Why does the army have regiments in their unit designations but no Regimental Commanders?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 12:12:53 -0400

Aside from 75th Rangers and 160th SOAR and the like, why do we have Regiments but no commanders. For example I served in 3-41 IN. 3rd BN, 41st IN REGT of 1st BCT, 1st Armored Div. I had CO, BN, BDE, and DIV commanders but no regimental commander, why is that? It's a question that comes to mind over my time in and I have never been able to find an answer so I chalk it up to history and lineage. But I figured I'd ask all the great men and women of RP in case there's some answer I just never considered.

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Nov 2 at 2019 12:54 PM

LTJG Robert M. — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 12:54:33 -0400

I don’t know the answer but I will ask my son-in-law who is currently serving
In the Rangers.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 2 at 2019 12:56 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 12:56:52 -0400

The Army is very weird when it comes to naming it's units.
When I first switched branches to the Army, my first unit was the 529th Ordnance Company. I remember commenting my amazement, how amazingly huge the Army must be that there were over 529 different Ordnance companies in the Army...
As I'm sure you're aware, I was mistaken ;o)

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2019 1:06 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 13:06:29 -0400

Look up CARS and USARS

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2019 1:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 13:38:56 -0400

The Army was previously arranged that way, similar to how the Marines still are today. The issue was that when it came time to deploy, these regiments had to pull their support personnel from other units. So the Army came up with a more modular system of the Brigade Combat Team in order to have an organic unit that is readily deployable. They pulled all those support personnel into the BDE and intermixed them into the battalions. They broke up the regiments and mixed different combat arms together to create a combined arms combat team. Now, instead of pulling a few battalions of infantry, some scouts, engineers, artillery, FOs, medics, etc they are all organic to the Brigade and always training together.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 2 at 2019 4:16 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 16:16:24 -0400

The senior Battalion Commander in the Regiment, serves as the Regimental Commander. I believe the 1-506 IN BC is the 506th Commander. Their CSM is the regimental CSM.

The 11Th, 2nd and 3Rd Cavalry Regiments fight as regiments and have a Commander

The Army with minor exception does not fight along regimental organization lines. Even the 75th doesn't. As they deploy Battalions and Companies as part of a CJSOTF or a JSOTF.

Edit: in my haste, I forgot to mention that if the BDE lineage is with that regiment, then the BDe CDR is the Regimental Commander...example 4BCT 101st was aligned with 506th IN, so Currahee 6 was the BDE CDR. When they deactivated the BDE, the Regimental command passed to 1-506. 1-506 and 2-506 passed to other Brigades in the 101st, 1st (327 IN ReGt) and 3rd (187 IN Regt) while retaining the 506th lineage. This is specifically tied to lineage and the US Army Regimental System.

The reconstruction of regiments is not possible under the current rules. Different units are activated and deactivated based on an TIOH Order of Merit List. So different regiments/battalions are pulled from the next one, not the one that goes to that Regiment/BCT based on unit type required. As a consequence, you had a BSB that was lineage wise the Division Ordnance Company then eventually the MSB, redesigmated in place. 1-61 CAV as the RSTA Squadron, which was a Tank Destroyer Regiment, but he infantry battalions were HHC, 1-506 and 2-506 all 506th. Then MG Petraeus got an ETP to do that, becausemof the history. The 506th brought out of retirement ahead of others.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Nov 2 at 2019 7:55 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 19:55:52 -0400

We do, 2nd BDE/82nd ABN Dv, is also the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment Commander- the oldest unit in the 82nd.

Response by SGT David Petree made Nov 2 at 2019 8:42 PM

SGT David Petree — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 20:42:08 -0400

tacitly it makes sense .

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Nov 2 at 2019 10:42 PM

SPC Kevin Ford — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 22:42:13 -0400

I was under the impression that the regimental system was there mostly for historical purposes. The Army has regiments in the same way Connecticut has counties. Sure there are areas designated as counties but there is no county government, sheriff, taxes etc.

The Army seems to be primarily organized around brigades with regiment names to honor the Army’s past.

I could be wrong, but that is the impression I am under.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Nov 3 at 2019 7:28 AM

LTC John Griscom — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 07:28:55 -0500

During the 1950s, the Pentomic reorganization shifted the basic tactical unit from the regiment to the five-company battle group. Armored divisions did not change during the Pentomic era. Instead of brigades, an armored division had three Combat Commands designated: CCA, CCB, and CCC.
On 16 December 1960, the Army Chief of Staff directed a reappraisal of division organization. Resulting studies were carried out between January and April 1961, and fully implemented by 1965. The resulting Reorganization of Army Divisions (ROAD) program shifted all types of divisions (Mechanized, Airborne, Armor, Infantry and Cavalry) to an identical structure of three brigades of three (sometimes four) battalions. The ROAD division consisted of a mix of nine to twelve armor and infantry battalions assigned to the division to meet the expected needs of the division based on its Mission, the likely Enemy, the Terrain/weather, and other forces available or Troops (METT). Each brigade would be assigned or attached the mix of battalions and companies based on the division commanders estimate based on METT.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2019 9:32 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 21:32:27 -0500

We USED to- I was in the 11th ACR Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany and we did have a regimental commander at the time. Willing to bet they still do.