Squadron ( army ) A squadron was historically a cavalry sub unit . The term is still used to refer to modern cavalry units but can also be used as a designation for other arms and services . It should not be confused with squad . United States . In the modern United States Army , a squadron is an armored cavalry , air cavalry , and / or other reconnaissance unit whose organizational role parallels that of a battalion and is commanded by a lieutenant colonel . Prior to the revisions in the US Army structure in the 1880s , US cavalry regiments were divided into companies , and the battalion was an administrative designation used only in garrison . The reorganizations converted companies to troops and battalions to squadrons , and made squadrons tactical formations as well as administrative ones . Commonwealth . In the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies , a squadron is the counterpart of an infantry company or artillery battery . A squadron is a sub - unit of a battalion - sized formation ( usually a regiment ) , and is usually made up of two or more troop s . The designation is also used for company - sized units in the Special Air Service , Special Reconnaissance Regiment , Honourable Artillery Company , Royal Engineers , Royal Corps of Signals , Royal Army Medical Corps , Royal Marine Commandos and Royal Logistic Corps , and formerly in the now defunct Royal Corps of Transport . Squadrons are commonly designated using letters or numbers ( e . g . No . 1 Squadron or A Squadron ) . In some British Army units it is a tradition for squadrons to also be named after an important historical battle in which the regiment has taken part . In some special cases , squadrons can also be named after a unique honour which has been bestowed on the unit . France . An " escadron " ( the French word for squadron ) is another word for a cavalry division . For a long time , an " escadron " corresponded to a battalion , uniting several companies . Since the mid 20th century , an " escadron " has been the equivalent of a single squadron ( typically 13 - tank strong ) . In the cavalry ( now called the " mounted arm " ) a captain ( 3 " galons " , or braids ) commands an " escadron " ( what would be a " company " in the infantry ) and is thus called a " chef d ' escadron " ( with " escadron " in the singular ) . However , his superior in the hierarchy ( 4 " galons " ) commands 2 " escadrons " and is thus called " chef d ' escadrons " ( with " escadron " in the plural ) . There are 2 exceptions – in the " Gendarmerie " and " Artillerie " ( both accounted mounted arms ) , such a commander ( again with 4 galons ) is a " chef d ' escadron " ( singular ) . Sweden . In the Swedish cavalry a " skvadron " means a unit with the same size as a " " kompani " " in the rest of the army ( about a hundred men ) . Even Jäger and MP units may have squadrons . Norway . The Norwegian army operates with units called " eskadroner " ( pl . ) , typically a company - equivalent unit , generally in armoured cavalry units although not always . The 2nd Battalion , Brigade Nord , has a company - equivalent unit called " kavalerieskadronen " , or " the cavalry squadron " . It serves as the main reconnaissance unit in the battalion . Like the mechanized infantry units , it wears the distinct khaki - coloured beret of the battalion instead of the normal black for cavalry units . The Armoured Battalion ( " Panserbataljonen " ) has the majority of its constituents labeled " eskadroner " . Including the Cavalry Squadron , the Armoured Squadron and the Assault Squadrons . It also includes the battalion ' s Support element , the Combat Support Squadron . Its members are also referred to as dragoons , reflecting the nature of the unit . The Telemark Battalion also has a number of units labelled " eskadroner " . This includes the Armoured Squadron , the Cavalry Squadron and the Combat Support Squadron .