I've answered my own question...at least for support "squad" and an 81mm mortar ...the troop strength equals the load cost of the device.
Each load point in a Device type 23 or 24 is a man and while the game's intel and recon system is based on Assault Value, the reality is that the combat equation accounts for each member of a squad rather than each squad. I actually think this is a flaw in the game's design. They doubled "Load"'s responsibilities. Load is used for logistics and for combat.
I use the Load to model the difference in support and supply requirements for different formations.
A Load 1 Inf Squad = 1 man
Support Req'd = 1
Basic Supply Req'd = 1
Assault Value (displayed) = 1
Combat value = 1 x whatever
Transport Load = 1
A Load 100 Inf "Squad" = 100 men
Support Req'd = 1
Basic Supply Req'd = 1
Assault Value (displayed) = 1
Combat value = 100 x whatever
Transport Load = 100
Another consideration is how much Manpower it takes to create each squad.
With the other Devices such as vehicles, arty etc., the load appears to be more about logistics than men. For example, I don't know of a tank in the world that requires a 25 man crew.
As far as the mix of support vs combat infantry, you can mod an American type of military with between 25-30% combat infantry or less sophisticated and logistics' driven force with reverse ratio.
Japs Allies
Squads Men % Squads Men %
Men in Squads 4,839,830 4,716,188
Squads 323,143 100.00% 368,144 100.00%
Engineers 13,413 268,260 5.54% 46,077 107,645 2.28%
Support 133,302 2,666,040 55.09% 150,518 3,010,360 63.8%
Aviation 19,090 190,900 3.94% 29,092 290,920 6.17%
Cmbt Engr 6,332 113,976 2.35% 3,557 38,852 0.82%
Pieces 50,861 254,305 5.25% 42,284 211,420 4.48%
Air Crews 9,143 17,782 0.37% 17,045 40,232 0.85%
Pilots 9,143 0.19% 17,045 0.36%
Ship Crews Haven't finished yet 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
HQ Staffs 17,880 89,400 1.85% 24,150 120,750 2.56%
Cmbt Inf 73,122 1,230,024 25.41% 55,421 878,964 18.64%
Regards,
Michael Fleshman