# When is the word "matrix"used as a military formation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 19, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552 "2016-02-19T14:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552/1 "2016-02-19T14:16:21Z")
Hi, The only use of the word “matrix” I could find as a “military formation” is in the following example. Is this the usual word for a rectangular military formation? Is the word matrix used for more modern military formations, for example Napoleonic military formations? I look forward to your feedback. [http://120.52.72.40/www.redalyc.org/c3pr90ntcsf0/pdf/3033/303332696003.pdf](http://120.52.72.40/www.redalyc.org/c3pr90ntcsf0/pdf/3033/303332696003.pdf) ABSTRACT. In this article we undertake a study about the training process of the Roman soldier in the Epitoma rei militaris, document written during the last years of the fourth century a.D. We aim here to analyze the procedure reported by Vegetius view that aimed to to turn the recruit in soldier in the Roman army. We are supported in the concept of the Military Paideia, defining the process based on an ideal model of a soldier to problematize some essential points for the formation of the Roman soldier. We expect this work to develop an analysis of the elements of the Vegetius vision that they could form a Roman military matrix that would beat all the enemies. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552/2 "2016-02-19T16:04:15Z")
I think that anyone who can compose “_defining the process based on an ideal model of a soldier to problematize some essential points for the formation of the Roman soldier_” will have no problem using words in any way they choose. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552/3 "2016-02-19T19:36:57Z")
Agreed. IMO that’s pretentious academic gobbbledygook at its finest. I’ve not heard “matrix” used as some special term of art in military parlance. In modern non-military parlance the term “matrix” is sometimes used for a conglomerate of different ingredients forming a solid whole. e.g. “Concrete is a mixture of calcite and other microscopic mineral crystals with an embedded matrix of larger native rock.” (BS but plausible sentence I just made up.) In that sentence the “matrix” is a semi-regular & semi-random 3D array of identifiable objects in the whole. I could imagine by analogy somebody considering the individual soldiers to be like the stones in concrete. IOW, an essential part that, taken together with the binders of logistic support, doctrine, training, and leadership, add up to a solid and effective military “raw material” to build armies out of. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552/4 "2016-02-19T20:07:04Z")
There’s more than academia-speak going on here. The paper linked to in the OP looks a bit like it may originally have been written in Portuguese, and then gone through a really clunky translation. Or at least like it was written by someone whose English skills are not stellar, to put it mildly. As the for the OP’s question, the answer is “never”. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552/5 "2016-02-19T20:26:03Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In modern non-military parlance the term “matrix” is sometimes used for a conglomerate of different ingredients forming a solid whole. e.g. “Concrete is a mixture of calcite and other microscopic mineral crystals with an embedded matrix of larger native rock.” (BS but plausible sentence I just made up.) > > In that sentence the “matrix” is a semi-regular & semi-random 3D array of identifiable objects in the whole. Actually, it seems to be the other way around: concrete is rocks embedded in a calcium silicate matrix. > **[Matrix (geology)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(geology))** > > The matrix or groundmass of a rock is the finer-grained mass of material in which larger grains, crystals, or clasts are embedded. > The matrix of an igneous rock consists of finer-grained, often microscopic, crystals in which larger crystals, called phenocrysts, are embedded. This porphyritic texture is indicative of multi-stage cooling of magma. For example, porphyritic andesite will have large phenocrysts of plagioclase in a fine-grained matrix. Also in South Africa, diamonds are often mined fr... > [@](#): > > The matrix or groundmass of rock is the finer grained mass of material in which larger grains, crystals or clasts are embedded. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552/6 "2016-02-19T21:16:39Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > The only use of the word “matrix” I could find as a “military formation” is in the following example. They’re not talking about a formation of troops. The “matrix” here means the combination of all the systems and standards of the Roman military: training, logistics, strategy, so on. The “Vegetius vision,” _Rei militaris instituta_, was literally a textbook for European commanders for centuries. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552/7 "2016-02-19T21:30:59Z")
@ **Ignotus** : Like I said, it was a made up example. I thought about wiki-ing about concrete first, but wasn’t motivated enough. Thanks for dispelling some BS. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-the-word-matrix-used-as-a-military-formation/746552/8 "2016-02-19T23:09:46Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > They’re not talking about a formation of troops. > > The “matrix” here means the combination of all the systems and standards of the Roman military: training, logistics, strategy, so on. The “Vegetius vision,” _Rei militaris instituta_, was literally a textbook for European commanders for centuries. Thanks for clearing that up Peremensoe. Thank you all.