry scouts, recons, screens, protects, covering force. The 1st Cavalry Division is basically - Armor - but has retained the "Cavalry" designation for historical lineage and honors (Korea, Vietnam). > Are other units also uniquely numbered. For example, locally, the > 134th Maintenance Company is currently stationed in the Mid-East. Is > there or is there not some other company also numbered 134. Since a > company is such a small unit I would assume that if all companies were > numbered that the number system would go quite high. Actually there is method to the numbering system. For example, the 701st Maintenance Battalion of 1st Infantry Division - the 703rd Maintenance Battalion of the 3rd Inf Div - the 702d Maint Bn, 2d Inf Div. Companies are usually lettered if organic to a battalion = A, B, C. Battalions are numbered 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th - but then followed by their "Regimental Designation" (let's not go into this for now - very complicated) So - 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry = 1-28th. A Company (Alpha Company) 1-28 looks like A/1-28 Inf, B/1-64 Armor, C/1-4 Cav, D/1-7FA, B/1 Eng. Separate companies are numbered - I used to command 1st Combat Intelligence Company, 1st Infantry Division. Then it became A Company, 101st MI Battalion, 1st Inf Div. > If you were to ask a soldier what "unit" he belonged to, would he > answer with his division, company, or something else? Easy - most soldiers identify with their battalions. And you get some very colorful answers and/or salutes from them: "28th Infantry, Sir - Black Lions!" "7th Cav, Sir, Garry Own!" "64th Armor, Sir - STRIKE!" "26th Blue Spaders, Sir - Kick Ass and Take Names - SIR!" Soldiers wear their division patch on their left shoulder and their battalion insignia on the eppualets of their fatigue jackets. They'll wear their 'combat patch' on their right shoulders. mike schmitt "Every day a holiday, every meal a banquet, every payday a fortune, in the Big Red One."