1. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
LINEAGE AND HONORS:
An Overview of CMH’s
Organizational History and Force Structure Support Programs
U.S. Army Center of Military History

2. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
Force Structure Support Program (AR 220-5; AR 220-1; AR 71-32)
- Support DA G-3 (and others) in any action that impacts unit designation or passage of L&H
- Determine official unit designations
- Select historic units for reactivation
- Maintain “Rolls of the Army”
- Function transferred to CMH from TAG in 1987
Organizational History Program (AR 870-5; AR ; AR )
- Lineage and Honors Determination & Certificates
- Special Designations, Unit Day
- History of Function
Unstructured prior to WWI
Historical Branch, War Plans Division, General Staff
Historical Section, Army War College
Historical Division absorbs functions of Hist Sec, AWC; later evolves into CMH
U.S. Army Center of Military History

3. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
Force Structure Support
DA G-3/5/7 (DCS Ops & Plans)
- Routine planning of force structure
- Provide unit designation/historic UIC
- Major buildups/drawdowns – retain historic/appropriate units
- Review concept plans submitted to G-3 by ACOMs/ASCCs/DRUs
US Army Force Management Support Agency (USAFMSA)
- Designation lines for TOEs
- Longname entry into Defense Readiness Reporting System – Army (DRRS-A)
TRADOC Centers and Schools
- Assist in development of concept plans as relates to previous organization of units, designations, impact on lineage
U.S. Army Center of Military History

4. Reflagging Rules of Engagement
Approved by CSA on 28 Nov 12
Minimize use of reflagging – First save regiments by retaining designations that transfer as third maneuver battalion. -- No reflagging solely to align unit with “traditional” division.
- Use reflagging only to:
- Save regiments that would otherwise be eliminated from the force. Selected regiments will be saved from elimination through reflagging.
- Ensure that each ABCT has two armored and one infantry designated combined-arms battalion (except in 1st CD), and each IBCT has three infantry designated battalions. This is an expansion of current policy. Will require some reflagging.
- Sequentially number BCT headquarters within divisions
-  Use of reflagging will otherwise be avoided – minimize turbulence.
U.S. Army Center of Military History 1

5. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
Table of Organization and Equipment vs.
Table of Distribution and Allowances
TOE/MTOE
- TOE – Base document
- MTOE – Modification of base document for specific unit
- More than one of same type
- Deployable
- Can be inactivated and reactivated
- Gets Lineage and Honors Certificate
- Approx MTOE units currently active
TDA
- Unique, specific purpose
- Typically non-deployable
- Only exists while active; not retained in inactive status
- Organized/Discontinued
- Does not get Lineage and Honors Certificate (exception for some training units)
U.S. Army Center of Military History

6. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
Organizational History
RA/USAR vs ARNG
Regular Army/US Army Reserve
- RA/USAR units can be inactivated and reactivated
- Lineage not traced via personnel or geographic location
- Normally associated with single or closely related branch
- Designation selected by CMH
Army National Guard
- ARNG unit lineage traced based on location and personnel
- Not normally inactivated/reactivated
- Can be converted to widely disparate branches depending on state force structure requirements/authorizations
- Designation requested by state, approved by CMH
U.S. Army Center of Military History

7. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
Organizational History
Lineage and Honors Certificate
Birth certificate, service record, and deed to organizational properties
Parts of Cert: Desig; Spec Desig (SD vs motto); Lineage; CPC; Decorations
Relationship of certificate to ribbons, unit streamers, heraldic items
CPC and Awards for WoT: ???
Documents: Unit Jacket; HDC; TOEs; TAG ltrs; variety of addl records and documentation
U.S. Army Center of Military History

8. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Branch
Organizational History File
Will include the following per AR 870-5:
1. Statements of primary and secondary missions
2. Periodic summaries of unit activities and achievements
3. A listing or documentation of significant unit events, preferably by calendar year
4. Deployment/redeployment orders and rosters of deployed personnel
5. Copies of letters and orders relating to activation, inactivation, redesignation, reorganization, and other changes in unit status. (See AR ) For Army National Guard and Army Reserve units, documents concerning entry into and release from active Federal or military service will also be included.
Can also include:
1. Unit Histories
2. Annual Histories
3. Copies of most recent Lineage and Honors Certificate or Statement of Service
4. Information on organizational flags, coats of arms, and insignia
5. Citations and certificates (unframed) for unit decorations
6. Newspaper and magazine clippings, with sources and dates
7. Unframed photographs, pictures, certificates, letters, and programs, which should be identified with dates, names, places, events, and other relevant information
8. Names of commanders and inclusive dates of command
9. Copies of oral history interviews (tapes and/or transcripts) conducted with unit personnel by combat historians
U.S. Army Center of Military History

9. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
Unit Awards and Campaign Participation Credit
Assist Human Resources Command
Review Unit Awards and Campaign Participation Credit for correct designations, duplication of honors, and units not active/mobilized/deployed for full period of award.
CMH doesn’t approve awards or recommend approval, or get involved in the submission process.
Unit awards are approved either by the theater commander (or his designee), or by Army awards boards.
CPC – Units must self nominate.
Award elements (streamer/certificate) not distributed by HRC until CMH completes review.
U.S. Army Center of Military History

10. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
Points of Contact for FSUH Division related inquiries:
FSUH Division, CMH (AAMH-FPO): Unit Lineage & Honors, Unit Designations
Website:
The Institute of Heraldry, CMH (TIOH): Heraldic Items (esp. design), including flags/guidons, shoulder sleeve insignia, distinctive unit insignia (mottoes)
Website:
USA Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM):
Requisition of heraldic items
Website:
USA Human Resources Command (HRC), Awards and Decorations Branch: Unit Awards, Campaign Participation Credit authorization
Website:
address:
U.S. Army Center of Military History

11. U.S. Army Center of Military History
Force Structure and Unit History Division
CMH’s Force Structure and Unit History Division is where the Army establishes and maintains connections between its historic units and the current and future force structure
U.S. Army Center of Military History