As a teacher, you have the power to help your students learn about various aspects of life that go beyond their textbooks. One of these aspects is about the military and its unit sizes. Understanding army unit sizes can help students feel more familiar with and respectful of military personnel and their sacrifices. In this article, we’ll discuss some pointers on how to teach about army unit sizes to your students.
First, it’s good to explain that the military uses units of different sizes to carry out its goals. These units range from small teams (squads) to large teams (divisions) that may comprise thousands of soldiers. It’s essential to demystify the military jargon associated with each unit size, such as platoon, company, battalion, and brigade.
The Different Army Unit Sizes:
Squads:
A squad is the smallest unit in the army, containing approximately nine soldiers, with a squad leader who is mostly a sergeant. Squads are used for tasks that require high flexibility, mobility, and frequently loud and direct communication.
Platoons:
A platoon is made up of approximately 30 soldiers, typically led by a lieutenant or staff sergeant. Platoons are sectioned into squads and serve as the crucial building blocks of an army unit.
Companies:
A company is made up of three to four platoons and has a commanding officer. The size of a company typically ranges from 100 to 250 soldiers.
Battalions:
Battalions are normally made up of three to four companies, commanded by a lieutenant colonel. They can potentially serve as independent entities or lead specific global missions or tasks for a broader mission.
Brigades:
Brigades are larger units, comprising three to four battalions. They can range from 1,500 to 4,000 soldiers and are commanded by a brigadier general or colonel.
Divisions:
A division is made up of three to four brigades, making it one of the most significant units in the army, consisting of about 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers.
Explaining the Uses of Each Army Unit Size:
It is essential to explain the roles of each unit size in the army’s overall strategy. You can explain that squad leader’s purpose is to drive the specific squad to accomplish a particular task like a search mission. Platoons work in creating more organization, usually planning and leading activities that involve a larger group of soldiers.
Companies, on the other hand, work to increase the efficiency of a system since they have around 100 to 250 soldiers. They can easily divide workloads to specific groups and oversee their activity.
Battalions operate more like the specific companies, and often they can either lead a broader mission or work towards servicing a more substantial group while offering specific aid.
Brigades work to bring more synergy and effectiveness since they draw together several different battalions or companies and harmonize their goals to accomplish a larger-scale mission.
Finally, divisions involve large-scale battles and engagements that require swift coordination and high-level leadership to bring together all soldiers to achieve one shared goal. Divisions tend to be the chief body when deploying strategies to fight in war.
