# "3rd of the 7th"? Army unit terminology
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-of-the-7th-army-unit-terminology/165572
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 31, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-of-the-7th-army-unit-terminology/165572 "2003-03-31T22:58:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-of-the-7th-army-unit-terminology/165572/1 "2003-03-31T22:58:21Z")
I see and hear army units being referred to as “3rd of the 7th” or “1st of the 1st”. I understand that the 7th Cavalry is a unit of some defined size. I’m guessing that a unit the size of the 7th (for example) would be analogous to a Carrier Air Wing? And the “3rd” would be similar to a squadron within the wing? Am I even close? Also, the 3rd _what_?
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### Author:  [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-of-the-7th-army-unit-terminology/165572/2 "2003-03-31T23:27:56Z")
SWAG:
3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry
or, more likely,
[3rd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/3-7.htm) which is itself part of the 1st Marine Division, which is currently in Iraq.
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### Author:  [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-of-the-7th-army-unit-terminology/165572/3 "2003-03-31T23:54:53Z")
In this particular case, it’s the 3rd Squadron, 7th “[Garryowen](http://www.us7thcavalry.com/legend.htm)” US Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry “[Rock of the Marne!](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/3id.htm)” Division (Mechanized), XVIII Airborne “[Contingency](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/xviii-corps.htm)” Corps.
Because the 3/7th is a cavalry unit which traces its history back before the Civil War, they retain some of their historical quirks. They call themselves a squadron instead of a battalion, and it is subdivided into troops instead of companies.
But, as **paperbackwriter** suggests, the number-number designation _usually_ designates a battalion-regiment relationship.
I say “usually” because I’m certain there are exceptions.
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### Author:  [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-of-the-7th-army-unit-terminology/165572/4 "2003-04-01T00:25:33Z")
Marines do not use that terminology for unit designations. 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment would be “3/7” (pronounced “three seven”), or “3rd Battalion, 7th Marines”. Not to say the newsies wouldn’t screw that up, but as far as I know that is purely a US Army term.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-of-the-7th-army-unit-terminology/165572/5 "2003-04-01T00:55:21Z")
I see that the unit divisions are described in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=85199). I’ll have to print it out when I get to work tomorrow to see how everything fits. Thanks for the info. 🙂