Organization/Chain of
Command
ARMY
• 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 an
"element" to become a "unit."
• Squad - 9 to 10 soldiers. Typically commanded by a
sergeant or staff sergeant, a squad or section is the
smallest element in the 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 principle
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 principle 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 solders. A brigade headquarters commands
the tactical operation 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.
Above Information Derived from DA Pamphlet 10-1
NAVY
The Navy has a somewhat complicated
organizational structure.
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/organization/org
-top.asp
AIR FORCE
• Airman: (single Air Force member)
• Section: Two or more airmen can form a "section." Generally,
the section is the place (duty section) where the person works.
For example, the Administrative Section, or the Life Support
Section. It's not absolutely necessary to have a "section." For
example, many aircrew members and Security Forces (Air Force
"cops") don't have a "section." Instead, they belong (as a group)
to a "flight." In Air Force Basic Training, it's called an "Element."
Each basic training "flight" is divided into four "elements," each
with an assigned "element leader."
• Flight: Two or more airmen can form a flight. Two or more
sections can also form a flight. It depends upon how the
Squadron is organized. There are three types of flights:
Numbered, Alpha, and Functional. Numbered flights incorporate
small mission elements into an organized unit. For example,
flights in basic training are numbered flights. While in basic, you
could be assigned to "Flight 421," for instance.
• Squadron: Two or more flights form a squadron. The squadron is the
lowest level of command with a headquarters element (example, a
Squadron Commander, or Squadron First Sergeant). In the Air Force, a
squadron commander is generally in the rank of Lt Col (O-5), although
smaller squadrons may be commanded by majors, captains, and
sometimes even lieutenants. Squadrons are usually identified both
numerically, and by function. An example would be the 49th Security
Forces Squadron, or the 501st Maintenance Squadron.
• Group: Two or more Squadrons form a Group. In the Air Force, Groups are
usually based upon assignment of squadrons with similar functions. For
example, the Supply Squadron, Transportation, and Aircraft Maintenance
Squadron would be assigned to the Logistics Group. The flying squadrons
would be assigned to the Operations Group. The Dental Squadron and the
Medical Squadron would be assigned to the Medical Group, etc. Usually,
Groups take on the number of the Wing they are assigned to. The 49th
Logistics Group, for example is assigned to the 49th Fighter Wing, at
Holloman AFB in New Mexico. The group commander is usually a colonel
(O-6).
• Wing: Two or more groups compose a Wing.
There is only one Wing on an Air Force base, and
the Wing Commander is quite often considered
to be the "Installation Commander." There are
two types of Wings: Composite and Objective.
• Composite Wings operate more than one kind of
aircraft.
• Objective Wings streamline and consolidate
responsibilities and clarify lines of command.
They may have operational missions, such as air
combat, flying training, or airlift, and they may
provide support to a MAJCOM or a geographically
separated unit (GSU). Wings may also have a
specialized mission (e.g., an "Intelligence Wing").
• Numbered Air Force: A numbered Air Force (Example, 7th Air
Force) is usually assigned for geographical purposes, and primarily
used only during wartime. In peacetime, they generally only consist
of a limited number of headquarters staff who's job it is to prepare
and maintain wartime plans.
• Major Command (MAJCOM): Air Force Wings usually report
directly to MAJCOMs. Air Force MAJCOMs within the Continental
United States are primarily organized by mission. For example,
Wings who's primary mission is to fly combat missions (fighters and
bombers) would likely be assigned to the Air Combat Command.
Wings who's primary mission is training would likely be assigned to
the Air Force Education & Training Command (AETC). Overseas,
MAJCOMs are generally organized by regional area. Examples
would be PACAF (Pacific Air Forces). Wings located in the Pacific
Region (Hawaii, Japan, Korea, etc.) would usually be assigned to
PACAF. Another example would be USAFE (United States Air Forces
Europe), which control most wings assigned to Europe.
• Air Force: MAJCOMS report directly to Headquarters, Air Force.
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MARINES
The Marine Corps has the "RULE of THREE.“
Three men to a fire team commanded by a
Corporal (so there are actually a total of four on
the team, when you count the team leader).
Three fire teams to a rifle squad commanded by a
sergeant.
Three rifle squads to a platoon commanded by a
Lt..
Three rifle platoons to a company commanded by
a Capt.
Three companies to a battalion commanded by a
Lt Col. etc.
• Team: Four individual Marines assigned to a
specific team (Three team members, plus the
team leader).
• Squad: Three Teams are assigned to a specific
squad.
• Platoon: Three squads are usually assigned to a
specific platoon.
• Company (or Battery): Three platoons are
assigned to a Company (sometimes called a
battery). The Company/battery is the lowest level
of command with a headquarters element
(example, a Company Commander, or Company
First Sergeant).
• Battalion: Three companies/batteries are
assigned to form a battery a battalion.
• Regiment: Three battalions form a
Regiment (Sometimes called a Brigade).
• Division: Three Brigades are assigned to
make up a Division.
• Marine Corps: Three or more divisions
make up the Marine Corps.
COAST GUARD
• Complicated, like the Navy.
http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/
Military Rank/Rate
• Rank/Rate. There are three general categories of rank/rate
(Note: The Navy/Coast Guard calls it "rate," the other
services refer to it as "rank"): Enlisted personnel, Warrant
Officers, and Commissioned Officers.
• Enlisted personnel. Enlisted members are the "backbone"
of the military. They perform the primary jobs that need to
be done. Enlisted members are "specialists." They are
trained to perform specific specialties in the military. As
enlisted personnel progress up the ranks (there are nine
enlisted ranks), they assume more responsibility, and
provide direct supervision to their subordinates.
• Warrant Officers. Warrant Officers are very highly-trained
specialists. This is where they differ from commissioned officers.
Unlike commissioned officers, warrant officers remain in their
primary specialty to provide specialized knowledge, instruction, and
leadership to enlisted members and commissioned officers alike.
• With few exceptions, one must be an enlisted member with several
years of experience, recommended by their commander, and pass a
selection board to become a warrant officer. The Air Force is the
only service which does not have warrant officers. The Air Force
eliminated their warrant officer positions when Congress created
the grades of E-8 and E-9 in the late 60s. The other services elected
to retain the warrant ranks, and shifted the emphasis from a
promotion process for E-7s to a highly selective system for highlyskilled technicians. There are five separate warrant ranks. Warrant
Officers outrank all enlisted members.
• Warrant officers are not required to have college degrees (they are
selected primarily based upon technical skills and experience), but
many of them do.
• Commissioned Officers. Commissioned Officers are the "top brass."
Their primary function is to provide overall management and
leadership in their area of responsibility. Unlike enlisted members
and warrant officers, commissioned officers do not specialize as
much (with certain exceptions such as pilots, doctors, nurses, and
lawyers). As he moves up the ranks, he gets more and more
experience in the different areas of his branch, and is responsible
for commanding more and more troops. All of this has the primary
purpose of (ultimately) generating an experienced officer who can
command an entire infantry company, battalion, or division.
• Commissioned Officers must have a minimum of a four-year
bachelor's degree. As they move up the ranks, if they want to get
promoted, they will have to earn a masters degree. Commissioned
Officers are commissioned through specific commissioning
programs, such as one of the military academies (West Point, Naval
Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy), ROTC
(Reserve Officer Training Corps, or OCS (Officer Candidate School),
called OTS (Officer Training School) for the Air Force.