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{{Short description|Structuring of armed forces of a state}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More footnotes|date=December 2009}}
{{Globalize|1=article|date=January 2025}}
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{{Use American English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
[[File:Royal Danish Army 1940.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Organization chart of the [[Royal Danish Army]], April 1940]]
{{History of war}}

'''Military organization''' ([[American English |AE]]) or '''military organisation''' ([[British English |BE]]) is the structuring of the [[armed force]]s of a [[State (polity)|state]] so as to offer such [[military capability]] as a [[military policy|national defense policy]] may require. Formal military organization tends to use [[hierarchical]] forms (see [[Military organization#Modern hierarchy |Modern hierarchy]] for terminology and approximate troop strength per hierarchical unit).

In some countries, [[paramilitary]] forces are included in a nation's armed forces, though not considered military. Armed forces that are not a part of military or paramilitary organizations, such as [[Insurgency|insurgent]] forces, often emulate military organizations, or use these structures.

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=July 2018}}

The use of formalized [[Military rank|ranks]] in a hierarchical structure came into widespread use with the [[Roman Army]].{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} The Roman Army was organized into [[Roman legion|legions]], each comprising around 5000 soldiers and led by a [[Legate (ancient Rome)|legate]]. Each legion was further divided into centuries which were led by [[Centurion|centurions]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=honadmin |date=2013-11-19 |title=The Roman Army: Organization and Battle Tactics |url=https://www.historyonthenet.com/the-romans-the-roman-army |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=History |language=en-US}}</ref>  

In modern times, executive control, management and administration of military organization is typically undertaken by governments through a [[Ministry (government department)|government department]] within the structure of [[public administration]], often known as a [[Ministry of defence| ministry of defence or department of defense]]. These in turn manage [[military branches]] that themselves command formations and units specialising in combat, [[combat support]] and [[combat service support|combat-service support]].

== Executive control, management and administration ==
The usually [[civilian control of the military|civilian or partly civilian executive control over the national military organization]] is exercised in [[democracy|democracies]] by an elected political leader as a member of the government's [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]], usually known as a [[minister of defence]]. In [[presidential system]]s, such as the [[United States Armed Forces|United States]], the president is the [[commander-in-chief]], and the cabinet-level defense minister is second in command. Subordinated to that position are often [[Secretary (title)|secretaries]] for specific major operational divisions of the armed forces as a whole, such as those that provide general support services to the military, including their dependants.

Then there are the heads of specific departmental agencies responsible for the provision and management of specific skill- and knowledge-based services such as [[Strategy|strategic]] advice, [[Military capability|capability development]] assessment, or [[military science]] provision of research, and design and development of technologies. Within each departmental agency will be found administrative branches responsible for further agency [[business|business specialization]] work.

== Military branches ==
[[Image:USN-JASDF ship and aircraft formations during ANNUALEX 2008 081119-N-7047S-140.jpg|thumb|A mixed aircraft and ship formation of military vehicles during an exercise with [[United States Navy|USN]] and [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force|JASDF]] vehicles.]]
In most countries, the ''armed forces'' are divided into three [[military branch]]es (also ''service, armed service, or military service''): [[army]], [[navy]], and [[air force]].

Many countries have a variation on the standard model of three basic military branches. Some nations also organize their [[cyber force]], emergencies service, [[Military medicine|medical service]], [[military logistics]], [[space force]], [[marines]], and [[special forces]] such as [[commando]]s or [[airborne forces]] as independent armed services. A nation's [[border guard]] or [[coast guard]] may also be an independent branch of its military, although in many nations border guard or coast guard is a civil [[law enforcement agency]]. A number of countries have no navy, for geographical reasons such as being [[Landlocked country|landlocked]].

In larger armed forces, the cultures between the different branches of the armed forces can be quite different.

Most smaller countries have a single organization that encompasses all armed forces employed by the country in question. Armies of [[developing country|developing countries]] tend to consist primarily of [[infantry]], while [[developed country|developed countries]] armies tend to have larger units manning expensive equipment and only a fraction of personnel in infantry units.

In western militaries, a [[joint warfare|joint force]] is defined as a unit or formation comprising combat power from two or more branches of the military.

=== Internal security forces ===
[[Gendarmerie]]s, [[military police]] and [[security forces]], including equivalents such as [[Paramilitary|paramilitary forces]], [[militia]], [[Internal Troops|internal troops]] and [[police tactical unit]], are an [[internal security]] service common in most of the world, but uncommon in countries with English [[common law]] histories where civil police are employed to enforce the law, and there are tight restrictions on how the armed forces may be used to assist.{{efn|In the United States it is a common misunderstanding that their armed forces are totally prohibited from doing so by the [[Posse Comitatus Act]]. The Act, which reserves to Congress the power to employ federal military force to enforce law and order, refers specifically only to the [[US Army]] and [[US Air Force]]. The [[US Marines]] and [[US Navy|Navy]] are separately regulated, and the [[US Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] has a clear law enforcement role in its peacetime status. The state-controlled [[Army National Guard]] (technically a branch of the US Army) is also excluded from the Posse Comitatus Act. The [[Insurrection Act]] specifically permits the president to use federal military force to restore public order in extreme emergency situations: the Act was implemented during the [[1992 Los Angeles riots|"Rodney King Riots"]] in Los Angeles.{{cn|date=August 2023}}}}

{{Anchor|Commands.2C_formations.2C_and_units}}

== Commands, formations, and units ==
<!--Please keep the [[Oxford comma]] in the section title or remove it from all three redirects.-->
{{Redirect|Military formation|the arrangement or deployment of moving military forces|Tactical formation}}<!--[[Military command]], and [[military unit]] also redirect directly to this section-->

It is common, at least in the European and North American militaries, to refer to the building blocks of a military as [[Command (military formation)|{{vanchor|command}}s]], '''{{vanchor|formation}}s''', and '''{{vanchor|unit}}s'''.

In a military context, a command is a collection of units and formations under the control of a single officer, although during [[World War II]] a command was also a name given to a [[battlegroup (army)|battlegroup]] in the [[United States Army]]. In general, it is an administrative and executive [[military strategy|strategic]] headquarters that is responsible to the national government or the national military [[headquarters]]. It is not uncommon for a nation's services to each consist of their own command (such as Land Component, Air Component, Naval Component, and Medical Component in the [[Belgian Army]]), but this does not preclude the existence of commands that are not service-based.

A formation is defined by the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]] as "two or more aircraft, ships, or units proceeding together under a commander".<ref>[[United States Department of Defense]], [http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/data/f/02222.html DOD Dictionary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223235143/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/data/f/02222.html |date=23 December 2008 }}</ref> Fomin in the ''[[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]]'' emphasised its combined-arms nature: "Formations are those military organisations which are formed from different speciality Arms and Services troop units to create a balanced, combined combat force. The formations only differ in their ability to achieve different scales of application of force to achieve different strategic, operational and tactical goals and mission objectives."<ref>Fomin, N. N., ''Great Soviet Encyclopaedia'' ({{langx|ru|Большая Советская Энциклопедия}}), Moscow, 1978</ref> It is a composite military organization that includes a mixture of integrated and operationally attached sub-units, and is usually combat-capable. Examples of formations include [[Division (military)|division]]s, [[brigade]]s, [[battalion]]s, [[Wing (air force unit)|wings]], etc. Formation may also refer to [[tactical formation]], the physical arrangement or disposition of troops and weapons.<ref>''[[Shorter Oxford English Dictionary]]''</ref> Examples of formation in such usage include [[pakfront]], [[panzerkeil]], [[testudo formation]], etc.

A typical unit is a homogeneous military organization (either combat, [[Combat support|combat-support]] or non-combat in capability) that includes service personnel predominantly from a single arm of service, or a branch of service, and its administrative and command functions are self-contained. Any unit subordinate to another unit is considered its sub-unit or minor unit. It is not uncommon in the United States for unit and formation to be used synonymously. In [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] practice, formation is not used for smaller organizations such as battalions, which are instead called "units", and their constituent [[platoon]]s or [[Company (military unit)|companies]] are referred to as sub-units. In the Commonwealth, formations are divisions, brigades, etc.

Different [[armed forces]], and even different branches of service of the armed forces, may use the same name to denote different types of organizations. An example is the "squadron". In most navies a [[Squadron (naval)|squadron]] is a formation of several ships; in most air forces it is a unit; in the U.S. Army it is a battalion-sized [[cavalry]] unit; and in Commonwealth armies a squadron is a company-sized sub-unit.

== Table of organization and equipment ==
A [[table of organization and equipment]] (TOE or TO&E) is a document published by the U.S. Army Force Management Support Agency that prescribes the organization, manning, and equipage of units from divisional size and down, but also including the headquarters of Corps and Armies.

It also provides information on the mission and capabilities of a unit as well as the unit's current status. A general TOE is applicable to a type of unit (for instance, infantry) rather than a specific unit (the 3rd Infantry Division). In this way, all units of the same branch (such as infantry) follow the same structural guidelines.

== Modern hierarchy ==
{{See also|Command hierarchy}}

=== Army ===
The following table gives an overview of some of the terms used to describe army hierarchy in armed forces across the world. Whilst it is recognized that there are differences between armies of different nations, many are modeled on the [[British Army|British]] or [[United States Armed Forces|American]] models, or both.<ref name="Military Units: Army" /> However, many military units and formations go back in history for a long time, and were devised by various military thinkers throughout European history.

For example, the modern ''Corps'' was first introduced in France about 1805 by Napoleon as a more flexible tactical grouping of two or more divisions during the [[Napoleonic Wars]].

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top; "
! align=left | [[NATO Joint Military Symbology|NATO Symbol]]
! align=left | Name
! align=left | [[Military unit|Nature]]
! align=left | Strength
! align=left | Constituent units
! align=left | Commander or leader
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:Military Symbol - Combatant Command or Theatre or Region (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Unified combatant command|Combatant Command]]<ref name="FM 1-02">{{cite book |title=FM 1-02 Operational Terms and Graphics |date=21 September 2004 |publisher=US DoD |pages=5–37}}</ref> or equivalent<br />[[Region#Military regions|region]]{{efn|In the United States this command is termed an '''army region'''.}}<ref name="Military Units: Army" /><br />[[Theater (warfare)|theater]]
| Command
| style=text-align:center | 1,000,000–10,000,000
| 4+ army groups
| OF-10: [[field marshal]]<br />OF-9: [[Four-star rank|general]], [[army general]] or [[colonel general]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Army Group or Navy or Front (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[army group]] or equivalent<br />[[Front (military formation)|front]]
| Command
| style=text-align:center | 400,000–1,000,000<ref name="Military Units: Army">{{cite web
| url=https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/Military-Units/Army/#:~:text=CORPS,-Commanded%20By%3A&text=A%20corps%20includes%20two%20to,operational%20direction%20for%20actual%20combat.
| title=Military Units: Army
| website=US Department of Defense
| access-date=18 May 2023
}}</ref>
| 2+ armies
| OF-10 field marshal<br />OF-9: general, army general, or colonel general
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Army or Air Force or Fleet (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[field army]]
| Command
| style=text-align:center | 100,000–200,000
| 2–4 corps
| OF-10: field marshal<br />OF-9: general, army general, or colonel general
OF-8: Lieutenant General
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Command (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[corps]]
| Formation
| style=text-align:center | 20,000–60,000
| 2+ divisions
| OF-9: general or army general{{efn|Some countries such as Brazil.}}<br />OF-8: [[lieutenant general]], [[corps general]], or colonel general{{efn|[[Eastern Bloc]]}}<br />OF-7: [[major general]]{{efn|name=plagf|[[People's Liberation Army Ground Force]] (PLAGF)}}
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Division.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Division (military)|division]]
| Formation
| style=text-align:center | 6,000–25,000
| 2–8 brigades or regiments
| OF-8: lieutenant general<br />OF-8 or OF-7: [[divisional general]]<br> OF-7: [[major general]] or<br />OF-6: [[senior colonel]]{{efn|name=plagf}}<br />OF-7: [[Brigadier general]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Brigade.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[brigade]]
| Formation
| style=text-align:center | 3,000–5,000<ref name="Military Units: Army"/>
| 2+ regiments or groups, or<br />3–8 battalions or equivalent
| OF-7: major general<br />OF-7 or OF-6: [[brigade general]]<br />OF-6: [[brigadier]], [[brigadier general]], [[senior colonel]]<br />OF-5: [[colonel]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Regiment or Group.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[regiment]]
| Unit
| style=text-align:center | 1,000–3,000
| 2+ battalions or equivalent
| OF-5: [[colonel]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Battalion.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[battalion]] or equivalent<br />[[regiment]] (some countries for some arms only)<br />[[Squadron (army)|squadron]] (US Cavalry)<br />[[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] (some countries for aviation)
| Unit
| style=text-align:center | 300–1,000
| 2–6 sub-units (companies or equivalent)
| OF-4: [[lieutenant colonel]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Company or Squadron or Battery.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Company (military unit)|company]] or equivalent<br />[[Artillery Battery|artillery battery]]<br />[[Squadron (army)|squadron]] (some countries for some arms only)<br />U.S. cavalry [[troop]]
| Unit or<br />[[Subunit (military)|Subunit]]
| style=text-align:center | 100–250
| 2–8 platoons or equivalent
| OF-3: [[major (military rank)|major]]<br />OF-2: [[captain (land and air)|captain]]<br />OR-9: [[Chief Warrant Officer|chief warrant officer]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Staffel (Echelon) - Germany.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Staffel (unit)|''staffel'']]<ref>{{cite book |title=APP-6C NATO Joint Military Symbology |date=May 2011 |publisher=NATO |pages=2–25}}</ref> or echelon<ref>{{cite book |title=APP-6 Military Symbols for Land Based Systems |date=July 1986 |publisher=NATO |pages=B8}}</ref>
| [[Sub-subunit]]
| style=text-align:center | 50–90
| 2 platoons/troops or 6–10 sections
| OF-2: [[captain (land and air)|captain]] or [[Staff Captain|staff captain]]<br />OR-8: [[warrant officer]] or [[Master Warrant Officer|master warrant officer]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Platoon or Troop.svg|64px]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[platoon]] or equivalent<br />[[troop]] (some countries for some arms only)
| [[Sub-subunit]]
| style=text-align:center | 20–50
| 2+ Section, or vehicles
| OF-1: first or second [[lieutenant]]<br />OR-7: [[warrant officer]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Section.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Section (military unit)|section]] or [[patrol]]
| –
| style=text-align:center | 12–24
| 2–3 squads or 3–6 fireteams
| OR-6: [[staff sergeant]]<br />OR-5: [[sergeant]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Detachment or Squad.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[squad]]<br />[[Section (military unit)|section]] ([[Commonwealth of Nations]])
| –
| style=text-align:center | 6–12
| 2–3 fireteams or 1+ cell
| OR-5: [[sergeant]]<br />OR-4: [[corporal]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| align=center | [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Team or Crew.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[fireteam]] or crew
| –
| style=text-align:center | 2–4
| n/a
| OR-3: [[lance corporal]] to OR-5: [[sergeant]]
OR-2: [[Private (rank)|private first class]]
|}

Rungs may be skipped in this ladder: for example, typically NATO forces skip from battalion to brigade. Likewise, only large military powers may have organizations at the top levels and different armies and countries may also use traditional names, creating considerable confusion: for example, a British or Canadian armored regiment (battalion) is divided into [[Squadron (army)|squadron]]s (companies) and [[troop]]s (platoons), whereas an American cavalry squadron (battalion) is divided into troops (companies) and platoons. In the French system (used by many African countries) the company is divided into sections (platoons) composed of 3 x "groupes de combat" of 7 soldiers, plus a group of vehicle crews and a HQ that includes 2 x snipers.{{CN|date=January 2023}}

[[Army (unit)|Army]], [[army group]], [[region]], and [[theater (military)|theatre]] are all large formations that vary significantly between armed forces in size and hierarchy position. While [[Division (military)|division]]s were the traditional level at which support elements (field artillery, hospital, logistics and maintenance, etc.) were added to the unit structure, since World War II, many brigades now have such support units, and since the 1980s, regiments also have been receiving support elements. A regiment with such support elements is called a [[regimental combat team]] in US military parlance, or a [[Battlegroup (army)|battlegroup]] in the UK and other forces. Canadian Army doctrine also includes the [[combat team]] which is a company of infantry augmented with tanks, or a squadron of tanks augmented with infantry, or the combination of a full company of infantry with a full squadron of tanks.

During [[World War II]] the [[Red Army]] used the same basic organizational structure. However, in the beginning many units were greatly underpowered and their size was actually one level below on the ladder that is usually used elsewhere; for example, a division in the early-WWII Red Army would have been about the size of most nations' regiments or brigades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://armor.kiev.ua/army/hist/doklad-nko-8-39.shtml |title=Доклад НКО август 1939. doklad-nko-8-39.shtml |publisher=Armor.kiev.ua |access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://guides.rusarchives.ru/browse/guidebook.html?bid=121&sid=92105 |script-title=ru:Центральный государственный архив Советской армии (с июня 1992 г. Российский государственный военный архив). В двух томах. Том 2. Путеводитель. 1993 |language=ru |publisher=Guides.rusarchives.ru |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704133759/http://guides.rusarchives.ru/browse/guidebook.html?bid=121&sid=92105 |archive-date=4 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the top of the ladder, what other nations would call an army group, the Red Army called a [[Front (Soviet Army)|front]]. By contrast, during the same period the German [[Wehrmacht]] army groups, particularly on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]], such as [[Army Group Centre]] significantly exceeded the above numbers, and were more cognate with the Soviet [[Strategic Direction]]s.

=== Navy ===
Naval organization at the [[flotilla]] level and higher is less commonly abided by, as ships operate in smaller or larger groups in various situations that may change at a moment's notice. However, there is some common terminology used throughout navies to communicate the general concept of how many vessels might be in a unit.

Navies are generally organized into groups for a specific purpose, usually strategic, and these organizational groupings appear and disappear frequently based on the conditions and demands placed upon a navy. This contrasts with army organization where units remain static, with the same men and equipment, over long periods of time.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! align=left | Unit Name
! align=left | Vessel types
! align=left | No. of Vessels
! align=left | Officer in command
|- style="vertical-align:top; "
| [[Unified combatant command|Combatant Command]] (US)<ref name="FM 1-02"/> or [[Navy]] or [[Admiralty (navy)|Admiralty]]
| All vessels in a navy
| 2+ Fleets
| [[Fleet Admiral]], [[Admiral of the Fleet]], [[Grand Admiral]] or [[Admiral]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; "
| [[Naval fleet|Fleet]]
| All vessels in an ocean or general region
| 2+ [[Battle Fleet]]s
| [[Admiral]] or [[Vice Admiral]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; "
| [[Battle Fleet]] (US, 1922–1941)
| A large number of vessels of all types
| 2+ [[Task Force]]s
| [[Vice Admiral]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; "
| [[Task Force]]{{cn|date=February 2023}} or [[Carrier strike group]] (US)
| A collection of complementary vessels
| 2+ [[Task Group]]s, [[Division (naval)|Division]]s or [[Flotilla]]s
| [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral|Rear Admiral (upper half)]] or [[Rear admiral|Rear Admiral]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; "
| [[Division (naval)|Division]] or [[Task Group]]
| Usually [[capital ship]]s
| 2+ large vessels
| [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral (lower half)|Rear Admiral (lower half)]], [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]], or [[Division Admiral]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; "
| [[Flotilla]] or Task Group
| A small number of vessels, usually of the same or similar types
| 2+ [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]]s
| [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral (lower half)|Rear Admiral (lower half)]], [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]], or [[Flotilla Admiral]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; dorder-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]] or Task Unit
| Small vessels
| A small number of vessels, usually of the same or similar types
| [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] or [[Commander]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; "
| Task Element
| A single vessel
| One
| [[Captain (naval)|Captain]], [[Commander]], [[Lieutenant Commander]] or [[Lieutenant (naval)|Lieutenant]]
|}

The five-star ranks of [[admiral of the fleet]] and fleet admiral have largely been out of regular use since the 1990s, with the exception of ceremonial or honorary appointments. Currently, all major navies ([[Blue-water navy|blue-water]] and [[Green-water navy|green-water]] navies) are commanded by an [[admiral]] of either four-star rank or three-star rank depending on relative size. Smaller naval forces, such as the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]], or those navies that are effectively [[coast guard]]s, are commanded by a [[rear-admiral]] (two-star rank), [[Commodore (rank)|commodore]] (one-star rank) or even a [[Captain (naval)|captain]].

[[Aircraft carrier]]s are typically commanded by a captain. [[Submarine]]s and [[destroyer]]s are typically commanded by a captain or commander. Some destroyers, particularly smaller destroyers such as [[frigate]]s (formerly known as [[destroyer escort]]s) are usually commanded by officers with the rank of commander. [[Corvette]]s, the smallest class of warship, are commanded by officers with the rank of commander or [[lieutenant-commander]]. Auxiliary ships, including [[gunboat]]s, [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]], [[patrol boat]]s, military [[riverboat|riverine craft]], [[Ship's tender|tenders]] and [[torpedo boat]]s are usually commanded by [[lieutenant]]s, [[sub-lieutenant]]s or [[warrant officers]]. Usually, the smaller the vessel, the lower the rank of the ship's commander. For example, [[patrol boat]]s are often commanded by [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]]s, while frigates are rarely commanded by an officer below the rank of commander.

Historically, navies were far more rigid in structure. Ships were collected in [[Division (naval)|divisions]], which in turn were collected in numbered [[Squadron (naval)|squadrons]], which comprised a numbered [[Naval fleet|fleet]]. Permission for a vessel to leave one unit and join another would have to be approved on paper.

The modern U.S. Navy is primarily based on a number of standard groupings of vessels, including the [[carrier strike group]] and the [[expeditionary strike group]].{{cn|date=February 2023}}

Additionally, naval organization continues aboard a single ship. The complement forms three or four departments (such as tactical and engineering), each of which has a number of divisions, followed by work centers.

=== Air force ===
The organizational structures of air forces vary between nations: some air forces (such as the [[United States Air Force]] and the [[Royal Air Force]]) are divided into commands, groups and squadrons; others (such as the [[Soviet Air Force]]) have an Army-style organizational structure. The modern [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] uses [[Air division]] as the formation between wings and the entire air command. Like the RAF, Canadian wings consist of squadrons.

{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:auto; border-collapse:collapse; border:0 none; vertical-align:top;" frame="void" rules="rows"
|- style="vertical-align:bottom; border-bottom:3px double #999;"
! align=left | NATO Symbol<br />(for Army comparison)
! align=left | Unit Name<br />([[United States Air Force|USAF]]/[[Royal Air Force|RAF]]/Other air forces)
! align=left | No. of personnel
! align=left | No. of aircraft
! align=left | No. of subordinate units<br />(USAF/RAF)
! align=left | Officer in command<br />(USAF/RAF)
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Region or Front.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Unified combatant command|Combatant Command]]<ref name="FM 1-02"/> or national [[air force]]
| Entire air force
| Entire air force
| All [[USAF#Major Commands|Major Commands]] / [[Command (military formation)|Commands]]
| [[General of the Air Force|GAF]] / [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force|MRAF]] or [[Air Chief Marshal|Air Chf Mshl]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Army Group.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[USAF#Major Commands|Major Command]] / [[Command (military formation)|Command]]
| Varies
| Varies
| Varies by Region or Duty
| [[General|Gen]] / [[Air Chief Marshal|Air Chf Mshl]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Army.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| No USAF equivalent/[[Command (military formation)|Command]] or [[Tactical Air Force]]<br />/ [[Air army]]<ref>http://www.airpages.ru/ru/vvs1.shtml Red Army VVS Organisation(rus)</ref>
| Varies by Region or Duty
| Varies
| Varies by Region or Duty
| [[General|Gen]] or [[Lieutenant General|Lt-Gen]] / [[Air Chief Marshal|Air Chf Mshl]] or [[Air Marshal|Air Mshl]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Corps.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Numbered Air Force]]/No RAF equivalent
| Varies by Region or Duty
| Varies
| 2+ Wings/Groups
| [[Major General|Maj-Gen]] or [[Lieutenant General|Lt-Gen]] / N/A
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Division.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| No USAF equivalent/No RAF equivalent<br />/[[Aviation Division]] /[[Air division]]
| Varies by Region or Duty
| Varies
| 2+ Wings/Groups
| [[Major General|Maj-Gen]] or [[Divisional general|Div-Gen]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Brigade.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Wing (air force unit)|Wing]]/[[Group (air force unit)|Group]] (inc. [[No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group (United Kingdom)|EAGs]])<br />/Russian aviation brigade/Air Brigade
| 1,000–5,000
| 48–200
| 2+ Groups/Wings
| [[Brigadier-General|Brig-Gen]]/[[Air Vice-Marshal|AVM]] or [[Air Commodore|Air Cdre]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Regiment or Group.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Group (air force unit)|Group]]/[[Wing (air force unit)|wing]] (inc. [[Expeditionary Air Wing|EAWs]]) or [[RAF station|Station]]<br />/Russian aviation regiment
| 300–1,000
| 17–48
| 3–4 [[Squadron (aviation)|Squadron]]s/3–10 [[Flight (military unit)|Flight]]s
| [[Colonel|Col]]/[[Group Captain|Gp Capt]] or [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wg Cdr]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Battalion.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Squadron (aviation)|Squadron]]
| 100–300
| 7–16
| 3–4 Flights
| [[Lieutenant Colonel|Lt Col]] or [[Major (military rank)|Maj]]/[[Wing Commander (rank)|Wg Cdr]] or [[Squadron Leader|Sqn Ldr]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[File:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Company or Squadron or Battery.svg|64px]]<br />[[File:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Flight (military unit)|Flight]] or flying [[Staffel (unit)|staffel]]<ref>{{cite book |title=APP-6D NATO Joint Military Symbology |date=October 2017 |publisher=NATO Standardization Office |pages=B-6, B-8}}</ref>
| 20–100
| 4–6
| 2 or more Sections plus maintenance and support crew
| [[Major (military rank)|Maj]] or [[Captain (land and air)|Capt]]/[[Squadron Leader|Sqn Ldr]] or [[Flight Lieutenant|Flt Lt]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Staffel (Echelon) - Germany.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| Staffel<ref>{{cite book |title=APP-6C NATO Joint Military Symbology |date=May 2011 |publisher=NATO |page=B8}}</ref> or echelon<ref>{{cite book |title=APP-6 Military Symbols for Land Based Systems |date=July 1986 |publisher=NATO |pages=2–25}}</ref>
| 40–160
| 6–12
| 1–2 [[Section (military unit)|Sections]] plus maintenance and support crew
| [[Captain (land and air)|Capt]] or [[Staff Captain]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Platoon or Troop.svg|64px]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| [[Section (military unit)|Section]]
| 10–40
| n/a–2
| n/a
| [[Junior Officer]] or [[Senior NCO]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Section.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| Element
| 8–12
| n/a
| n/a
| [[Senior NCO]] or [[Junior NCO]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
| [[Image:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Detachment or Squad.svg|64px| ]]<br />[[Image:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg|64px]]
| Detail or crew
| 2–4
| n/a
| n/a
| [[Junior NCO]]
|}

== Task force ==
A [[task force]] is a unit or formation created as a temporary grouping for a specific operational purpose. Aside from administrative hierarchical forms of organization that have evolved since the early 17th century in Europe, fighting forces have been grouped for specific operational purposes into mission-related organizations such as the German [[Kampfgruppe]] or the U.S. Combat Team (Army) and Task Force (Navy) during the Second World War, or the Soviet [[Operational manoeuvre group]] during the Cold War. In the British and Commonwealth armies the [[Battlegroup (army)|battlegroup]] became the usual grouping of companies during the [[Second World War]] and the Cold War.

Within NATO, a [[Joint Task Force]] (JTF) would be such a temporary grouping that includes elements from more than one armed service, a Combined Task Force (CTF) would be such a temporary grouping that includes elements from more than one nation, and a Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) would be such a temporary grouping that includes elements of more than one armed service and more than one nation.

== See also ==
* [[Command and control]]
* [[Military administration]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Military and war}}

[[Category:Military organization| ]]
[[Category:Military science|Organization]]