A glossary of military terms

Battalion: a large body of troops ready for battle, especially an infantry unit forming part of a brigade.

Brigade: a subdivision of an army, typically consisting of a small number of infantry battalions and/or other units and forming part of a division.

Cadre: a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession.

Cap badge:  A badge worn on uniform headgear to distinguish the wearer’s regiment. A modern form of heraldry, its design is highly symbolic. The original Staffordshire Yeomanry cap badge incorporated the Stafford Knot, which some say was devised as a means of multiple execution while others insist it represents the joining of three geographical areas!  

Cavalry: (in the past) soldiers who fought on horseback.

Division: a group of army brigades or regiments.

Infantry: soldiers marching or fighting on foot; foot soldiers collectively.

Orbat: short for order of battle, the strategic arrangement of armed forces participating in a military operation.

Rank: a relative status or position, showing the level of authority of the person. Rank badges in the British Army are a simple method of identifying someone’s status.

Recce: Short for ‘reconnaissance’, a military observation of a region to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features.

Regiment: a permanent unit of an army typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel and divided into several companies, squadrons.

Sabre troop: a fighting unit of sub-battalion size. The term originated in the British Army, and is derived from the sabre traditionally used by cavalry. 

Squadron: a principal division of an armoured or cavalry regiment, consisting of two or more troops.

Troop: a military sub-unit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron.

Yeomanry: a volunteer cavalry force.