The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-03
War Departments Lessons For
Men of The National Army

formed whenever there is need for 1t
In drilling or on the firing line.
Next comes the company, which is
made up at full strength Of $50 men;
this is about Is squads or platoons.
This number is war strength" in
our old tables of organization; the
first division now in France has 200
men per company; ii is probable the
strength may be ESQ per infantry
company. However, these figures
for the number of squads and Of
platoons are never definitely fixed. A
company in the field is very seldom
at full strength, and it may be con-
venient at any time to change the
numbers Of squads and platolons.
The company is a permanent
team" in the sense in which we
have been using that word. Its men,
bers always live together, eat to-
gether, drill together, and fight to-
gether. All the officers and soldiers
in a company become we'll acquaint-
ed. Each mans points Of strength
and of weakness are known. Out
side Of your own company you will
probably know very few men, only
those with whom you come into
touch by accident or while you are
serving on some special duty. This
is something worth thinking about.
You are probably going to live, eat,
drill, and fight with the other men
in your company so long as you re-
main in the army. The sensible thing
to do is to conduct yourself in such
way as to command the liking and
respect Of these men from the very
beginning.
Four companies are joined in a
l..
portant unit in the army organiza-
ton, ~but is not so clearly marked as
either the company or the regiment.
Regiments, Brigades, and Divisions.
The regiment consists of three bat
talions, making twelve companies.
In addition, there are three special
companies which do not belong to
any of the battalions. These are the
headquarters company, including the
band and the color guard; the ma
chine-gun company, to be referred
to later; and the supply company,
responsible for the regiments food,
ammunition, and other supplies.
Counting in everyone, the regiment
at full strength in our old tables of
organization totals 2,05S officers and
men. 1t will go more than this with
the increase in strength Of COM
panies. Two thousand six hundred
thirty-one is the strength OF infan-
try regiments in the first expedition
airy division. The regiment is, of
course, very seldom at full strength,
but is never allowed to remain be-
low a minimum strength Of about L.
400.
The regiment is the unit that es-
pecially arouses the soldiers pride
and loyalty. The most cherished
traditions Of the army are made up
of the splendid deeds of famous regi-
ments. The soldier identifies himself
throughout his life by naming his
regiment. His love for the army
centers in his regiment. His most
sacred memories cluster around the
regimental battle flags.
Two regiments are Joined in a
brigade. Thus the brigade is built
up by assembling individual soldiers
into squads; squads into platoons;
platoons into companies; companies
into battalions: battalions into regi-
ments; and regiments into brigades.
Brigades may in turn be joined to
form divisions, divisions may be
Joined to form corps, and corps to
form field armies. All of the army's
divisions and separate detachments
and departments taken together form
the big team"-that is to say, the
United States army. The make up
of the big team is treated in later
lesson.