The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Army is a uniformed service of the United States and is part of the Department of the Army, which is one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense. The U.S. Army is headed by a civilian senior appointed civil servant, the secretary of the Army (SECARMY) and by a chief military officer, the chief of staff of the Army (CSA) who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is the largest military branch.
The Army's organizational chart comprises a wide range of units of all sizes. TogetherWeServed has created the largest directory of U.S. Army units, reflecting the Army's structure. Each Unit Page contains comprehensive information on Unit History, Citations, Patches, Photos, Reunions and also includes a list of TWS Members who were assigned to this Unit. TWS serves as a virtual military base where Veterans of all eras can share in the camaraderie of other Veterans in a secure military-only environment.
As you browse the TogetherWeServed Unit directory, you will come across various types of units that correspond to how the Army is organized. The elements of command in the U.S. Army are:
A Fire Team is comprised of 2 Riflemen, one being the Team Leader, a Grenadier, and an Automatic Rifleman used when small recon or special missions are required. Led by a sergeant. U.S. Army doctrine recognizes the fire team, or crew, as the smallest military organization
A squad is typically made up of four to 10 soldiers and normally is commanded by a sergeant or staff sergeant.
A company has anywhere from a few dozen to 200 soldiers. It is a tactical-sized unit that can perform a battlefield function on its own. A company consists of three or four platoons and is generally commanded by a captain.
Battalions consist of four to six companies and can include up to approximately 1,000 soldiers. Battalions can conduct independent operations of limited scope and duration and are usually commanded by a lieutenant colonel.
A brigade consists of a few battalions and anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers. A brigade headquarters commands the tactical operation of two to five combat battalions. For historical reasons, armor and Ranger units of brigade size are called regiments, and the equivalent Special Forces units are called groups.
Usually commanded by a major general, divisions are made up of three or four brigades and include 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers. Divisions are numbered and are assigned missions based on their structures. Current divisions include airborne, armored, infantry and mountain divisions. Divisions perform major tactical operations for the corps and can conduct sustained battles and engagements.
A corps includes two to five divisions with anywhere between 20,000 and 45,000 soldiers. A lieutenant general is in command. The corps provides the framework for modern multi-national operations. The current active corps are I Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington; III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas; and XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
A field army consists of two or more corps and is run by a general or lieutenant general. An army group plans and directs campaigns in a theater of operations, and includes two or more field armies under a designated commander.