Defense Primer: Organization of U.S. Ground Forces V. 1

1 1 (January 2, 2020)

$handle is hein.crs/govbdyx0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FF.ri E.$~ & Updated January 2, 2020 Defense Primer: Organization of U.S. Ground Forces The Army is the U.S. military's primary ground force. Title 10, Subtitle B, Part I, Chapter 307 of the U.S. Code addresses the organization of the Army. The Marine Corps serves as the Navy's land-based fighting force. Title 10, Subtitle C, Part I, Chapter 507, Section 5063 addresses Marine Corps composition and functions. For the National Guard and Reserves, see CRS In Focus IF10540, Defense Primer: Reserve Components. The Army and Marine Corps are organized as hierarchies of units, with each type of unit commanded by a noncommissioned or commissioned officer of a specific rank. These units are described from smallest to largest. Squad/Team/Section: A squad is led by a sergeant and consists of 4-12 personnel. Squads can be further divided into teams or sections. Platoon: A platoon which is led (Army) or commanded (Marines) by a lieutenant and includes varying numbers of subordinate squads, teams, or sections may vary from 16 to 50 personnel. Heavy platoons also have armored vehicles (such as tanks or infantry fighting vehicles, depending on the type of platoon). Company/Troop/Battery: A company is commanded by a captain and includes two to five subordinate platoons (usually three or four). It has about 100-200 personnel. Cavalry (air or ground reconnaissance units) companies are called troops (Army only); artillery and air and missile defense companies are called batteries. Battalion/Squadron: A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and usually includes three to five combat companies and one support company. It has about 500 to 900 personnel. Cavalry battalions are called squadrons. Brigade Combat Team/Support Brigades/Regiment/Group: Army brigades are commanded by a colonel and generally are configured as a brigade combat team (BCT), a functional support brigade (FSB), or a multifunctional support brigade (MFSB). Each brigade has about 3,900-4,100 personnel. Army cavalry brigades are called regiments; some types of support brigades are called groups. Marine Corps units at this level also are called regiments. (The term Marine Expeditionary Brigade [MEB] refers to a regimental-size task force, which is larger than a standard Army brigade). Division: An Army division is commanded by a major general and includes two to five BCTs (usually four), an aviation brigade, an artillery brigade, an engineer brigade, and a logistics brigade. Army divisions consist of 12,000- 16,000 personnel. Corps: Corps are commanded by a lieutenant general and include two to five divisions and numerous support brigades and commands. Corps have about 40,000-100,000 personnel. The Marines do not have designated corps, although a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) is similar in size and also is commanded by a lieutenant general. Army: An army is the highest command level in a given theater of operations and typically has 100,000-300,000 personnel. It is an element of a joint command structure, with the Army's component commanded by a general. An Army's operational theater is established to support one or more corps and includes numerous support brigades and support commands. According to the Association of the U.S. Army's (AUSA) Profile of the United States Army 2018, Army Brigades are organized as follows: The Brigade Combat Team (BCT) is the basic combined-arms building block of the Army. It is a permanent, stand-alone, self- sufficient, and standardized tactical force of about 4,000 soldiers. At present, the Ar-my consists of 58 BCTs, with 31 BCTs in the Regular Army (RA) and 27 OCTs in the Army National Guard (ARNG). The Army has three types of BCTs: Infantry OCTs (IBCTs), Armored BCTs (ABCTs), and Stryker BCTs (SBCTs). InfiantryN BCTs (ICTs) include three infantry battalions, a reconnaissance and surveillance cavalry squadron, a field artillery battalion, a brigade engineer battalion, and a logistics support battalion. IRC~s also are organized to be airborne or air-assault capable. As of 2020, the Army will have 13 Active Component and 20 National Guard IBCTs. Armored BCA's (ABCT's) include three armorlmechanized infantry battalions, an armed reconnaissance cavalry squadron, a field artillery battalion, a logistics support battalion, and a brigade engineer battalion. As of 2020, the Army will have I I Active Component and 5 National Guard ABCTs. Stry ker BCIs (SBCIs) are centered on the Stryker, an eight- wheel-drive armored vehicle. SBCTs consist of three infantry battalions, a cavalry squadron for reconnaissance and tar-get acquisition, a field artillery battalion, a brigade support battalion, a brigade engineer battalion, a military intelligence company, an engineer company, a signal company, an antitank company, and a headquarters company. As of 2020, the Army will have 7 Active Component and 2 National Guard SBCTs. Functional Suipport Brig-ades% gognpo ' -p\qm ggmm g , q 'M a X 11L1\LXW1kJ\W,$

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