- TYPES OF COMMANDERS -
As with any type of rank there is always the potential, (of course depending on when required) that the individual would be needed for leadership duties. This
goes pretty much without saying for almost any rank in any military around the world. The following list indicates the various types of military commanders
represented through the United States Armed Forces, particularly and historically, the US Army and US Marine Corps (considering they were both quite
similar with military unit structure). The majority of the literature described below pertains to the Army.
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* FIRE TEAM LEADER: Generally, the smallest unit that can be organized and commanded. Often lead by a Private First Class (PFC). This unit has 2 - 4 soldiers, usually E-1s or E-2s.
* SQUAD or SECTION LEADER: Generally, the second smallest unit that is usually commanded by a Sergeant (SGT) or a Staff Sergeant (SSG) depending on what NCO is available at the present moment. There usually is between 5 - 11 soldiers listed within these units, with either a Corporal (CPL) or a PFC as second-in-command.
* PLATOON LEADER: For the most part, platoons are commanded by either a Second Lieutenant (2LT) which is most typical, and in other cases, a First Lieutenant (1LT) can also be commander of these units, but for the most part, first lieutenants lead more "specialized" platoons after 18 to 24 months as an entry-level lieutenant. The typical amount of soldiers in platoons in the US Army are 16 to 44. On unusual occasions, a Sergeant Major (SGM), First Sergeant (1SG), or even a Master Sergeant (MSG) may be called upon to command a platoon. This is generally done so however, as a serving Acting Platoon Leader until a replacement can be located.
* COMPANY COMMANDER: These types of commanders are for the most part represented by the rank of Captain (CPT). On very rare occasions, the rank of Major (MAJ) may be required to serve as Acting Company Commander. Comapnies usually represent 90 to 190 soldiers with a first sergeant as Principal NCO Assistant and a first lieutenant as Executive Officer or (XO).
* BATTALION or REGIMENTAL COMMANDER: Typically, battalions are utilized within the Army, while the only other branch that utilizes the regimental structure is the Marine Corps. In the infantry battalion, however, the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) is often the commander with the rank of Major (MAJ) as Principal Staff Officer or (PSO). Sometimes, the ranks of Captain and First Lieutenant may also serve as secondary commanders, with a Sergeant Major (SGM) or a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) bringing up the rear as Principal NCO Assistant. The generalized battalion usually incorporates 300 to 1,300 soldiers (sometimes up to as many as 1,500 soldiers). The regiment on the other hand is represented by the rank of Colonel (COL) with a lieutenant colonel as XO if the LTC is not occupied elsewhere, but, for the most part, the rank of Major will always serve as PSO even to the regiment commander. In regiments, it is not uncommon to hear the numbers of 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers with a CSM as Principal NCO Adviser.
* BRIGADE: This is the Army's equivalent to the Marine Corps with between 2,000 to 5,000 soldiers and commanded by a Colonel (COL), and likewise with a lieutenant colonel as second-in-command should the PSO not be readily available, along with a captain as another secondary staff officer. Generally so, the CSM also applies to this level of command.
* DIVISION: These types of units can operate solely as independent units for extendeed periods of time, and are the largest autonomous units in service among all the US service branches. Often commanded by a Major General (MG) with a Brigadier General (BG) as deputy commander, a Lieutenant Colonel as operational commander, a Major as PSO, several Captains and Lieutenants respectively serve as deputy staff officers likewise. The typical numbers represented in the US Army division are 10,000 to 15,000 (sometimes 20,000) soldiers respectively.
* CORPS: These units are solely ever used as independent operational units and typically represent headquarters units instead. Often using the rank of Lieutenant General (LTG) as commander, with either a Brigadier General and sometimes a Colonel as deputy commander/s. Almost every rank subordinate to the rank of LTG is utilized herein. From lieutenant colonel all the way down to Sergeant Major. Mostly, the highest rank any soldier will ever see in the field is a colonel with the exception of a visit from the brigadier general who will be serving as operational and mission leader. The numbers utilized here are often (25,000 to 45,000).
* FIELD ARMY: Often never used except for in large-scale tactical operations such as what took place in pre-Vitenam War era. These units are often used as individual bodies that use more than two divisions at any given time, generally utilizing the scale of 350,000 soldiers or more. Often commanded or so-to-speak hypothetically commanded by a General (GEN) or Lieutenant General (LTG). The same applies here as does with the structure of Corps.
* ARMY GROUP: A military organization consisting of several field armies, which is self-sufficient for indefinite periods. It is usually responsible for a particular geographic area. An army group is the largest field organization handled by a single commander — usually a full General or Field Marshal — and it generally includes
between 400,000 and 1,000,000 soldiers.
* THEATER: Is an area or place in which important military events occur or are progressing. A theater can include the entirety of the air, land, and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations. (1,000,000 to 10,000,000 strength = 4+ army groups). Can be commanded by any commander of 4-stars or above.
goes pretty much without saying for almost any rank in any military around the world. The following list indicates the various types of military commanders
represented through the United States Armed Forces, particularly and historically, the US Army and US Marine Corps (considering they were both quite
similar with military unit structure). The majority of the literature described below pertains to the Army.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* FIRE TEAM LEADER: Generally, the smallest unit that can be organized and commanded. Often lead by a Private First Class (PFC). This unit has 2 - 4 soldiers, usually E-1s or E-2s.
* SQUAD or SECTION LEADER: Generally, the second smallest unit that is usually commanded by a Sergeant (SGT) or a Staff Sergeant (SSG) depending on what NCO is available at the present moment. There usually is between 5 - 11 soldiers listed within these units, with either a Corporal (CPL) or a PFC as second-in-command.
* PLATOON LEADER: For the most part, platoons are commanded by either a Second Lieutenant (2LT) which is most typical, and in other cases, a First Lieutenant (1LT) can also be commander of these units, but for the most part, first lieutenants lead more "specialized" platoons after 18 to 24 months as an entry-level lieutenant. The typical amount of soldiers in platoons in the US Army are 16 to 44. On unusual occasions, a Sergeant Major (SGM), First Sergeant (1SG), or even a Master Sergeant (MSG) may be called upon to command a platoon. This is generally done so however, as a serving Acting Platoon Leader until a replacement can be located.
* COMPANY COMMANDER: These types of commanders are for the most part represented by the rank of Captain (CPT). On very rare occasions, the rank of Major (MAJ) may be required to serve as Acting Company Commander. Comapnies usually represent 90 to 190 soldiers with a first sergeant as Principal NCO Assistant and a first lieutenant as Executive Officer or (XO).
* BATTALION or REGIMENTAL COMMANDER: Typically, battalions are utilized within the Army, while the only other branch that utilizes the regimental structure is the Marine Corps. In the infantry battalion, however, the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) is often the commander with the rank of Major (MAJ) as Principal Staff Officer or (PSO). Sometimes, the ranks of Captain and First Lieutenant may also serve as secondary commanders, with a Sergeant Major (SGM) or a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) bringing up the rear as Principal NCO Assistant. The generalized battalion usually incorporates 300 to 1,300 soldiers (sometimes up to as many as 1,500 soldiers). The regiment on the other hand is represented by the rank of Colonel (COL) with a lieutenant colonel as XO if the LTC is not occupied elsewhere, but, for the most part, the rank of Major will always serve as PSO even to the regiment commander. In regiments, it is not uncommon to hear the numbers of 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers with a CSM as Principal NCO Adviser.
* BRIGADE: This is the Army's equivalent to the Marine Corps with between 2,000 to 5,000 soldiers and commanded by a Colonel (COL), and likewise with a lieutenant colonel as second-in-command should the PSO not be readily available, along with a captain as another secondary staff officer. Generally so, the CSM also applies to this level of command.
* DIVISION: These types of units can operate solely as independent units for extendeed periods of time, and are the largest autonomous units in service among all the US service branches. Often commanded by a Major General (MG) with a Brigadier General (BG) as deputy commander, a Lieutenant Colonel as operational commander, a Major as PSO, several Captains and Lieutenants respectively serve as deputy staff officers likewise. The typical numbers represented in the US Army division are 10,000 to 15,000 (sometimes 20,000) soldiers respectively.
* CORPS: These units are solely ever used as independent operational units and typically represent headquarters units instead. Often using the rank of Lieutenant General (LTG) as commander, with either a Brigadier General and sometimes a Colonel as deputy commander/s. Almost every rank subordinate to the rank of LTG is utilized herein. From lieutenant colonel all the way down to Sergeant Major. Mostly, the highest rank any soldier will ever see in the field is a colonel with the exception of a visit from the brigadier general who will be serving as operational and mission leader. The numbers utilized here are often (25,000 to 45,000).
* FIELD ARMY: Often never used except for in large-scale tactical operations such as what took place in pre-Vitenam War era. These units are often used as individual bodies that use more than two divisions at any given time, generally utilizing the scale of 350,000 soldiers or more. Often commanded or so-to-speak hypothetically commanded by a General (GEN) or Lieutenant General (LTG). The same applies here as does with the structure of Corps.
* ARMY GROUP: A military organization consisting of several field armies, which is self-sufficient for indefinite periods. It is usually responsible for a particular geographic area. An army group is the largest field organization handled by a single commander — usually a full General or Field Marshal — and it generally includes
between 400,000 and 1,000,000 soldiers.
* THEATER: Is an area or place in which important military events occur or are progressing. A theater can include the entirety of the air, land, and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations. (1,000,000 to 10,000,000 strength = 4+ army groups). Can be commanded by any commander of 4-stars or above.
Other Types of Military Units from the Past
In the past, that is since the Aztecs and Roman Empire, and likeminded civilizations - there have come to pass numerous other types of military formations that have been used. Such types as those listed above were in fact, either created by the French, Roman Empire, or Spanish movements. However, the following brief list are units that were created from French mostly, with others being from Great Britain. It is interesting to see how the similarities and differences range.
* PII UNIT: (Pronounced "pie"). This type of unit used briefly in Italy as the equivalent to a "section" suring the Dark Ages was made up of between 13 to 22 soldiers, typically commanded by Sergeant, Second Sergeant or a Leading Sergeant.
* MODULE: Used briefly by the French between the 1730s and the 1760s for the detachment phase of trained cadets in the field of combat. Generally, after an officer cadet graduated, they were moved onto the final phase or stage to perform in the field of combat under mock conditions of battlefield surroundings. It was here that several cadets failed training and in essence, died because they did not do what they were instructed to do. This was usually carried out by a Training Lieutenant or a Corps Sergeant Major. This type of unit was phased out when more and more graduates weren't making it to their destination.
* TROOP: Even though this type of military unit has been widely used in the past, it is was also used for centuries prior to "our" knowing of its existence. Moreorless invented by the British to facilitate the usage and replacement of the Americanized-"platoon." Troop, was meant to be an "in between" unit of platoon and company, however, those countries that utilized this type of unit did not realize how well this would take to both soldiers of their armies, as well as the understanding of military structure, so this form of unit was kept. Typically speaking, any Lieutenant can command a troop which generally encompasses anywhere from 66 to 109 soldiers. Troops are not used as often as they used to be. For the most part, platoons have already taken over.
* PII UNIT: (Pronounced "pie"). This type of unit used briefly in Italy as the equivalent to a "section" suring the Dark Ages was made up of between 13 to 22 soldiers, typically commanded by Sergeant, Second Sergeant or a Leading Sergeant.
* MODULE: Used briefly by the French between the 1730s and the 1760s for the detachment phase of trained cadets in the field of combat. Generally, after an officer cadet graduated, they were moved onto the final phase or stage to perform in the field of combat under mock conditions of battlefield surroundings. It was here that several cadets failed training and in essence, died because they did not do what they were instructed to do. This was usually carried out by a Training Lieutenant or a Corps Sergeant Major. This type of unit was phased out when more and more graduates weren't making it to their destination.
* TROOP: Even though this type of military unit has been widely used in the past, it is was also used for centuries prior to "our" knowing of its existence. Moreorless invented by the British to facilitate the usage and replacement of the Americanized-"platoon." Troop, was meant to be an "in between" unit of platoon and company, however, those countries that utilized this type of unit did not realize how well this would take to both soldiers of their armies, as well as the understanding of military structure, so this form of unit was kept. Typically speaking, any Lieutenant can command a troop which generally encompasses anywhere from 66 to 109 soldiers. Troops are not used as often as they used to be. For the most part, platoons have already taken over.