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Gentlemen,
Considering its an alien race which is changing and evolving faster than any known race in the 41st millenium, I don't think applying imperial standards or structure to the Tau warfare modus operandi is necessarily the right approach.
We do know that the Tau cadre is not equivilent to plattoon, battalion or any other RL structure. Cadre to the Tau, in fluff, is a battleforce if anything. Its an organization of several troops aligned to fight in a particular tactical engagement together. This is where Cadre comes from.
In 40K, this is represented by a single force org chart. Force org chart requirements force a minimum, 1 HQ and 2 Troop choices to align with the game structure and mechanics. A cadre in 40K is therefore a single 40K force org chart and players of 40K will realize that a 40K force org chart is based upon units, not E:A formations and has both mandatory and optional elements. For refrence, a 40K org chart is up to 2500 points of 40K units and looks like this:
1-2 HQ (note, some mandatory elements)
2-6 Troop (note, some mandatory elements)
0-3 Elite
0-3 Fast Attack (FA)
0-3 Heavy Support (HS)
So if we look at a 40K force org chart - that could be 1 HQ character and 2 Troop units at minimum in order to have a cadre in 40K...
1 HQ = Ethereal model
Troop1 = 6 Firewarriors
Troop 2 = 6 Firewarriors
(For reference: That would equate to 2 E:A units with a character upgrade in a unit)
As a 40K Tau Cadre could all possible choices with fully maxed out units, a 40K Tau Cadre could also look like this:
HQ1 = Shas'o + 2 drones + 3 crisis + 6 drones
HQ2 = Shas'o + 2 drones + 3 crisis + 6 drones
Troop1 = 11 Fw + 1 Shas'ui + 2 Drones + Devilfish
Troop2 = 11 Fw + 1 Shas'ui + 2 Drones + Devilfish
Troop3 = 11 Fw + 1 Shas'ui + 2 Drones + Devilfish
Troop4 = 11 Fw + 1 Shas'ui + 2 Drones + Devilfish
Troop5 = 12 Human Auxiliaries
Troop6 = 19 Kroot + 1 Shaper
Elite1 = 3 Crisis + 6 Drones
Elite2 = 3 Crisis + 6 Drones
Elite3 = 5 Stealth + 1 Shas'ui Stealth + 2 Drones
FA1 = 8 Gun Drones
FA2 = 4 Tetras
FA3 = 7 Pathfinders + 1 Shas'ui + 2 Drones + Devilfish
HS1 = Railgun Hammerhead
HS2 = Ion Cannon Hammerhead
HS3 = 3 Broadsides + 6 Drones
(for reference, this would equate to something like 20+ E:A stands of troops/infantry and, 2 tanks, 8 APCs, and 4 LV tetras - or 34 E:A units)
Now, from a game play perspective, we know E:A doesn't look at 40K and simply port it over, it does uses that established franchise as a basis though.
We also have a precident from several other lists. Their 'companies', mobs, or 'core' formations in E:A aren't necessarily legal force org charts in 40K either. Their upgrades usually allow them to get quite close though.
So we have to take some creative liberties in E:A list development and be mindful that E:A is a differnet game from 40K - that's true. We also have to be mindful that we have a franchise, a precident from other E:A lists, new unit types in E:A that don't exist in any other part of the franchise due to the scale increase, and overall balance / game play considerations to manage as well.
We also need to realize that E:A is not historical battles. It's not Napoleonics, WWII D-day, Roman Phalanx tactics, US modern warefare, cowboys and indians, or whatever... - their are games which are designed specifically for all of that.
For better or worse, this is the 41st millenium of a Games Workship universe. Outside of established precidents within that universe - its all make-believe and fanciful constructs which we all love to varying degrees (BFG, E:A, 40K, etc). It has nothing to do with battalions, platoons, etc beyond what a given make believe race believes in. IG are all over this way of thinking for example. Chaos, Dark Eldar, Tau, Eldar, Necrons, Orcs on the other hand could give a crap about such philosopies!
The 41st millenium is an established franchise which uses 40K as its basis. BFG, Space Hulk, and Epic are all extentions of this franachise as 40K battles are scaled or put into new environments. As much as it may hurt some of us to contemplate such possibilities, it is the reality or fantasy realm, we are working within.
In this regard, the army list for E:A Tau WIP v4.2.4 as well as IG, Orcs, Swordwind Eldar and Black legion 3.7 for that matter, work at a formation level with an upgrade mentality, effectively function in the E:A game system Jervis has created, and fit within these other constraints and established precidents we have the responsibility to adhere too.
_________________
Rob
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And of course the Bushido Code and Buddism is very Tau-ish ! 
). You do cross-attachments with your Mech and Tank companies, ending up with e.g. a Tank-heavy team of 3 tank platoons and 1 mech inf platoon, further supported by some Forward Observers and Engineers. In this way of making war at the battalion level (Epic level), you don't play with single squads. Your company COs can use the additional blocks, but your platoon leaders can concentrate on fighting their platoon, instead of babysitting some unfamiliar attachment.
Again Tac, "Do what works for you"! And in writing official Dogma - go with what Jervis wants ! I get where you're coming from ! 
? ?But as I think about it Col. S, makes a good point, 40K rules (in this case army lists), conflicts with Epic lists ... again if I'm reading "the Col.", correctly ? ?Just like Jervis wants an Epic Firefight in E:A to = a 40K game ? ? So it's not hard to see "that being all things to all people" ... may be easier said than done ! ?
? But Do what works for you ... not me ! ?
?And produce the best set of official T&K rules as possible !
The list works and that is the official way the E:A Tau will work ... And I fully understand that the lists (IG, SM, etc.) reflect the 40K Universe ... as best it can... 
And the official lists/rule reflect Jervis's guidance ... I'll remember this in the future !