military formation
Noun: 1. An arrangement or grouping of military personnel or units: A structured assembly of troops, vehicles, or ships organized for a specific tactical or operational purpose. This refers to the physical configuration and relative positioning of forces. 2. The act or process of forming such an arrangement: The action of assembling troops or units into a specific organized structure.
The term "military formation" is used to describe both the organized arrangement itself and the process of creating it. It is a standard term in military doctrine, history, and reporting. - It is commonly modified by adjectives specifying the type (e.g., defensive formation, tight formation). - It can refer to formations of any scale, from a small squad to large army groups.
- As a structured arrangement:
- The soldiers marched in a precise military formation.
- The general ordered a change in the military formation to better defend the hill.
- Referring to the act of forming:
- The military formation of the battalion was completed before dawn.
- "To break formation": To disperse or move out of the organized arrangement.
- The unit was ordered not to break formation during the parade.
- "In formation": Describing the state of being arranged in an organized manner.
- The jets flew in perfect formation.
- Formation (n): The more general term for any arranged grouping, which can be applied in military, geological, or other contexts (e.g., ). In a military context, it is often synonymous with "military formation."
- Form up (phrasal verb): The command or action of moving into a formation.
- The troops were told to form up on the parade ground.
- Disposition: The arrangement of military forces.
- Array: An ordered arrangement, often for battle.
- Lineup: An arrangement of people or things in a line (less formal/military).
- Battle formation: A specific type of military formation organized for combat.
- Marching formation: A specific arrangement used for movement on foot.