Military terminology

[Mahatatain]

Please can people help me with a bit of terminology.

If you have a unit (say a Company) that's been thrown together and contains soldiers from a range of other units and of different nationalities then what is that unit referred to Would it be correct to call it a "Composite Company"

Thanks for any help people can give me.

[Eddie]

It depends on the nationality. In the American Military, it would just be XYZ Company, ABC Battalion, DEF Regiment/Cavalry/Armor/etc.

Maybe XYZ Company w/ Attachments.

Frex, my company got sliced up in Iraq pretty bad and ended up trading two platoons from us to 1-27 INF. We received 3rd PLT, B Co, 1-27 INF and 1st PLT, A Co, 1-27 INF in return (of which, my platoon received one squad from each).

We were Task Org'd from that point as a Stryker Rifle Company (-), but still designated B Co, 52nd INF, 2-25 SBCT's Anti-Armor company despite not being used as an AA company.

[Adm.Lee]

AFAIK, "composite" doesn't have a specific military meaning, so sure, you could do that informally.

"Combined" means a command involving different national forces-- the Combined Chiefs of Staff in WW2 were the British and American chiefs planning together.

"Joint" means more than one service, but from the same country-- the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"Combined Arms" is a formation or unit that has different branches assigned, but I don't think anyone formally designates something as a Combined Arms Division. FWIW, divisions and (now) brigades are supposed to be the smallest formations that have enough support and service assets that they can operate without a higher command.

In US terms, "Task Force" or "Team" are battalions or companies, respectively, that have temporary attachments of other units or branches, to accomplish specific missions.

Edit: I am reminded of a "Team SNAFU" formed during the 1944 siege of Bastogne: individuals and groups, mostly remnants of the 9th Armored and 28th Infantry Divisions and VIII Corps units.