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Updated December 11, 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 Forces.
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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 three), 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.
Army Br,-igade~s
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 Army consists of 58 BCTs, with 31
BCTs in the Regular Army (RA) and 27 BCTs in the Army
National Guard (ARNG).
The Army has three types of BCTs: Infantry BCTs (IBCTs),
Armored BCTs (ABCTs), and Stryker BCTs (SBCTs).
Infantry BCTs (IBCTs) include three infantry battalions, a
reconnaissance and surveillance cavalry squadron, a field artillery
battalion, a brigade engineer battalion, and a logistics support
battalion. IBCTs also are organized to be airborne or air-assault
capable. As of December 2020, the Army has 13 Active
Component and 20 National Guard IBCTs.
Armored BCTs (ABCTs) include three armor/mechanized
infantry battalions, an armed reconnaissance cavalry squadron, a
field artillery battalion, a logistics support battalion, and a brigade
engineer battalion. As of December 2020, the Army has II
Active Component and 5 National Guard ABCTs.
Stryker BCTs (SBCTs) are centered on the Stryker, an eight-
wheel-drive armored vehicle. SBCTs consist of three infantry
battalions, a cavalry squadron for reconnaissance and target
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 December 2020, the Army has 7
Active Component and 2 National Guard SBCTs.
Functional Support Brigades
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