Army lineage is the official lineal connection between Table of Organization (TOE) units. With rare exceptions, Table of Distribution and Allowances (TDA) elements are not included as part of Army lineages. Therefore, TOE units carry and can provide lineages while TDA organizations do not. But what is the difference between TOE and TDA units? Below is a summary of TOE and TDA units, with information and quotations derived from the 2019 edition of Army Regulation (AR) 220-5: Designation, Classification, and Change in Status of Units.1
TOE units are constituted on the official rolls of the Army by the Chief of Military History. They are designated, structured, and equipped in accordance with an existing Headquarters, Department of Army-approved TOE or Modified TOE (MTOE) authorization document. They are comprised of military personnel only, although civilians may be present as part of an augmented TDA or as contractors. TOE units must be manned, trained, equipped, and ready to deploy to combat environments. A TOE/MTOE unit’s designation usually consists of a number, a branch or function, and a level of command. Some examples of TOE/MTOE units include:
| Number | Branch/Function | Level of Command |
|---|---|---|
| 101st | Airborne | Division |
| 82nd | Combat Aviation | Brigade |
| 10th | Special Forces | Group |
A TDA is “a document that prescribes the organizational structure and the personnel and equipment authorizations and requirements of a military unit to perform a specific mission for which there is no appropriate TOE.” A TDA is more malleable than a TOE because it is driven by evolving mission requirements and can be modified at lower levels. TDA organizations may contain both military personnel and General Service (GS) civilians, as well as civilian contractors. Unlike TOE units, TDA elements do not deploy, although its members may travel to combat zones on temporary duty (TDY) as individual augmentees.
AR 220-5 further states that “the designation of a TDA unit or activity will be sufficiently descriptive to identify the unit or activity with its command or agency, its mission, and/or its echelon of command.” Army TDA elements typically have “U.S. Army” in their designations, with certain exceptions (such as training units). Some examples of Army TDA organizations include:
- U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)
- U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
- U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS)
- Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion (SOATB)
- 1st Special Warfare Training Battalion
Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) has had two general officer-level TDA headquarters with non-conventional designations: 1st Special Operations Command (1983-1990) and 1st Special Forces Command (2014-present).