Echelon. The echelon formation is used when the unit wants to maintain security or observation of one flank and enemy contact is unlikely. In the company echelon formation (left or right), the lead platoon positions farthest from the echeloned flank, with each subsequent platoon located to the rear of and outside the platoon in front of it.
One of several aspects of the battle that interest me is Epaminondas' use of a 'wedge' or echelon formation, the protruding columns arrayed 50 shields deep, this proved devastatingly successful, which indicates that sheer weight/mass played a role in phalanx combat, at least in this battle.
Such a general is a great subcommander but should never be considered in the top echelon of generals. Richard Gabriel correctly points out that his style of leading from the front is actually a major regression compared to his father. Caesar is a much better general than Alexander, he's also light years better than Napoleon.
An MPF operation may consist of one ship and an appropriate-sized Fly In Echelon (FIE) such as a Marine Expeditionary Unit, or at the other end of the scale, all three maritime prepositioning ship squadrons combined support a MEF sized unit.
See the proces initiated in the wake of Charlemagne (who created the standard framework for feudalism by combining the already existing tools of the Beneficia and Vassalage together as one) was that of "Bastard-feudalism": power was usurped by a lower echelon again and again till it was firmly vested in the hands of the "seigneurs" (so it has ...