A company is a military unit of the United States Army which has been in use since the American Revolutionary War. It has historically been commanded by a captain, assisted by a first sergeant as the senior-most non-commissioned officer (NCO), and consisted of approximately one hundred soldiers. Soldiers were divided between three and five platoons of around thirty each and led by a lieutenant. However the exact size and composition of a company has varied depending on the time period and its role.[1][2]
Companies in the US Army may be categorized as maneuver companies, the combat arms (infantry, tanks, artillery, etc.) which directly engage the enemy in combat, and support companies which provide administrative and logistical support to the combat arms in carrying out their mission.[1] Companies operate as part of a parent battalion, however they may also be organized as independent companies. Such units are typically specialized forces such as military police or medical personnel. In both cases though, companies require support from higher formations as they are not meant to conduct independent operations.[2]
In the US Army, company-sized units of cavalry and artillery are referred to as a troops and batteries, respectively.[1][2]