In the Australian Army, a "regiment" isn't always a standard size, but often refers to a collection of Battalions; a Battalion typically has 300 to 1,000 soldiers (often 550-1000), while a Company (part of a Battalion) has around 100-120, and a Platoon has about 30, demonstrating the varying scales within Australian Army units.
When at full strength, an infantry regiment normally comprised two field battalions of about 800 men each or 8–10 companies. In some armies, an independent regiment with fewer companies was labelled a demi-regiment.
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100–250 soldiers and usually commanded by a major or a captain.
Battalion. A battalion is a regimental sub-unit of infantry amounting to between 500 and 1,000 soldiers. It normally consists of a headquarters and three or more companies.
According to the U.S. Army, a brigade consists of a few battalions and anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers. As mentioned before, a colonel is generally in command. For historical reasons, armor and Ranger units of brigade size are called regiments, and the equivalent Special Forces units are called groups.
Australia's most elite military unit is widely considered to be the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), often referred to as Australia's Tier 1 Special Forces, alongside the 2nd Commando Regiment, both operating under the Special Operations Command (SOCOMD). The SASR specializes in long-range reconnaissance, direct action, and counter-terrorism, while the 2nd Commando Regiment focuses on strike and recovery operations, with both units handling the most demanding missions.
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 20–50 troops, although specific platoons may range from 10 to 100 people.
Australia has received its full fleet of 72 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, with the final aircraft delivered in late 2024, forming the backbone of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) air combat capability alongside Super Hornets and Growlers. While the current fleet is 72, there are discussions and potential plans to acquire more, possibly increasing the total to 100 aircraft in the future.
(A slightly larger unit is a section, which consists of 10 to 40 soldiers but is usually used only within headquarters or support organizations.) Three or four squads make up a platoon, which has 20 to 50 soldiers and is commanded by a lieutenant.
"Troops" (plural), in the military sense, properly refers to a LARGE number of individuals (as in, "Five thousand troops were deployed.") When "troops" is used with a SMALL number, it properly refers not to individuals but to collections of people.
You could realistically spend 8-12 years in regiment depending on how fast you promote, and that you can perform at that level, before you go do the same job in the regular army for a few years, and then go back to regiment for a few years, wash rinse and repeat.
The United States is consistently ranked as having the #1 most powerful military in the world for 2025 by organizations like Global Firepower and Business Insider. This ranking stems from its massive defense budget, advanced technology, global power projection, and dominance in air, sea, and cyber warfare, though China has the largest number of active personnel.
Today, the Australian military is on par with the best in the world in terms of technology, training and readiness. The RAAF, for example, can execute more mission sets than the RAF.
Australia's F-35A fleet has replaced the F/A-18A/B Hornet. The F-35A Lightning II, in concert with the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the E/A-18G Growler, is a potent air combat capability that provides the Royal Australian Air Force with critical air combat power to meet Australia's needs beyond 2030.
Generally, it follows the “rule of three,” meaning there are three lower units within each of the next larger units. Teams consist of three Marines with a corporal as team leader. A squad consists of nine Marines with a sergeant as the squad lead. Platoons consist of 27 Marines with a lieutenant in command.
Among those fighting at Khe Sanh was the 1st Battalion 9th Marines, also referred to as “The Walking Dead” battalion due to having the highest casualty rate in Marine Corps history. Of the nearly 3,000 Marines who served with the 1/9 in Vietnam, over 25% would be Killed in Action.
Legion. A "Legion" refers to a significant military unit in ancient Rome, typically comprising around 6,000 soldiers organized into ten cohorts.
It is jointly operated by Australia and the United States, and since 1988 it has been officially called the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap (JDFPG); previously, it was known as Joint Defence Space Research Facility.
Neither SAS nor SBS is definitively "more elite"; they are equally elite but specialized, with the SAS focusing on land/air and the SBS on maritime/amphibious roles, both part of the UK's UK Special Forces (UKSF) and sharing the same rigorous Joint Special Forces Selection process, with SBS adding extra maritime training like swimmer-canoeist skills. Think of them as the Army's and Navy's top-tier counterparts within the same elite special forces framework.
An Australian SAS soldier's salary starts with standard ADF pay scales, but escalates significantly with allowances and rank, with entry-level Special Forces Operators earning around $103,000+ annually plus benefits, while experienced personnel receive substantial bonuses, field allowances, and higher pay, making total compensation vary widely but generally exceeding standard Army wages, with potential for much higher earnings with promotions and deployment.
Division: Run by a major general, divisions are made up of 3-4 brigades and include between 10,000-15,000 soldiers. Corps: These include 2-5 divisions with anywhere between 20,000-45,000 soldiers. A lieutenant general is in command. Field Army: This consists of two or more corps and is run by a general.
The typical NATO standard brigade consists of approximately 5,000 troops. However, in Switzerland and Austria, the numbers could start as high as 10,000 troops.
There are several divisions with the largest Army unit, the corps. An army corps can consist of up to 100,000 soldiers.