The organization of the United States Army is founded on mission. The organization evolves based on need and resources available. The structure of the Army has changed significantly since 1989 and continues to change. That change is proceeding in a manner that will ensure a current go-to-war capability while the Army transitions to a power projection force for the 1990’s and the 21st century.

This document describes the types of units and organizations within the Army and focuses on the interrelationships and integration among all elements of the Army necessary for the Army to accomplish its role as an element of the total military force of the United States. The Army is individuals formed into teams. The Army is soldiers in uniform, civilian employees, and family members. Uniformed members of the Armed Forces are on active duty and in reserve duty status. Reserve Component soldiers form our Army National Guard and Army Reserve. Our nation’s President and appointed civilian leaders exercise authority over the Army and give it guidance and direction. Missions that the Army receives from those officials are executed under uniformed leadership. The Army is supported by industry and community infrastructure. This is America’s Army - a strategic land combat force capable of delivering Decisive Victory.

Read the entire Army Pamphlet 10-1.

Squad/Section - 9-10 Soldiers

• The Squad or Section is the smallest element in the Army organizational structure.
• The leader is a non-commissioned officer (usually a Sergeant (SGT) or Staff Sergeant (SSG)).
• The size is dependent on the function of the Squad/Section.
• Examples are Infantry, Artillery, Engineer, Chemical, Armor, Signal, Military Police, Ordnance, Quartermaster.
• The Squad is the final step in completing the mission.
• Squads/Sections make up Platoons.

Platoon - 16-44 Soldiers:

• A Platoon consists of two to four Squads/Sections.
• The leader is usually a Lieutenant (LT).
• A Staff Sergeant (SSG) or Sergeant First Class (SFC) is the second in command.
• The size will vary depending on the type of Platoon.
• Examples are Infantry, Artillery, Engineer, Chemical, Armor, Signal, Military Police, Ordnance, Quartermaster.
• Through the coordination of the Squads performing their particular tasks, functions are performed together to complete more than one task at a time, or to act in support of another element when the task is complete.
• Platoons make up Companies.

Company/Battery/Troop - 62-190 Soldiers:

• Typically, three to five Platoons form a Company. The size varies depending on the type of unit.
• A Company is normally commanded by a Captain (CPT).
• A First Sergeant (1SG) is the Company Commander's principal non-commissioned assistant.
• A company is capable of receiving and controlling additional combat and combat support elements.
• An artillery unit of equivalent size is called a Battery.
• An armored or air cavalry unit of equivalent size is called a Troop.
• A company is a cohesive component that can perform a function on its own.
• The Company is the basic tactical element of the Battalion.

Battalion/Squadron - 300-1,000 Soldiers:

• A Battalion is composed of four to six Companies.
• A Battalion is normally commanded by a Lt. Colonel (LTC).
• The Command Sergeant Major (CSM) is the battalion commander's principal non-commissioned assistant.
• The commander has a staff typically overseeing the battalion's mission, training, administration, and logistics functions.
• A Battalion is tactical and administratively self-sufficient.

Brigade/Regiment/Group - 3,000-5,000 Soldiers:

• A Brigade Headquarters commands the tactical operations of two to five organic and/or attached combat Battalions.
• A Brigade is normally command by a Colonel (COL).
• The Command Sergeant Major (CSM) is the senior, non-commissioned officer.
• Brigades may be employed on independent or semi-independent operations.
• Armored Cavalry, Ranger, and Special Forces units this size are categorized as Regiments or Groups.
• Combat, combat support, and combat service support elements may be attached to perform specific missions.
• Each maneuver brigade has an organic field artillery battalion and a support battalion in direct support.
• There are normally three Brigades in a fully structured Division.

Division - 10,000-15,000 Soldiers:

• Divisions are numbered and assigned missions based on its structure. It may be Infantry, Airborne, Air Assault, Light or Mechanized Infantry, or Armored.
• The typical base includes:
• Division Headquarters for Command and Control
• Subordinate Combat Maneuver Brigade Headquarters
• Infantry and Armor Maneuver Battalions
• Field Artillery
• Engineers
• Air Defense Artillery
• Aviation
• Military Police
• Military Intelligence
• NBC Defense
• Signal
• Division Support Command (provides support, transportation, field maintenance, medical, and administrative services)
• The Division performs major tactical operations for the Corps and can conduct sustained battles and engagements.
• A Division is normally commanded by a Major General (MG).
• Normally, an Armored Division will have more Armor that Infantry Battalions, while a Mechanized Infantry Division will have more infantry than Armor Battalions.
• Some Divisions are composed of two active-duty brigades and one Army National Guard brigade as part of the roundout program.
• Two more Divisions constitute a Corps.

U.S. Army Active Divisions

• 10th Infantry Division - Ft. Drum, NY
• 82nd Airborne Division - Ft. Bragg, NC
• 101st Airborne Division - Ft. Campbell, KY
• 24th Mechanized Infantry Division - Ft. Steward, GA
• 1st Mechanized Infantry Division - Ft. Riley, KS
• 4th Mechanized Infantry Division, Ft. Carson, CO
• 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Armored Division, Ft. Hood, TX
• 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea
• 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI
• 1st Armored Division, Bad Kreuznach, 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division, Wurzburg, Germany

Army National Guard Active Divisions

• 42nd Infantry Division - Troy, NY
• 28th Infantry Division - Harrisburg, PA
• 29th Infantry Division - Ft. Belvoir, VA
• 34th Infantry Division - St. Paul, MN
• 38th Infantry Division - Indianapolis, IN
• 49th Armored Division, Austin, TX
• 35th Mechanized Infantry Division - Ft. Leavenworth, KS
• 40th Mechanized Infantry Division, Los Alamitos, CA

Corps - 20,000-45,000 Soldiers:

• A Corps is the deployable level of command required to synchronize and sustain combat operations.
• The Corps staff elements perform analyses of national intelligence assets information.
• The Corps provides framework for multinational operations.
• The Corps provides command, control, and logistical support of two to five combat divisions.
• The Corps is the primary command and control headquarters for the conduct of the Airland Battle within the Theater of Operations.
• Two or more Corps form an Army.

Army - 50,000+ Soldiers:

• Theater Army:

Normally the Army service component command in a unified command. Third U.S. Army, Eighth U.S. Army, and U.S Army Europe are current examples of theater armies. The Theater Army, as the service component, has both operational and support responsibilities. Its exact tasks are assigned by the theater Command-in-Chief and may be exclusively operational missions, solely logistic tasks, or a combination of both type of responsibilities.

• Field Army:

May be formed by Theather Army commanders in coordination with the Commanders-in-Chief of unified commands to control and direct the operations of assigned Corps. It will normally by constituted from existing army assets and structured to meet specific operational requirements. In joint and combined operations, the subordinate units of field armies may include units of other services or allied forces. When the field army is the largest land formation in a theater of war, its commander may serve as the land component commander (LCC) and may design and direct the land campaign for the entire theater.

• Army Group

In a mature theater of war where a large number of forces are employed, theater army commanders, in coordination with the Commanders-in-Chief of unified or combined commands, may for army groups to control the operations of two to five Field Armies. Army Groups have not been employed by the U.S. Army since World War II. As in the past, their main function would be to design and direct campaigns in a theater.