A battalion is a military unit of approximately 1,000 men (ranging from 300 to 1,500) generally made up of two to six companies and typically commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel (for example, some armies organize their infantry into battalions, but instead they call the equivalent cavalry and artillery units "squadron" or "group"). There may even be subtle differences within a nation's armed forces, such as the distinction between a tank battalion and a mechanized squad, depending on how the unit's operational role is perceived within the historical organization of the army.
A battalion is usually the smallest unit capable of independent operations (for example, it is not linked to a higher command). However, many armies have smaller units that are self-sufficient.
The battalion is generally part of a regiment, group or brigade, depending on the organizational model used by that service. Battalions are usually homogeneous with respect to type (for example, an infantry battalion or a tank battalion), although there are many exceptions.
It should be noted that it is common for some armies to organize their infantry into battalions and form a brigade, group or regiment at the same time.
In general, the battalion is the smallest unit within the force and is sent to carry out independent missions, although of course all this can vary according to the model that the service presents.
The battalion concept is certainly old, since approximately the first works date back to the seventeenth century. It comes from the Italian term bataglione which refers to a great battle or the encounter of several battles.
But also in colloquial language the word has a common use and we use it when we want to account for that group of individuals in large numbers, that is, to mention that group made up of many people. Obviously, this reference is taken from its original meaning which is the previously indicated military field.
Meanwhile, the word battalion has several synonyms for the aforementioned meanings. On the one hand, we find the company, also used in the military context to designate that infantry unit that is led by a captain. And, on the other hand, the multitude that refers to that significant number of individuals.
