Parent regiment
Encyclopedia
Many armies
use different regiment
al systems. The United States Army
, among others, uses the parent regiment system.
In this system, adopted in 1957 under the Combat Arms Regimental System, or CARS
, regiments are simply there to preserve units' lineage, and few regiments actually are complete organizations. The few remaining complete regiments, which actually retain the designation "regiment", are the Armored Cavalry Regiment
s, the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, and the 75th Ranger Regiment
. Rather, the regiments are split into battalion
s (infantry, usually three) or squadrons (cavalry, usually three or more). Artillery can be split into battalions, batteries
, or other units, depending on the type. These battalions are the actual combat units. For example, West Point
is garrisoned by the 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry
. However, the actual unit, the "1st Infantry", technically does not exist in military unit terms.
This system has been adopted only recently (about 1953) by the U.S. Army. Before then, it used the traditional regimental system, where regiments were actual combat units. This change can be viewed in the following examples:
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
use different regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al systems. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, among others, uses the parent regiment system.
In this system, adopted in 1957 under the Combat Arms Regimental System, or CARS
CARS
Cars, or automobiles, motor cars, are wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers.Cars or CARS may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Cars , a Disney/Pixar film series...
, regiments are simply there to preserve units' lineage, and few regiments actually are complete organizations. The few remaining complete regiments, which actually retain the designation "regiment", are the Armored Cavalry Regiment
Armored cavalry regiment
An armored cavalry regiment is a regiment of the United States Army or United States National Guard organized for the specific purposes of reconnaissance, surveillance, and security...
s, the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, and the 75th Ranger Regiment
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
. Rather, the regiments are split into battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s (infantry, usually three) or squadrons (cavalry, usually three or more). Artillery can be split into battalions, batteries
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
, or other units, depending on the type. These battalions are the actual combat units. For example, West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
is garrisoned by the 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry
U.S. 1st Infantry Regiment
The 1st Infantry Regiment draws its lineage from a distinguished line of post Revolutionary War Infantry Regiments and is credited with thirty-nine campaign streamers....
. However, the actual unit, the "1st Infantry", technically does not exist in military unit terms.
This system has been adopted only recently (about 1953) by the U.S. Army. Before then, it used the traditional regimental system, where regiments were actual combat units. This change can be viewed in the following examples:
Order of Battle: 1862 US Army
(This is just a fictional example)- 1st Cavalry Brigade/1st Cavalry Division/Cavalry Corps/Army of the Potomac
- 1st United States Cavalry Regiment
- 3rd United States Cavalry Regiment
- 24th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
- 25th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
- Battery B, 1st New York Light Artillery Regiment
Order of Battle: 2000 US Army
(This is just a fictional example)- 1st Brigade/1st Cavalry Division/U.S. Third Army
- 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment
- 2d Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment
- 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment
- 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment
- 82d Engineer Battalion
- 24th Brigade Support Battalion