Regimental combat team

The United States Army first adopted the RCT concept just prior to World War II, where it served as the infantry-centric counterpart to the Combat Command used by armored forces.

However, the Army also recognized that it would need a separate infantry force to conduct missions too small for a division and created the regimental combat team (RCT).

[1] The concept was retained after the end of World War II and RCTs were issued their own shoulder sleeve insignia.

RCTs were used extensively during the Korean War, with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team illustrating the typical organization of an RCT from this era.

The RCT was retained until 1957 when the Army was reorganized under the Pentomic structure, under which both regiments and battalions were eliminated as tactical units and replaced with battle groups.