While modern
standing armies
A standing army is a permanent, often professional, army. It is composed of full-time soldiers who may be either career soldiers or conscripts. It differs from army reserves, who are enrolled for the long term, but activated only during wars ...
were first developed in the 15th century, the defining terminology for contemporary military units and formations, such as
company
A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...
,
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...
,
regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation.
In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...
etc. mostly arose in the
early modern period
The early modern period is a Periodization, historical period that is defined either as part of or as immediately preceding the modern period, with divisions based primarily on the history of Europe and the broader concept of modernity. There i ...
, during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Only units that are still extant are included, while contemporary refoundings of older units are excluded.
Oldest active military units still in operation
See also
*
Lists of armies
Lists of armies include:
* List of armies by country
* List of numbered armies
* List of formations of the United States Army
* List of British armies in the First World War
* List of French armies in World War I
* List of Russian armies in W ...
*
List of oldest institutions in continuous operation
This article contains a list of the oldest existing social institutions in continuous operation, by year of foundation, in the world. Inclusion in this list is determined by the date at which the entity met the traditional definition of an institu ...
*
List of Army National Guard and active Regular Army units with colonial roots in the U.S.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oldest Military Units In Continuous Operation