what is the rank of a battalion commander in the U.S. infantry?

[JonS]

As it happens I'm well aware of the structure and roles of the NCO ranks thank you, but that wasn't the question now was it?

A Section Commander is the commander of a section. He is* a corporal. If you were to ask for the secco of 3 Section, you would be introduced to Corporal Bloggs.

A Platoon Commander is the commander of a platoon. He is* a subbie. If you were to ask for the commander of 7 Platoon, you would be introduced to Lt Jones (note: not Sgt Somebody)

An Officer Commanding is the commander of a company. He is* a major. If you were to ask for the commander of C Coy, you would be introduced to Maj Smith.

A Commanding Officer is the commander of a battalion. He is* a Lt Col. If you were to ask for the commander of 2nd Bn, The Queens Own Bottlewashers, you would be introduced to Lt.Col. Farrington-Smythe-Fossett.

Regards

JonS

* in a unit that is up to strength and has people of the 'correct' rank filling each slot, etc.

[ May 29, 2004, 07:32 AM: Message edited by: JonS ]

[John D Salt]

Originally posted by JonS:

[snips]

UK Tank Bde = 3 armd 'bns' (usually called regiments, though for some units called bns)

UK Armd Bde = 3 armd bns (usually called regiments, though for some units called bns) + one motorised inf bn

Just to make it even more fun, you can't count on which units are called bns or regts remaining constant over time, as units of the Royal Tank Regiment changed over from infantry to cavalry nomenclature during the war (as did the Recce Corps).

I am still not sure whether it is correct to call a battalion (armoured) of Guards an armoured battalion.

All the best,

John.

[Determinant]

Originally posted by JonS:

A Platoon Commander is the commander of a platoon. He is* a subbie. If you were to ask for the commander of 7 Platoon, you would be introduced to Lt Jones (note: not Sgt Somebody)

Good so far and after but wrong here: you would not be introduced to Lt Jones. You would be introduced to Mr Jones.

If Lt Jones presumed to call the Regimental Sergeant-Major 'RSM' to his face he would be growled at and told: 'No Sir. You will call me Mr Smith'.

A subaltern doesn't really amount to that much in the context of a British regiment. Quaint ain't it?

[JonS]

Originally posted by Determinant:

Good so far and after but wrong here: you would not be introduced to Lt Jones. You would be introduced to Mr Jones.

Ah well, he might be introduced as Mr Jones, but he would still be Lt Jones So my paragraph might be better phrased "You would be introduced to Lt Jones, who would be addressed in spoken conversation as Mr Jones."

BTW, the 'pairing' you talked about of pn commander with the pn sgt is continued further up the food chain - the OC has his CSM, the CO has his RSM, etc. Still, at each level (except the section naturally) it is the officer who is in command

Regards

JonS

[ May 31, 2004, 04:52 AM: Message edited by: JonS ]