Can an armor officer be put in charge of an Infantry division?

2022-02-07T18:18:17-05:00

Response by SGM Jeff Mccloud made Feb 7 at 2022 8:45 PM

2022-02-07T20:45:54-05:00

An Aviation officer can command an Infantry Division.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2022 9:17 PM

2022-02-07T21:17:34-05:00

Very possible. Why the question?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2022 12:16 AM

2022-02-08T00:16:41-05:00

In theory, yes. Both Infantry and Armor are maneuver officers. But when you become a General you are no longer infantry. The picture below is the 82ND ABN DIV commander. He was infantry but you will not see any infantry branch insignia. So, in reality you can't be an Infantry General.

Response by LTC Stephen Conway made Feb 8 at 2022 1:12 AM

2022-02-08T01:12:33-05:00

I would say, yes! He has so much experience working through his positions over the years.
He would also have a Deputy Commander/Executive Officer, Chief of Staff, a G3 Operation Officer, and a BUNCH of other special staff officers and S2 Intel cell to help him if he was not sure on the 3 courses of action to take when planning for an attack or maneuver. If they have time, they would weigh the pros and cons when picking the right course of action. MSG Private RallyPoint Member MAJ Ken Landgren SGM Jeff Mccloud PFC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 10 at 2022 7:21 AM

2022-02-10T07:21:20-05:00

The word/title says it all “General”, once flag or General occurs they are generalists in nature. That of course needs to be combined with common sense application of assignments. All combat Arms Officer through 06 are groomed to be reader to lead and manage any combat modeled Division. Just as Combat Support and Service Support.

Response by SFC Mamerto Perez made Feb 10 at 2022 7:41 AM

2022-02-10T07:41:48-05:00

Why not

Response by SGT Robert Wager made Feb 10 at 2022 8:16 AM

2022-02-10T08:16:08-05:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_G._Perkins

He commanded the 4th ID. He was my armor battalion commander. He also commanded an infantry brigade.

David G. Perkins - Wikipedia

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 10 at 2022 8:30 PM

2022-02-10T20:30:42-05:00

Yes. General officers are branchless, look at their official photos. Hence why they are “General” Officers. GEN Odierno was FA LT-COL, he commanded 4ID. GEN Kern was Armor LT-COL and commanded Army Materiel Command as a 4 Star.

Response by MAJ Lyle F. Padilla made Mar 1 at 2022 1:01 AM

2022-03-01T01:01:38-05:00

Yes. At the time I retired in 2003, Armored and Mechanized Infantry divisions and brigades were a mix of tank and mechanized infantry battalions, with only subtle variations in the ratio of the two being the difference. Armored division and brigade commanders could have backgrounds in armor, infantry or artillery (or ideally to have had some experience among the branches). In my own experience in Armored and Mech divisions, only two of my four brigade commanders had armor background and the other two infantry; the division commanders were, IIRC, two infantry, one artillery and one armor.

Cavalry squadrons were made up of troops with two tank platoons and two scout platoons each.

During those days, out in the field you couldn’t tell a cavalry squadron from a tank battalion with cross-attached mech infantry companies or a mech infantry battalion with cross-attached tank companies. Or an armored cavalry regiment from an armored or mech infantry brigade with all battalions cross-attached. (All armored and mech infantry brigades and divisions are mixes of tank and mech infantry battalions, with subtle and flexible variations in the ratio between the two types of battalions. Tank battalions with cross-attached infantry companies and vice-versa are designated Task Forces. Tank companies with cross-attached infantry platoons and vice-versa are designated Teams.)

The way I understand the current Modular Brigade system, which took effect over a decade after I retired, in an Armored Brigade Combat Team the cross-attachment is permanent and organic at the battalion level with each battalion made up of two tank companies and two mech infantry companies whether it is named an infantry or tank battalion or cavalry squadron. So the battalion commander can be either infantry or armor branch as well as the brigade and division commanders.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2022 12:01 PM

2022-03-03T12:01:02-05:00

Technically, General Officers don't have branches, and they don't wear them on their uniform, but realistically, they have the Branch they served with most recently or longest.

I have a friend who is a GO. Spent his entire career as a Light Infantryman. Was a successful Deputy Commander for an Armored Division. I'm not sure he'd really seen a tank up close when he got that job.

In the Mechanized Infantry world, there is not that much difference between a MG that spent his whole life Armor and one that spent most of his time as Mechanized Infantry.

It is unlikely that an Armor experienced MG would be assigned to a Light Infantry Division though. Just doesn't probably have the "street cred" within those communities and the thought process is different in the light world. You have to understand things like almost all terrain is a problem, the distances are much shorter, logistics are somewhat simpler, airborne and air assault are things, etc.