Regiment

Regiment, military term for what was once the largest infantry and armored division unit in an army. Regiments today, largely administrative units not assigned to combat duty, have been replaced by more mobile units called brigades. A regiment generally has groups of battalions and squadrons under its aegis, assigned to other units called divisions. The earliest units to be called regiments were French cavalry soldiers in 1558; regiments initially recruited, equipped, and trained troops for combat. In the early United States and 19th-century Europe, each regiment usually contained 10 smaller units or companies; in the 20th century companies were phased out as war became more mechanized.

See also: Army.