the SAW gunner, and the other being paired with the grenadier.
If you pair up two fire teams and give them a command element consisting of a staff sergeant (E-6—known as a squad leader), then you have an infantry squad. Now things begin to get a little more involved. If you combine three squads and a weapons squad under a lieutenant (O-?) and first sergeant (E-5), along with a radio operator and forward observer, you get an infantry platoon. The weapons squad is normally made up of two M240G 7.62mm medium machine gun teams, as well as a pair of Javelin (starting in 1997 these will begin to replace the old Dragon) anti-tank/bunker missile teams. This gives the platoon the ability to engage armor, lay down suppressive fire, or to engage targets at good ranges. This is the smallest unit that would normally have a radio and GPS receiver, as well as some sort of transport like a HMMWV to act as a command/resupply vehicle.
Take three infantry platoons and give them a command element composed of a captain (O-3), command sergeant (E-8), a pair of 60mm mortar teams, and a small command staff, and you get an infantry company. Properly laid out, a company might hold a line between 500—1,000 meters/550—1,100 yards in length.
The next step is to build an infantry battalion, which is composed of three of the aforementioned infantry companies (usually designated “A” through “C”), and an anti-armor, or “Delta” (“D”) company. The Delta company is usually composed of five platoon-sized units, each of which has a mix of weapons mounted on HMMWVs. These include M2.50-caliber machine guns, Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launchers, and TOW antitank missile launchers. The anti-armor company is also equipped with four 81mm mortars to provide organic fire support for the battalion. This unit (with about 600+ troopers) would be commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and he would be assisted by a battle staff equipped for round-the-clock operations, as well as the necessary communications to work as part of a brigade task force. Along with the personnel and their weapons would be a handful of vehicles (HMMWVs and five-ton trucks), as well as the staff and equipment needed to establish a small tactical operations center (TOC). Usually a brigade is made up of three infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, a support battalion, an aviation element, as well as some other attached units. More on this later. With our lesson in infantry building blocks completed, it is time for us to begin our tour of the 82nd Airborne Division.
We’ll start our tour with the command section of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC). This is the nerve center for the division, and the primary source of tasking for the various units in the “All-Americans.” Normally based at the division headquarters, the HHC forms the staff for the 82nd’s TOC when deployed to the field. The HHC is formed into a typical staff structure of numbered sections. These include:
G-1-Personnel
G-2-Intelligence
G-3-Operations, Planning, and Training
G-4-Logistics and Support
The core of the division’s combat power is resident in the three organic infantry regiments assigned to the 82nd. These are the 504th and 505th Parachute Infantry Regiments (PIRs), and the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (AIR). All share a common heritage dating back to the massive airborne operations of World War II. By the way, if you are wondering about the difference in the names, there is a story behind that. The 504th and 505th have always been parachute infantry units. The 325th, though, was originally formed as one of the glider infantry units that went into battle with the 82nd and 101st. Therefore, in spite of the fact that all three regiments are jump-qualified, the 325th is called an airborne, not parachute, regiment. There is a bit of resentment in the 325th about this, and troopers of the 504th and 505th like to kid them about “riding” into combat. Such is the mystique of the 82nd that two words, “airborne” and “parachute,” can still arouse emotions five decades after the last combat glider landing.
An infantry regiment (with about twenty-two hundred troopers) is composed of three infantry battalions. Each regiment is headed by a colonel (O-6), who is assisted by a command sergeant major (E-8/9) as well as an HHC staff. They also provide the brigade task forces with the bulk of their HHC staff when those are deployed for action. This is why each regimental commander is “dual hatted” with the extra job of commanding a brigade task force as well. Currently, the 1st Brigade of the 82nd (1/82) contains the 504th PIR, the 2/82 the 325th AIR, and the 2/82 the 505th PIR.
The three infantry regiments provide the core of the brigades. In addition, the division has a number of other organic units that can be used to provide additional combat power and capability to the brigades. Some of these include:
• 82nd Airborne Divisional Artillery (DIVARTY): This unit provides artillery support for the three brigade task forces. The 82nd DIVARTY is composed of the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment (319 AFAR) an HHC and three artillery battalions: 1/319, 2/319, and 3/319, each composed of three battery (with six guns per battery) of M119 105mm towed howitzers. In addition, each battalion is equipped with a TPQ-36 Fire- finder counterbattery radars. Each brigade is normally assigned one battalion of M 119s.
• 82nd Aviation Brigade: The aviation brigade provides the division with a base of aviation support that also can be parceled out to the brigades. Currently, the aviation brigade of the 82nd is composed of the following units:
1st Squadron of the 17th Cavalry Regiment (1/17): This is a unit of OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout/light-attack helicopters assigned to provide the division with reconnaissance services. Composed of three troops each with eight aircraft, the 1/17 is a tiny but powerful unit that can either act as the division’s eyes (by using its onboard Mast Mounted Sight and target-hand-off systems), or claws (with Hellfire and Stinger missiles, as well as rockets and machine guns). 1st Battalion of the 82nd Aviation Brigade (1/82): Also composed of three troops of OH-58D Kiowa Warriors (each with eight aircraft), the 1/82 is primarily an attack unit. It was only recently converted over to the OH-58D, having previously flown the now-obsolete AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter. 2nd Battalion of the 82nd Aviation Brigade (2/82): This is a utility unit composed of three aviation companies. Companies A and B are each equipped with fifteen UH-60L Blackhawk utility/transport helicopters. Company C is a “pickup” unit, equipped with six UH-60Ls set up for general support and casualty evacuation, three other UH-60Ls configured with special radio gear to act as command and control aircraft for the division and brigade commanders, and three EH-60 Quick Fix electronic warfare helicopters.
When the division breaks up into brigades, the aviation brigade can be broken down to provide an aviation component for each. Since it is rare for the division to deploy more than two brigade task forces at a time, the aviation brigade usually gives each one battalion/squadron of OH-58Ds, and a company of UH-60Ls, along with a split of the aircraft of 2/82’s Company C.
• 82nd Airborne Division Support Command (DISCOM): The 82nd DISCOM is a brigade- sized element that provides the division with logistical, medical, and maintenance support. The 82nd DISCOM can be spit into three equally sized and matched brigade support elements, each assigned to one of the brigade task forces.
• 82nd Signal Battalion: The 82nd’s signal battalion provides the division with communications equipment and services (including cryptographic and satellite communications). Along with being able to support a divisional command post (CP), the unit can create three task organized signals companies, one of which is assigned to each brigade task force.
• 307th Engineer Battalion: The 307th provides the 82nd with a variety of combat engineering services and capabilities. In addition to being able to construct revetments, berms, and defensive positions, the 307th can deploy and clear minefields, repair runways, build bridges and bunkers, and provide specialized combat demolitions services, such as clearing obstacles with bangalore torpedoes and other explosive devices.
• 313th Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion: The 313th is the division’s organic MI asset. It is equipped with links to all the major national intelligence services (Central Intelligence Agency, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, National Security Agency, etc.). This allows the 313th to act as an all-source supplier for the entire division, or the various brigade task forces. In addition to having access to national sources, the 313th contains significant signals and communications intelligence assets, including EH-60 Quick Fix helicopters, ground- based sensors, and other equipment. Within several years, the 313th will also be able to control the new family of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• 3rd Battalion of the 4th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Regiment: The 3/4th provides air defense and early warning services for the division. Based around the Stinger weapons system (with both Avenger and MANPAD fire units), the 3/4th is composed of three ADA companies. One ADA company is assigned to each brigade task force, as well as a pair of air-defense/surveillance radars.
