What is the difference between someone's "unit," and "company?"?

Kojak

"Unit" is a generic term.....can be used to describe any military outfit regardless of size.... It is not a specific title
"Company" is a specific military outfit...... with a specific size and structure.....Squad..... Platoon..... Company...... Battalion...... Brigade.....

Meeting another unidentified unit in combat is a very dangerous thing.... it is called a "link-up' or a "passage of lines"..... how you identify each other depends on several variables (Night or day; planned or unplanned; etc).....
Many of our "friendly fire" tragedies occur because troops forget how dangerous linking up / passage of lines can be

nicklc24

A company is a TYPE of unit.

Other types of units include team, squad, platoon, battalion, brigade, division, and corps.

Usually: A squad is comprised of two teams. A platoon is comprised of three squads. A company is comprised of three platoons. A battalion is comprised of five companies and so on.

About your scenario...in reality, you will have that other group of troops in radio contact. And you should know what other units are operating in your AO (area of operations). If for some reason you cannot establish communications, then use all visual cues you can gather including uniform, type of weapons and equipment, signals, infrared patches, etc.

Andrew

Unit and company are generally the same thing. And as for identifying friendlies on the battlefield, once you are in the military you will know more about this, but some stuff I feel shouldnt just be shared on websites such as this...eventhough enemies most likely know anyways.

Leroy H

For Marine Corps

Fire Team: 4
Squad :12
Platoon (Unit army not sure):39
Company: 2-4 Platoons
Batallion: 2-4 Companys
Regiment Beats me
Division: a scary thing to be up against

Rawbert

I was in an Armor Unit. It had 4 Armor Companies and 1 Headquarters company.

Think of a Unit as a Big Business, then each Company would be things like HR, Payroll, Legal, etc... All work together

By their uniforms, equipment, patches, etc...

Michael A

Like the numbers quoted above, a unit can really be any size. But when someone asks, lets say, a Marine what unit they are in the Marine will most often say what Battalion and Regiment. As in 1/2 or 1st Bn, 2nd Marine Regiment. Sometimes the marine will also mention the company, as in Charlie Company 1st Bn, 2nd Marine Regiment. If the Marine is in a different unit such as a tank unit they may say 2nd Tanks which refers to a battalion with no regiment. Or 4th Recon which is a reserve reconassaince battalion. Other Marines may be in other sized units, but in general a company is a unit comprising of 3 rifle platoons and a weapons platoon on the infantry side.
As I look again I see some problems with the numbers above:
Fire team 4
Squad = 3 FT plus a squad leader= 13
Platoon= 3 squads plus a Platoon Cdr and Plt Sgt and Guide=42
Company = 3 rifle platoons and a weapon platoon and a small HQ section= totals vary but about 140-170
Battalion=5 companies(1 H&S Co, 3 rifle Co, 2 Wpns Co.)
Regiment = 3 Battalions
Divisions = one scary thing to go up against as was said earlier. Comprises 3 regiments and additional Battalions as needed.
Of course this is Marine Corps, the army is all jacked up with brigades. What ever those are.

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