Repost from [EMAIL PROTECTED]
with permission from David and Chuck.
Cheers!
--
Han Tacoma
~ Artificial Intelligence is better than none! ~
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Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 15:53:51 -0500
From: "David P. Dillard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RESOURCES: Confusing Military Unit Terms and Links to Sources of
Military Term Definitions
RESOURCES: Confusing Military Unit Terms and Links to Sources of Military
Term Definitions
I am reposting this message that I found useful with the kind permission
of its author. I am taking the additional liberty of adding to it a few
website links for dictionaries and glossaries of military terms. With the
Iraq war in progress there may be a much increased need to understand the
exact meanings of the information about the war that one is reading.
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 16:24:39 -0600
From: Chuck Malone <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: Discussion of Government Document Issues
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: confusing military unit terms
Resent-Subject: confusing military unit terms
I have always had trouble with the military unit terms when helping
patrons researching military history in the D114 section. And these terms
used in the news can be confusing also. So below, I have looked up
definitions of the various unit terms. I think I have the units listed
from largest to smallest. This was helpful to me. I hope it will be
helpful to you. Also, if anyone with more expertise can add or correct
anything, please do!
Charles E. Malone, Unit Coordinator
Government and Legal Information Unit
University Libraries
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
(309) 298-2719
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Military Unit Terms
Group
1. A flexible administrative and tactical unit composed of either two or
more battalions or two or more squadrons. The term also applies to combat
support and combat service support units. 2. A number of ships and/or
aircraft, normally a subdivision of a force, assigned for a specific
purpose. Also called GP. (1)
Field Army
Administrative and tactical organization composed of a headquarters,
certain organic Army troops, service support troops, a variable number of
corps, and a variable number of divisions. See also Army corps. (1) Army
corps
A tactical unit larger than a division and smaller than a field army. A
corps usually consists of two or more divisions together with auxiliary
arms and services. See also field army. (1)
Corps
In the Army and Marine Corps, a tactical unit of ground combat forces
organizationally placed between a division and an army. It is typically
commanded by a lieutenant general and is comprised of two or more
divisions. (2)
Division
(DOD, NATO) 1. A tactical unit/formation as follows: a. A major
administrative and tactical unit/formation which combines in itself the
necessary arms and services required for sustained combat, larger than a
regiment/brigade and smaller than a corps (1)
Brigade
(DOD) A unit usually smaller than a division to which are attached groups
and/or battalions and smaller units tailored to meet anticipated
requirements. Also called BDE. (1)
In the U.S. Army, three or more battalions plus a headquarters section
under the command of a colonel. Capable of independent military
operations, a brigade has between 4,000 and 5,000 personnel (2)
Regiment
A military unit that consists of two or more battalions of ground troops
(e.g. infantry, artillery, nonarmored cavalry). The term has been used
since before the American Revolution, but it was officially dropped by the
U.S. Army in the 1960s as part of its division reorganization effort.
Today, both the Army and the Marine Corps use the term Brigade instead.
However, unofficially, traditional regiments continue to use their
regimental identification. (e.g., 16th Infantry Regiment instead of
2d/16th Infantry). Marine regiments add "Marines" t a unit's designation
for identification purposes (e.g., 3/3 Marines for the 3d Reconnaissance
Battalion/2d Marine Regiment). This way Army and Marine units are not
confused with one another. (2)
Battalion
In the U.S. Army, four or more companies plus a headquarters section under
the command of lieutenant colonel. (2)
Company
In the Army and Marine Corps, a unit under a captain's change that is mad
up of a headquarters section and two or more platoons (i.e., 140+
personnel). Note: A platoon is four infantry squads under a lieutenant's
control; an infantry squad is comprised of ten men under a staff
sergeant.) A company is the basic element of the battalion.. In the
artillery, a company is known as a battery; in the cavalry it's know as a
troop. A tank company is comprised of 17 tanks, divided into three
platoons. Independent companies are usually assigned numerical names
(e.g. 5th Transportation Co.); companies permanently assigned to a
battalion, an alphabetic name (e.g. Charlie Company, Company B.) (2)
Platoon
The second smallest military organization in the U.S. Army. In the
infantry, a platoon is comprised of four squads under the command of a
lieutenant, with a sergeant as second in command. A squad usually has ten
men assigned to it. Four platoons and a headquarters section form a
company. (2)
Squad
In the Army, the smallest organization unit. In the infantry, a squad
usually consists of 10 men under the command of a staff sergeant. A squad
is divided into two fire teams. Four squads make up a platoon. An Army
armored squad consists of a tank and its piece (e.g. 155mm). And its gun
crew. In the Marine Corps, a squad is comprised of three fire teams (i.e.
approximately 13 marines) under the control of a sergeant or staff
sergeant. (2)
References
(1) DOD Dictionary of Military Terms
http://131.84.1.34/doctrine/jel/doddict/
>From this page you can browse the DOD Dictionary of Military and
>Associated Terms. The DOD Dictionary and the Joint Acronyms and
>Abbreviations master data base are managed by the Joint Doctrine
>Division, J-7, Joint Staff. All approved joint definitions are contained
>in Joint Publication 1-02, "DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated
>Terms. As amended through 09 January 2003
(2) Dictionary of the Modern United State Military: Over 15,000 Weapons,
Agencies, Acronyms, Slang, Installations, Medical Terms and Other Lexical
Units of Warfare by S.F. Tomajczyk, McFarland Press, 1996/
---------------- END OF REPOSTED MESSAGE ----------------
Here are some web resources for military terminology definitions for both
current terminology as well as that from historic periods of time.
DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
<http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/>
Glossarist Military Terminology, Military Words and Military Dictionaries
<http://www.glossarist.com/glossaries/
government-politics-military/military/default.asp?Page=1>
Vermont Military Terminology from the Civil War Period
http://www.vermontcivilwar.org/terms/terms.shtml
Confederate Military Terminology
<http://members.aol.com/awill84810/militaryterms.htm>
Military - Terminology and Mottoes
Latin terminology for military and civil service.
[Ancient History]
<http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/militaryterms/>
Enterprise Integration Glossary- Military Terminology
<http://deskbook.dau.mil/software/gen/Tools%
5CAPPENDIX%5C77_Enterprise%20Integration%20Glossary.htm>
Your Dictionary.com Specialty Dictionaries Includes a Short List of
Military Dictionary Titles
<http://www.yourdictionary.com/diction5.html>
Military Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
<http://www.lib.adfa.edu.au/military/info_guides/mil_dicts_ency.htm>
Military dictionaries in foreign languages, ideal for translators ...
http://www.grantandcutler.com/catalogues/translator/d133.htm
Reference Works
Dudley Knox Library
Naval Postgraduate School
This Web Page Includes:
Military Dictionaries & Thesauri
Military Abbreviations & Acronyms
<http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/refworks.html>
I hope the message that I am reposting and the links to sources of
military terminology tools will prove useful to the members of this
discussion group.
Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204-4584
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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BTW,
Latin terminology for military and civil service.
[Ancient History]
<http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/militaryterms/>
points to:
http://www.geocities.com/~stilicho/mottoes2.html
and the URL is dead, maybe Damon can give us
an alternative?
H.
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