Battalion

Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols

Battalions are Military Units.They are composed of around 500-1500 men including the Commanding Officer,Second In Command and other staff depending on the type of Unit.They are often made up of two to seven companies and they are under the command of a Lieutenant Colonel or another officer.More than one Battalion often makes up a regiment or a brigade.In the United States Army,Battalions are made up of a Headquarters Company (Or Headquarters Troops for Cavalry Squadrons and Headquarters Batteries for Artillery Battalions) and several support Companies (Or Support Troops for Cavalry Units/Support Batteries for Artillery Units).In a United States Marine Corps Battalion there is a Headquarters and Service Company and several Support Companies assigned to it.There are several types of Battalions in the United States Army. They include Intelligence Battalions,Engineer Battalions,Artillery Battalions,Aviation Battalions,Etc.

Battalions are often the smallest military unit able to do movement on their own without being part of a larger unit.The battalions are often part of a regiment,group or a brigade or another Military Organization.

Depending on the Region and Country/Service in which the Battalion is assigned to,there are several important people in a Battalion Headquarters and they include the following:

  • Commanding Officer (CO)-The Commanding Officer of a Battalion is always a Lieutenant Colonel or even a full Colonel
  • Second-in-command (2i/c)-The Second-In-Command is often a Major or a lieutenant Colonel if the Battalion is commanded by a full Colonel
  • Adjutant-The Adjutant is either a Captain or a Major
  • Quartermaster (QM)-The Quartermaster is either a Captain or a Major
  • Regimental Medical Officer (RMO)-The Army Medical Services usually employs either a Captain or a Major as the Regimental Medical Officer
  • Regimental Administrative Officer (RAO)-The Adjutant General's Corps employs either a Captain or a Major as the Regimental Administrative Officer
  • Padre-The Royal Army Chaplains Department employs a Chaplain to provide support to members who may be experiencing mental, emotional and physical trauma while they are in service.
  • Regimental Intelligence Officer (RIO)-The Regimental Intelligence Officer is either a Lieutenant or a Captain
  • Regimental Signals Officer (RSO)-The Royal Corps of Signals employs either a Lieutenant or a Captain as the Regimental Signals Officer
  • Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM)-In Bermuda a Regimental Sergeant Major is usually a Warrant Officer Class 1
  • Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS)-The Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant is usually a Warrant Officer Class 2

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