The Galactic Empire, among other governments, utilized platoons within their military structures.
A platoon represented a smaller grouping of soldiers within various armed forces across the galaxy. Examples include the Grand Army of the Republic, the Separatist Droid Army, and even the Stormtrooper Corps. During the time of the New Republic Era, the Corporate Sector Authority established its own army comprised of CSA troopers, organized into platoons along with other types of military formations. A fully staffed CSA platoon consisted of twenty troopers, while a CSA company was structured with three platoons.
Platoons functioned as military units within the Grand Army of the Republic, the Separatist Droid Army, and the Galactic Empire's Stormtrooper Corps. In the Galactic Republic's Grand Army, a single company incorporated four platoons, each containing thirty-six soldiers. These platoons were further broken down into four squads each. A clone lieutenant held command over each platoon. The Stormtrooper Corps structured its platoons with five squads, resulting in a total of fifty stormtroopers per platoon. An Imperial company was made up of four platoons. The Corporate Sector Authority's army organized companies into three platoons; at its full strength, each platoon had twenty CSA troopers. IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tanks could also be arranged into platoon formations.
Following their victory against the Sith, the Galactic Republic did not see the necessity for a large standing army. However, smaller defense forces, such as the Republic Defense Coalition and the Judicial Forces, were maintained to safeguard the Republic's interests. A platoon of Republic peacekeeping troops was sent to the sacred moon of Jedha in 382 BBY after "the Mother" of the Path of the Open Hand manipulated events leading to the Battle of Jedha. This platoon, along with a group of Jedi, intervened to stop the conflict. As the Clone Wars erupted, the Republic established a new Republic Military for its defense. During the conflict on Umbara, the Umbaran Militia ambushed a clone trooper platoon from the 501st Legion, which was under the command of Clone Captain Rex and Jedi General Pong Krell during the Battle of Umbara. During the Battle of Ringo Vinda, a platoon of B2 super rocket troopers launched an attack against the forces of the Galactic Republic.
While participating in a training exercise at the Arkanis Academy, Zare Leonis was a member of the Cresh-3 Platoon. During the time of the Galactic Civil War, Imperial Commander Dreed deployed a platoon of stormtroopers via a Sentinel-class landing craft to the planet Sullust. Their mission was to capture Princess Leia Organa, who was attempting to rescue an Alderaan Enclave located on the planet. This platoon attacked the Alderaanians within the enclave, but they were ultimately defeated and killed when Organa directed a stampede of rockrenders into the fray.
The Sith Lord Darth Vader made use of a droid factory to manufacture two platoons of BX-series droid commandos. He then led these platoons in an assault on the research base belonging to the scientist Doctor Cylo. One of these platoons was destroyed during the attack by Morit Astarte and Aiolin Astarte, twins who had been enhanced with cybernetics by Cylo in an attempt to replace Vader.
The Imperial remnant under the leadership of Moff Gideon possessed a platoon of dark troopers, but these were destroyed by the Mandalorian Din Djarin and the Jedi Luke Skywalker. During the New Republic Era, Viceprex Coromun was instructed by his commanding officer, Steadfast, to provide three platoons—amounting to a full company—of CSA troopers to assist Ochi, a Jedi hunter, in his search for Dathan, Miramir, and Rey.