Regiment

In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted in one geographical area, by a leader who was often also the feudal lord of the soldiers.

The line regiments formed the majority of the regiments in European standing armies in the early 20th century.

In many armies, the first role has been assumed by independent battalions, battlegroups, task forces, brigades and other, similarly-sized operational units.

It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment.

a brigade equivalent, e.g. 8th Marine Regiment (United States);

The 8th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps.

The oldest regiments which still exist, and their dates of establishment, include the Spanish 9th Infantry Regiment “Soria” (originally the Tercio de Nápoles) (1505), Swedish Life Guards (1521), the British Honourable Artillery Company (1537) and the King's Own Immemorial Regiment of Spain, first established in 1248 during the conquest of Seville by King Ferdinand the Saint.

The 9th Infantry Regiment “Soria” (Spanish: Regimiento de Infantería «Soria» n.º 9) is a light infantry regiment of the Spanish Army.

The oldest regiments which still exist, and their dates of establishment, include the Spanish 9th Infantry Regiment “Soria” (originally the Tercio de Nápoles) (1505), Swedish Life Guards (1521), the British Honourable Artillery Company (1537) and the King's Own Immemorial Regiment of Spain, first established in 1248 during the conquest of Seville by King Ferdinand the Saint.

The Svea Life Guards (Svea livgarde), also I 1, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that was active in various forms 1521–2000.

In many armies, the first role has been assumed by independent battalions, battlegroups, task forces, brigades and other, similarly-sized operational units.

A battlegroup is formed around an infantry battalion or armoured regiment, which is usually commanded by a lieutenant colonel.

During the modern era, the word "regiment" – much like "corps" – may have two somewhat divergent meanings, which refer to two distinct roles:

The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) Corps was a type of military organization used by the Chinese Republic, and usually exercised command over two to three NRA Divisions and often a number of Independent Brigades or Regiments and supporting units.

When at full strength, an infantry regiment normally comprised two field battalions of about 800 men each or 8–10 companies.

Usually several companies are grouped as a battalion or regiment, the latter of which is sometimes formed by several battalions.

In other cases, new regiments were raised for new functions within an army; e.g. the Fusiliers, the Parachute Regiment (British Army), and the U.S. Army 75th Ranger Regiment.

The Parachute Regiment, colloquially known as the Paras, is an elite airborne infantry regiment of the British Army.

The aspects that an administrative regiment might have in common include a symbolic colonel-in-chief (often a member of the royal family), a colonel of the regiment or "honorary colonel" who protects the traditions and interests of the regimental family and insists on the maintenance of high standards, battle honours (honours earned by one unit of an administrative regiment are credited to the regiment), ceremonial uniforms, cap badges, peculiarities of insignia, stable belts, and regimental marches and songs.

Colonel-in-Chief is a ceremonial position in a military regiment.

The regiment usually has a traditional "home station" or Regimental depot, which is often a historic garrison that houses the regimental museum and regimental headquarters.

The regimental depot of a regiment is the regimental headquarters and also normally the place where recruits are assembled and trained.

In other cases, new regiments were raised for new functions within an army; e.g. the Fusiliers, the Parachute Regiment (British Army), and the U.S. Army 75th Ranger Regiment.

The following year the Fusiliers du Roi ("King's Fusiliers"), the first regiment composed primarily of soldiers with flintlocks, was formed by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban.

The aspects that an administrative regiment might have in common include a symbolic colonel-in-chief (often a member of the royal family), a colonel of the regiment or "honorary colonel" who protects the traditions and interests of the regimental family and insists on the maintenance of high standards, battle honours (honours earned by one unit of an administrative regiment are credited to the regiment), ceremonial uniforms, cap badges, peculiarities of insignia, stable belts, and regimental marches and songs.

In the British Army (as well as Commonwealth armies) each regiment and corps has its own cap badge.

The aspects that an administrative regiment might have in common include a symbolic colonel-in-chief (often a member of the royal family), a colonel of the regiment or "honorary colonel" who protects the traditions and interests of the regimental family and insists on the maintenance of high standards, battle honours (honours earned by one unit of an administrative regiment are credited to the regiment), ceremonial uniforms, cap badges, peculiarities of insignia, stable belts, and regimental marches and songs.

Today, every regiment and corps of the British Army has its own stable belt, often very colourful.

Generally, divisions are garrisoned together and share the same installations: thus, in divisional administration, a battalion commanding officer is just another officer in a chain of command.

The appointment of commanding officer is exclusive to commanders of major units (regiments, battalions and similar sized units).

In the British Army and armies modeled on it (such as the Australian, the New Zealand, the Canadian, the Indian and the Pakistani), the term regiment is used confusingly in two different ways: it can mean an administrative identity and grouping, or a tactical unit.

The Indian Army has a regimental system, but is operationally and geographically divided into seven commands, with the basic field formation being a division.

In the former Dominion of Newfoundland, "Regiment" was used to describe the entirety of the fighting armed forces, such as the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

During the First World War the battalion-sized regiment was the only North American unit to fight in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

While individual battalions may have different roles (for example different battalions of the Frontier Force Regiment may be mechanized infantry, paratroop infantry, or mountain troops), the regiment is considered to encompass all of them.

The Frontier Force Regiment is one of six infantry regiments of the Pakistan Army.

In the British Army and armies modeled on it (such as the Australian, the New Zealand, the Canadian, the Indian and the Pakistani), the term regiment is used confusingly in two different ways: it can mean an administrative identity and grouping, or a tactical unit.

The Pakistan Army has a regimental system but is operationally and geographically divided into command zones, with basic field of being the.

The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), formed in 1572, was the oldest infantry regiment.

The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), formerly the 3rd Regiment of Foot, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army traditionally raised in the English county of Kent and garrisoned at Canterbury.

It now forms part of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment.

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (or PWRR, also known as 'the Tigers') is the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division, and second only in line infantry order of precedence to the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The aspects that an administrative regiment might have in common include a symbolic colonel-in-chief (often a member of the royal family), a colonel of the regiment or "honorary colonel" who protects the traditions and interests of the regimental family and insists on the maintenance of high standards, battle honours (honours earned by one unit of an administrative regiment are credited to the regiment), ceremonial uniforms, cap badges, peculiarities of insignia, stable belts, and regimental marches and songs.

A battle honour may be granted to infantry/cavalry regiments or battalions, as well as ships (see Naval battle honours below) and squadrons; they are rarely granted to sub-units such as companies, platoons and sections in the army.

The Royal Tank Regiment until 2014 had two (1 and 2 RTR), and once had many more.

Today, it is the armoured regiment of the British Army's 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade.

Currently, one regiment is organised with two tactical regiments, 12 e Régiment blindé du Canada and 12 e Régiment blindé du Canada (Milice) are both part of the administrative regiment 12 e Régiment blindé du Canada.

The 12 e Régiment blindé du Canada (a translation of its former name, the "12th Canadian Armoured Regiment") is a Canadian Army armoured regiment based in CFB Valcartier, on the outskirts of Quebec City.

In Britain, the Royal Regiment of Artillery works in the same way.

The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises thirteen Regular Army regiments, King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and five Army Reserve regiments.