[sci.military] 6th Light Infantry

boebert@SCTC.COM (Earl Boebert) (04/21/91)

From: boebert@SCTC.COM (Earl Boebert)


Could someone post the TO&E for the 6th Light Infantry Division (Ft.
Richardson AK)?  Also, how does one properly expand the string 1/501
(ABN) INF?  I get the Airborne Infantry part, but from previous
postings on Army TO&E I can't tell whether the 501st is properly
referred to as a Regiment or a Brigade.

Many thanks,

Earl

cmort@ncoast.org (04/22/91)

From: cmort@ncoast.org


>From: boebert@SCTC.COM (Earl Boebert)
>Could someone post the TO&E for the 6th Light Infantry Division (Ft.
>Richardson AK)?  Also, how does one properly expand the string 1/501
>(ABN) INF?  I get the Airborne Infantry part, but from previous
>postings on Army TO&E I can't tell whether the 501st is properly
>referred to as a Regiment or a Brigade.

1st Battalion, 501st Infantry(Regiment).  Regiment is mostly a term of art
outside of Armored Cavalry Regiments, since they're otherwise no longer used
as a tactical unit.  It's a heraldic concept, but they're pretty fast and
loose about shuffling "regimental" designations.  The 31st Infantry was
supposed to go out of existence entirely or have it's colors transferred to
a training unit at Ft. Benning.  The PHYSICAL unit that maintained them was
going to remain at Camp Howze, Korea with a DIFFERENT designation.  I don't 
know if any of this actually came to pass.

cmort@ncoast.org --- Chris Morton
"These opinions are mine, MINE, ALL MINE!!!!"

major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) (04/25/91)

From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)


> From: boebert@SCTC.COM (Earl Boebert)
> Could someone post the TO&E for the 6th Light Infantry Division (Ft.
> Richardson AK)?  Also, how does one properly expand the string 1/501
> (ABN) INF?  I get the Airborne Infantry part, but from previous
> postings on Army TO&E I can't tell whether the 501st is properly
> referred to as a Regiment or a Brigade.

1/501 Inf (Abn) expands to 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry (Airborne).
"501st" refers to the regimental designation - and is not a brigade.
However, in this case there actually is no regiment - only the 
designation.  Properly, the units would be 1/501, 2/501, 3/501.  All
three being battalions of the 501st regiment.  Further, all three 
battalions could be assigned to one brigade headquarters - eg 1st Brigade.
The "501" is retained for historical lineage and honors.

It gets very confusing.

Mike Schmitt
3rd Brigade (Iron Brigade) 
1st Inf Div (Big Red One)(Forward)