Division Patches

What Are Army Divisions?

Divisions are some of the largest organizations of military units in the United States Army, and each one is typically comprised of 6,000 and 25,000 soldiers. They are capable of carrying out independent operations and some of them have unique skill sets helping them adapt to numerous battlefield conditions.

 The concept of dividing armies into smaller units was pioneered by the French military in the late 18th century and became one of the most effective aspects of Napoleon's armies in the early 19th century. Seeing the maneuverability and initiative of Napoleon's divisions led to their adoption by almost every European military and, subsequently, the United States.

Types of Divisions in the U.S. Army

There are a number of different types of army divisions. Today the military has infantry divisions, armored divisions, mountain divisions, and airborne divisions. These all serve particular purposes but can also participate as normal line-of-battle forces. For example, the 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne divisions specialize in attacking from above. They are capable of large deployments of light troops and vehicles by air and can arrive to reinforce regular troops as a quick response force or infiltrate behind enemy lines. The 10th Mountain Division was originally trained for high-altitude mountain warfare but has since been deployed as light infantry seeing action in both Gulf Wars and Afghanistan.  

The army also boasts famous divisions like the 1st Infantry Division, known as “The Big Red One.” The 1st Infantry Division has seen continuous service since its formation in 1917. In World War I, they participated in the first offensive by an American army, defeating 8 German divisions in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In World War II they were involved in nearly every major assault such as Operation Torch in Africa, The Battle of Troina in Sicily, and the invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach. The Big Red One sustained over 20,000 casualties in World War II and was highly decorated as a result. They also fought in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive and have had units involved in almost every major conflict since. The 1st Infantry Division. and many others like it, make up the backbone of the military forces that protect our nation.

Army Division Patches

Popular Patch carries a number of divisional patches to represent these heroes who have endured great danger and difficulty in the quest to maintain the safety of the United States and bring peace and prosperity to nations abroad. Popular Patch supplies patches for those who have served or wish to honor their family and friends who have laid their lives on the line for the dream of freedom. Check out all of our Army division, like the 1st Infantry Division Patch, 101st Airborne Division Patch, and much more, below.