FM 1-02.
ENG-2
ECHELONS: ENGLISH TO ENGLISH TRANSLATION
MEME
MEME
OCTOBER 2022
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION:
Approved for public release; distribution is encouraged.
This publication supersedes nothing because it’s not real.
HEADQUARTERS, MAP PEN GANG @fire_meme_alpha
Echelons: English to English Translation Overview
This chart outlines the general characteristics of the different echelons used by US and Commonwealth
forces. The following slides provide example graphics and highlight differences in terminology US specific
information is highlighted in blue, Commonwealth in red.
More details regarding US doctrine can be found in FM 1-02.2 on armypubs.army.mil. Commonwealth doctrine
isn’t generally publicly available, but Wikipedia is generally correct.
Example Composition Commonwealth
Symbol (approximate) US Term
Term
2-4 Soldiers
Team/Crew
A Vehicle Crew
6-12 Soldiers
Squad Squad / Section
2 Teams
“Section” can also refer to one
cannon
12-24 Soldiers Section / Section /
2 Squads Detachment Patrol
2 Vehicles
20-50 Soldiers
Platoon
4 Squads Platoon Troop (Armor/Engineers
4 Vehicles / Cannon Artillery/Aviation)
80-200 Soldiers Company Company
2-4 Platoons Troop (Cavalry) Squadron (AR/EN/AV)
Battery (Artillery) Battery (Artillery)
300-1000 Soldiers Battalion Battalion
3-6 Companies Squadron (Cavalry) Regiment (AR/EN
Artillery/AV)
1000-5000 Soldiers Regiment or Group
2+ Battalions Regiments are also used for traditional names not
related to actual maneuver formations
1000-5000 Soldiers
2+ Battalions Brigade
2-4 Brigades or Division
Regiments
Echelons: English to English Translation – Below the Company Level
Cavalry/Recon Armor Infantry Mechanized Artillery
Team Crew Team Team/Crew Crew
This is either a team (4 soldiers – usually a Team Leader, Automatic Rifleman, Grenadier, and
Rifleman) or the crew of a vehicle/equipment.
Cavalry/Recon Armor Infantry Mechanized Artillery
Squad Squad Squad Squad Squad
A Squad is often referred to as a “section” in Commonwealth Nations
Usually only used for dismounted forces; Generally consists of 2 Teams and a Squad Leader
Squads are generally not used in standard armor or artillery organizations, rather the corresponding
equipment icon is usually used
Cavalry/Recon Armor Infantry Mechanized Artillery
Section Section Section Section Section
This usually refers to two vehicles working together, but can represent any force that is bigger than
a squad and smaller than a platoon. Also used for small staff/support elements.
Cavalry/Recon Armor Infantry Mechanized Artillery
Platoon Platoon Platoon Platoon Platoon
This is usually four squads or four vehicles, but the number can vary based on unit type.
In Armor, Engineer, Aviation, and Artillery formations, this can also be referred to as a ”troop”
Echelons: English to English Translation – Company level and above
Cavalry/Recon Armor Infantry Mechanized Artillery
Company Company Company Company Company
This is usually 3-4 platoons and a small headquarters element.
Company-sized artillery units are referred to as “batteries.
US Armor/Cavalry company-sized units are referred to as “troops.”
Commonwealth armor, aviation, and engineer company-sized units are referred to as “squadrons.”
Cavalry/Recon Armor Infantry Mechanized Artillery
Battalion Battalion Battalion Battalion Battalion
This is usually 3 or more companies
US Armor/Cavalry battalion-sized units are referred to as “squadrons.”
Cavalry/Recon Armor Infantry Mechanized Artillery
Regiment Regiment Regiment Regiment Regiment
This is usually 3 or more battalions.
US special operations forces regiment-sized units are referred to as “groups.”
US units with a regiment number preceded by a dash (as in 2-14 IN for 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry
Regiment) don’t actually belong to a regiment and are part of a brigade – the regiment is for historical
purposes only.
Units with battalion and regiment separated by a slash (as in 3/75 IN for 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger
Regiment) indicate an actual regiment exists.
Sometimes used by Commonwealth armor, engineer, aviation, and artillery as equivalent to a battalion.
Regiments are also often used for historical/lineage purposes and don’t always directly translate to a unit
that actually fights together.
Cavalry/Recon Armor Infantry Mechanized Artillery
Brigade Brigade Brigade Brigade Brigade
This is usually 3 or more battalions, often of mixed branches (e.g. infantry, armor, and support)
Task Organization Overview
Task Organization is the rearrangement of units to accomplish a given mission or conduct
an operation. To identify when a unit is arranged differently than normal, modifiers can be
attached to the unit icon to add clarity. These icons are used at the brigade level and below.
(+) (-) (+)
Reinforced Infantry Reduced Infantry Reinforced and Reduced
Company Company Infantry Company
The company has been One of the subordinate units of The company is both
reinforced by a unit of the the company has been sent reinforced and reduced (e.g.
same function (e.g. another elsewhere (e.g. a platoon was one of it’s platoons was
infantry platoon attached to attached to another company) detached, but it also received
an infantry company) another infantry platoon)
Company Team (US) Task Force (US)
Combat Team (Commonwealth) Battlegroup (Commonwealth)
A unit of a different function is attached to the unit (e.g. a tank platoon is attached to an infantry
company, or an infantry company is attached to an armor battalion). The unit uses the icon of the
unit that has the headquarters regardless of how many units are attached (even if you attach 4
infantry companies under an MP battalion headquarters, it’s still an MP task force)
“Task Force/Battlegroup” can be used at the battalion level or above.
Infantry units are used here as an example – this can be used with any kind of unit.
A Note on Corps and Armies
XXX XXXX
Corps Army
Corps and Armies can get confusing. Corps can refer to broad organizations (such as the
Adjutant General Corps or the Veterinary Corps) or a formation of multiple divisions under
one headquarters. An army is the echelon that consists of multiple corps, while *the* army
refers to the land forces of a nation. 5 “X”s on top of an icon is an “Army Group” and is,
like it sounds, a formation of several armies under one headquarters.
