1. The Brigade Combat Team (BCT)
Today we will discuss the essential building block of firepower in the U.S. Army; the brigade. In particular we will address the divisional and separate heavy maneuver brigade and the modular BCT. We will look at the organization and capability of the three BCTs. The BCTs are the basic building blocks of firepower in our army. In order to employ the power that they possess, you must first understand their organization and capabilities. Your ability to understand the BCTs capabilities and limitations along with how they are employed will allow you to develop feasible, suitable, and acceptable operations orders or operations plans. The material we are about to cover in this lesson will give you an understanding on how brigades are structured. FM

2. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
Agenda
Transformation – Division Centric to Brigade Centric Force Structure
Brigade Roll Up
What is a Brigade Combat Team?
BCT Capabilities
Comparison of 3 BCT’s
BCT Organizations
BCT C2
BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities
BCT Medical Capabilities
Summary
FM 3-0, pgs 5-15 to 5-17
a. BOS. The BOS are the physical means (soldiers, organizations, and equipment) used to accomplish the mission. After the concept of operations is developed it is synchronized using the BOS.
b. Intelligence. The intelligence system plans, directs, collects, processes, produces, and disseminates intelligence on the threat and environment to perform IPB and other intelligence tasks.
c. Maneuver. Maneuver systems (infantry, armor, cavalry, and aviation forces) move to gain positions of advantage against enemy forces.
d. Fire Support. FS consists of fires that directly support land, maritime, amphibious, and special operations forces in engaging enemy forces, and facilities in support of tactical and operational objectives.
e. Air Defense. The AD system protects the force from air and missile attack and aerial surveillance.
f. Mobility, Countermobility and Survivability. Mobility operations preserve friendly freedom of maneuver. Countermobility denies mobility to enemy forces. Survivability operations protect friendly forces from the effects of enemy weapon systems.
g. Combat Service Support. CSS includes many technical specialties and functional activities that provide the physical means for forces to operate. CSS is present across the range of military operations, at all levels of war.
h. Command and Control. C2 has two components—the commander and the C2 system. The C2 systems are the communications systems, intelligence systems, and computer networks that allow the commander to lead from any point on the battlefield.
Active Component
Brigade Combat Teams
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

3. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
Learning Objectives
Terminal Learning Objective:
ACTION: Describe the organization and capabilities of U.S. Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) in the Contemporary Operating Environment (COE).
CONDITIONS: Given information on the organization and capabilities of the BCT from both readings and classroom instruction
STANDARDS: To correctly identify the major differences in organization and capabilities of the three types of modular BCTs IAW FM
Enabling Learning Objectives:
Describe the basic units used to build the modular Army
B. Describe the organization of the BCTs
Describe the differences between the three different types of BCTs
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

4. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
Brigade Roll-up
References
FM , The Brigade Combat Team, Aug 06
FM-I , HBCT Maneuver Battalion, Jan 05
FM 1-02 ( ), Operational Terms and Graphics, Sep 04
FKSM 71-8, Armor/Cavalry Reference Data, Brigade Combat Teams
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

5. Transformation Brigade Based Force to meet 21st Century Challenges

6. Divisions = Army’s primary tactical warfighting headquarters
Division’s principal task: C2 over any mix of brigades

7. Brigade Roll Up Support Brigades Brigade Combat Teams
Combat Aviation Brigades
Fires Brigades
Battlefield Surveillance Brigades
Sustainment Brigades
Engineer Brigades
EOD Brigades
Signal Brigades
Brigade Combat Teams
Heavy BCTs
Infantry BCTs
Stryker BCTs
Medical Brigades
Air Defense Brigades
Military Police Brigades
Military Intelligence Brigade

8. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017 x X
Infantry X
Stryker
Heavy
Brigade Combat Teams for maneuver and close combat X X X
Aviation X
Fires X
SUST
MCG- mobile command group
TAC – Tactical Command Post (Division specific)
Sustainment
Maneuver
Enhancement
Reconnaissance,
Surveillance,
Target Acquisition
Supporting Brigades extend depth and duration of land operations
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

9. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
Task Organization…a possibility
MNFI
Division/Corps
LRAS3 - Long-range Advanced Scout Surveillance System
MED
MED
MED
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

10. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
What is a Brigade Combat Team?
BCTs are:
The Army’s basic tactical maneuver units that can be committed _______________
Designed to conduct offensive, defensive, and ________ operations
The BCT core mission: close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver to _________ or capture enemy forces, or to repel their attacks by fire, ____________ __, and counterattack
The BCT can fight without _______________ , but it also can be tailored to meet the precise needs of its missions
independently
stability
destroy
close combat
augmentation
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

11. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
What is a Brigade Combat Team?
(continued)
BCTs are designed for expeditionary deployment, and can integrate the efforts of the Army with _______ , interagency, and multinational assets.
BCT’s advanced _____________ & ____________ systems enable them to conduct _______________ or semi-autonomous operations in larger areas of operations (AO) than the division brigades they replace.
Joint
Command Control
autonomous
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

12. Self Contained Unit smaller, more self-contained organizations …
compared to “pre modularity” Brigades X
Brigade
Combined
Arms
Armed
Recon
Fires
Intelligence
Engineer
MP/Security
Signal
Logistics
Chemical
A Ready and Relevant Force
ELO D

13. Tailorable Command and Control Functional Array, not pure Hierarchy
Current
Transformed
XXXX
Army
Operational HQ
CORPS
XXX
Division-
Level HQ
Army & Joint Support
In AOR
Migrating functions and capabilities to lower levels
Primary
Warfighter
DIV XX
BCT
Battles &
Engagements
BDE X
Functional Array, not pure Hierarchy

14. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
The HBCT is the Army’s heaviest BCT, and is organized with armored and mechanized units. It is capable of defeating the military forces of any country when battling force-on-force. Its personnel strength is approximately 3,800 Soldiers. It is organized to fight with combined arms at the company/team level.
Heavy BCT
The IBCT is the Army’s lightest BCT, and is organized around dismounted infantry, capable of airborne or air assault operations. It is designed to operate in restricted terrain. Its personnel strength is approximately 3,400 Soldiers.
Infantry BCT
NSC = NETWORK SUPPORT COMPANY
The SBCT (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) combines the deployability of an IBCT with the mobility of a HBCT. It is designed around three infantry battalions and has approximately 4,000 Soldiers
Stryker BCT
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

15. Terrain/Capability Comparison
Infantry BCT
Stryker BCT
Heavy BCT

16. Comparison of 3 BCT’s Heavy BCT Stryker BCT Infantry BCT
Full Spectrum Operations
Conduct Offensive, Defensive & Stability Operations
Armored Vehicles with added mobility
Suited for Restrictive Terrain
High Usage Rate of Supplies (CL III, IV, IX)
Soldiers on the move are vulnerable to enemy fire CBRNE attack
Restrictive Mobility in Mountainous Terrain & Dense Forest
2 Maneuver BN’s
3 Maneuver BN’s
2 Maneuver BN’s
Does not have firepower inherent with HBCT
Now has BSTB as of 09/10

17. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
BCT
Organizations
LRAS3 - Long-range Advanced Scout Surveillance System
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

18. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
BCT Organizations (Battalions)
Combined Arms Battalion (CAB) – the Brigade’s primary maneuver force; design is “ 2 by 2”, 2 x tank companies & 2 x infantry companies
Reconnaissance Squadron (RSTA) – designed to provide accurate and timely information across the AO; 3 ground recon companies
Fires Battalion – provides heavy firepower for the brigade (field artillery)
Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) – organic sustainment unit of the Brigade; BSMC, S&D Co., FMC, and 4 x FSC’s per maneuver battalion
Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) – network support company, military intelligence company, military police (security), and CBRNE assets
LRAS3 - Long-range Advanced Scout Surveillance System
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

19. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
BCT C2
LRAS3 - Long-range Advanced Scout Surveillance System
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

20. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
LRAS3 - Long-range Advanced Scout Surveillance System
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

21. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities:
Special Staff Officer
Facilitates Medical Operations in the BCT
BCT Surgeon keeps the Commander informed of the _______ of the Command
Assists with facilitating timely planning, integration and synchronization of the Force Health Protection Plan with the BCT __________ plan.
Coordinates with the BSMC; Battalion _______ Platoons / Sections; and other staff elements to ensure that Soldiers receive complete and comprehensive medical support.
health
maneuver
LRAS3 - Long-range Advanced Scout Surveillance System
Medical
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

22. BCT Medical Capabilities

23. Heavy Brigade Combat Team - HBCT
HQ, HBCT S4 / Brigade Surgeon Section

24. Brigade Special Troops Battalion

25. Brigade Special Troops Battalion
PA Only

26. HBCT - 2 Combined Arms Battalions

27. Medical Platoon, HHC, Combined Arms Battalion

28. Reconnaissance Squadron

29. HHT, Recon Squadron, Medical Platoon

30. Fires (Field Artillery) Battalion
HHB

31. HHB, Fires (Field Artillery) Battalion
Medical Platoon
HHB
PA Only

32. Brigade Support Battalion
BSB MH

33. Brigade Support Medical Company
Slide 1 of 2
Med Co PM MH TX TX
Dental, PT, Rad, Lab
Area Tx

34. Brigade Support Medical Company
Slide 2 of 2 TX TX
EVAC
EVAC (AREA)
BMSO

35. Support Operations (SPO) Brigade Support Battalion

36. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
What we covered in this class
This slide illustrates the brigade combat team design. The heavy brigade (on top) and the infantry brigade (on the bottom) are new modular designs. The Stryker brigade design preceded the heavy and infantry designs, and is now serving with distinction in OIF.
The subordinate forces are organic to each of the three brigade combat teams, as opposed to tailored.
Some important characteristics. Each brigade combat team has an organic reconnaissance squadron, artillery battalion, signal, and UAVs.
The heavy and infantry brigades have two organic maneuver battalions, as opposed to the Stryker’s three. The heavy brigade maneuver battalions are combined arms battalions with 2 tank companies and two mech companies.
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

37. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
Summary
Brigade Roll Up
What is a Brigade Combat Team?
Heavy BCT
Infantry BCT
Stryker BCT
Battalion Organizations
Brigade C2
BCT Surgeon Role
BCT Medical Capabilities
FM 3-0, pgs 5-15 to 5-17
a. BOS. The BOS are the physical means (soldiers, organizations, and equipment) used to accomplish the mission. After the concept of operations is developed it is synchronized using the BOS.
b. Intelligence. The intelligence system plans, directs, collects, processes, produces, and disseminates intelligence on the threat and environment to perform IPB and other intelligence tasks.
c. Maneuver. Maneuver systems (infantry, armor, cavalry, and aviation forces) move to gain positions of advantage against enemy forces.
d. Fire Support. FS consists of fires that directly support land, maritime, amphibious, and special operations forces in engaging enemy forces, and facilities in support of tactical and operational objectives.
e. Air Defense. The AD system protects the force from air and missile attack and aerial surveillance.
f. Mobility, Countermobility and Survivability. Mobility operations preserve friendly freedom of maneuver. Countermobility denies mobility to enemy forces. Survivability operations protect friendly forces from the effects of enemy weapon systems.
g. Combat Service Support. CSS includes many technical specialties and functional activities that provide the physical means for forces to operate. CSS is present across the range of military operations, at all levels of war.
h. Command and Control. C2 has two components—the commander and the C2 system. The C2 systems are the communications systems, intelligence systems, and computer networks that allow the commander to lead from any point on the battlefield.
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister

38. Brigade Fight Introduction
4/15/2017
Questions?
CLC3 Tactics POC: CPT Hollister