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The Army’s Force Structure – The basic building block of all Army organizations is the individual soldier.  A small group of soldiers organized to maneuver and fire is called a squad.  As elements of the Army’s organizational structure become larger units, they contain more and more subordinate elements from combat arms, combat-support and combat-service-support units.  A company is typically the smallest Army element to be given a designation and affiliation with higher headquarters at battalion and brigade level.  This alphanumeric and branch designation causes and “element” to become a “unit.”  Information provided by MilitaryDial.Com - home of Discount Long Distance, Cellular Accessories, Printer Ink and Satellite TV for Military Members. 

SQUAD – Nine to 10 soldiers.  Typically commanded by a sergeant or staff sergeant, a squad or section is the smallest element in 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 principal 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 principal 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 soldiers.  A brigade headquarters commands the tactical operations 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 commanded 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 constitute 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+ soldiers.  Typically commanded by a lieutenant general or higher, an army combines two or more corps.  A theater army is the ranking Army component 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.