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In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. The nomenclature varies by nationality and by branch of arms, e.g. some armies organize their infantry into battalions, but call battalion-sized cavalry, reconnaissance, or tank units a squadron or a regiment instead. There may even be subtle distinctions within a nation's branches of arms, such a distinction between a tank battalion and an armored squadron, depending on how the unit's operational role is perceived to fit into the army's historical organization. A battalion is potentially the smallest military unit capable of independent operations (i.e. not attached to a higher command), but is usually part of a regiment or a brigade or both, depending on the organizational model used by that service. Battalions are ordinarily homogeneous with respect to type (e.g. an infantry battalion or a tank battalion), although there are occasional exceptions. (from Wikipedia)
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