12-27-2012, 12:05 AM
The question is very generic and perhaps difficult to answer, especially if you're unfamiliar with military structures in general.
The Roman Army of antiquity, building upon the structures of its Greek forebears, however, is often cited as the basis for the organisation for modern military structures; in the main for two basic reasons: firstly that it is considered the first truly professional and permanent military force (post-Augustan period) established to act on, effectively, the global stage; and secondly that Vegetius was almost required reading for all military studies when the composition of military structures became once more of greater interest in the pre-Napoleonic era and after the use of the mercenary condotteri armies went out of fashion and nation-based permanent armies became the norm.
Military hierarchical organisations and unit structure now form part of modern management theory as well - the general concept that one man cannot manage/command more than 6-12 'subordinates'. The basic and lowest unit of the Roman Army, the contubernia of 8 men sharing their tent/mess, is thus the same size of a modern day section of 8 (the original standard in the early 20th Century) and still that of the British Army at least.
On that basis the platoon or company level is similar to the centuriae/turmae and the cohort/ala to a battalion (all normally consisting of similar troop types). It is not unreasonable to think of a Legion as a permanent Brigade structure (perhaps similar to a US or Soviet-era Regiment, which I suspect the Czech army may still follow, although I am not as familiar with it as I am others). However, indeed as many more modern translators and writers have used, it is certainly not unreasonable to consider the Legion + Auxiliaries, including Artillery & Engineers (and so 'All Arms') structure as similar to a modern Division.
All military structures are based upon common grounds of the weapons currently used and how they can be tactically deployed, as well as consideration of the necessary hierarchy and command needs at the Operational level.
In short - the Roman Army was first and studied by all 17C-20C military scholars and thus has proven the grounding for modern military structures; especially when a good deal of common sense and practicable results are applied. If you have access to the current Czech Army structures it would be relatively simple to suggest suitable corollaries, but do not forget to apply contextual linkage.
I hope that helps...
The Roman Army of antiquity, building upon the structures of its Greek forebears, however, is often cited as the basis for the organisation for modern military structures; in the main for two basic reasons: firstly that it is considered the first truly professional and permanent military force (post-Augustan period) established to act on, effectively, the global stage; and secondly that Vegetius was almost required reading for all military studies when the composition of military structures became once more of greater interest in the pre-Napoleonic era and after the use of the mercenary condotteri armies went out of fashion and nation-based permanent armies became the norm.
Military hierarchical organisations and unit structure now form part of modern management theory as well - the general concept that one man cannot manage/command more than 6-12 'subordinates'. The basic and lowest unit of the Roman Army, the contubernia of 8 men sharing their tent/mess, is thus the same size of a modern day section of 8 (the original standard in the early 20th Century) and still that of the British Army at least.
On that basis the platoon or company level is similar to the centuriae/turmae and the cohort/ala to a battalion (all normally consisting of similar troop types). It is not unreasonable to think of a Legion as a permanent Brigade structure (perhaps similar to a US or Soviet-era Regiment, which I suspect the Czech army may still follow, although I am not as familiar with it as I am others). However, indeed as many more modern translators and writers have used, it is certainly not unreasonable to consider the Legion + Auxiliaries, including Artillery & Engineers (and so 'All Arms') structure as similar to a modern Division.
All military structures are based upon common grounds of the weapons currently used and how they can be tactically deployed, as well as consideration of the necessary hierarchy and command needs at the Operational level.
In short - the Roman Army was first and studied by all 17C-20C military scholars and thus has proven the grounding for modern military structures; especially when a good deal of common sense and practicable results are applied. If you have access to the current Czech Army structures it would be relatively simple to suggest suitable corollaries, but do not forget to apply contextual linkage.
I hope that helps...
