U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System - Difference Between A Brigade and A Regiment

Difference Between A Brigade and A Regiment

In a regiment not organized under CARS, there is a fixed number of organic elements organized into battalions or squadrons. For example, the infantry regiment of World War II contained Companies A through M divided into three battalions, plus supporting elements such as the service company.

A brigade, on the other hand, is a flexible organization; it has no permanent elements. A brigade may have several different kinds of units assigned to it, such as: 3 light infantry battalions or 2 mechanized infantry and 1 armor battalion or 1 light, 1 mechanized and 1 armor battalion; plus support units. The usual number of maneuver battalions was 3; however, this was a guideline not a rule (ex: the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam had 4 airborne infantry battalions).

In tactical structure, therefore, it is very similar to the Regimental Combat Team of World War II and Korean War. Its maneuver (infantry and armor) elements were not required to be from the same regiment. Since they were flexible, except for the headquarters and headquarters company, no two brigades need be alike, whereas all regiments were fixed with organic elements provided for under basic tables of organization and equipment.

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