A little back ground on me before I ask my question: I was originally in the US Army for 3 years, then got out and served 12 in my beloved USMC, I am now in the Virginia Army National Guard. I have a total of 21 years and some change in and a couple of combat tours to boot. In spite of all this I have a hard time understanding the “regimental” system. In the Army, units are divided into: Armies, Corps, Divisions, Brigades, Battalions and then Companies. Then within this structure the battalions are members of regiments which have virtually no operational control over said battalion. They appear to be just “clubs” that certain units belong to. Example: I am a member of A Company 276th Engineer Battalion, 1st Virginia Regiment. (however there is no regimental HQ) It is a one battalion regiment like the South Essex. Now on the other hand, when I was in the Marines they used Regiments (there were regimental HQs) instead of brigades unlike the Army. I am assuming this is because we take our heritage from the British Royal Marines. My question (finally) is: how is it in the British Military? Do the US Marines closely resemble a true regimental system or the US army? I must admit a great deal of confusion on this subject. If there is no HQ and no operational control exists over a unit I don’t see the point. I’m asking you because you are very knowlegable in the field of military history and I think the British started all of this anyway. Don Sawyer