The Brigade Combat Team BCT Agenda Transformation Division

The Brigade Combat Team (BCT)

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 C 2 § BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities § BCT Medical Capabilities § Summary Active Component Brigade Combat Teams 2

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 3 -90. 6 Enabling Learning Objectives: A. B. C. Describe the basic units used to build the modular Army Describe the organization of the BCTs Describe the differences between the three different types of BCTs 3

References Brigade Roll-up • FM 3 -90. 6, The Brigade Combat Team, Aug 06 • FM-I 3 -90. 5, HBCT Maneuver Battalion, Jan 05 • FM 1 -02 (101 -5 -1), Operational Terms and Graphics, Sep 04 • FKSM 71 -8, Armor/Cavalry Reference Data, Brigade Combat Teams 4

Transformation Brigade Based Force to meet 21 st Century Challenges

Divisions = Army’s primary tactical warfighting headquarters Division’s principal task: C 2 over any mix of brigades

Brigade Roll Up Support Brigades • • 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

X x Infantry Heavy X Stryker Brigade Combat Teams for maneuver and close combat X X X SUST Maneuver Enhancement Aviation Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition Fires Sustainment Supporting Brigades extend depth and duration of land operations 8

Task Organization…a possibility MNFI MED Division/Corps MED 9

What is a Brigade Combat Team? q BCTs are: independently o The Army’s basic tactical maneuver units that can be committed ________ stability operations o Designed to conduct offensive, defensive, and ____ q The BCT core mission: close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver destroy or capture enemy forces, or to repel their attacks by fire, to _____ close combat ______ __, and counterattack augmentation , but it also can be q The BCT can fight without ________ tailored to meet the precise needs of its missions 10

What is a Brigade Combat Team? (continued) q BCTs are designed for expeditionary deployment, and can integrate the Joint , interagency, and multinational assets. efforts of the Army with _______ Command & ______ Control q BCT’s advanced _______ systems enable them to autonomous or semi-autonomous operations in larger areas conduct ________ of operations (AO) than the division brigades they replace. 11

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

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 Heavy BCT approximately 3, 800 Soldiers. It is organized to fight with combined arms at the company/team level. 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 Infantry BCT personnel strength is approximately 3, 400 Soldiers. 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 Stryker BCT 4, 000 Soldiers 14

Terrain/Capability Comparison Infantry BCT Stryker BCT Heavy BCT 15

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

BCT Organizations 17

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 18

BCT C 2 19

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BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities: A. Special Staff Officer B. Facilitates Medical Operations in the BCT C. health of the Command BCT Surgeon keeps the Commander informed of the _______ D. Assists with facilitating timely planning, integration and synchronization of the maneuver plan. Force Health Protection Plan with the BCT _____ E. Coordinates with the BSMC; Battalion Medical _______ Platoons / Sections; and other staff elements to ensure that Soldiers receive complete and comprehensive medical support. 21

BCT Medical Capabilities

Heavy Brigade Combat Team - HBCT HQ, HBCT S 4 / Brigade Surgeon Section

Brigade Special Troops Battalion

Brigade Special Troops Battalion PA Only

HBCT - 2 Combined Arms Battalions

Medical Platoon, HHC, Combined Arms Battalion

Reconnaissance Squadron

HHT, Recon Squadron, Medical Platoon

Fires (Field Artillery) Battalion HHB

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

Brigade Support Battalion BSB MH

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

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

Support Operations (SPO) Brigade Support Battalion

What we covered in this class 36

Summary Brigade Roll Up What is a Brigade Combat Team? Heavy BCT Infantry BCT Stryker BCT Battalion Organizations Brigade C 2 BCT Surgeon Role BCT Medical Capabilities 37

Questions? 38