256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
| 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team | |
|---|---|
| File:256 INF BDE SSI..gif 256th Infantry Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia | |
| Active | Dec 1967-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Louisiana Army National Guard |
| Type | Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | Approx. 3,300 |
| Garrison/HQ | Lafayette, Louisiana (Headquarters) |
| Nickname(s) | Tiger Brigade |
| Engagements | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Col. Jonathan Ball |
The 256th Infantry Brigade, also known as the Tiger Brigade, is an enhanced brigade of the Louisiana Army National Guard. It is headquartered at Lafayette, Louisiana.
History
Three elements of the 256th Infantry Brigade: the 156th Infantry Regiment; the 108th Cavalry Regiment; and the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment, The Washington Artillery of New Orleans, trace their history all the way back to the American Civil War where they fought mainly in the eastern theater under Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. In September, 1838, the Washington Artillery of New Orleans was founded. Its emblem was an irate tiger over crossed cannons, with the motto "Try Us" created by James B. Walton in 1846. During the Civil War, most units were referred to as Lee's Tigers or Louisiana Tigers and became the mascot for the Louisiana State University (Louisiana State University), also known as the "Old War Skule".
The 256th's patch
The 256th Infantry Brigade patch is a "fleur-de-lis," reflecting on Louisiana's legacy as a French colony until the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The saltire or blue 'X' behind the Fleur-de-lis can be interpreted as symbolizing the symbol used on military maps to represent a brigade or the south's penchant for confederated rather than centralized government. (ie; St. Andrew's cross from the Confederate battle flag.)
Hurricane Katrina
The 256th Infantry Brigade was sent to New Orleans to aid Law Enforcement and help with the rescue efforts during hurricane Katrina. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the 256th Infantry Brigade was then tasked with the mission of aiding the New Orleans Police Department (also being assisted by the Louisiana State Police) in combating the rise of looting and other crime and the loss of law enforcement officers in the New Orleans Police Department.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
During train up for operations, spring, summer and fall of 2004, the 256th Infantry Brigade was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas and the did an NTC rotation at Fort Irwin, California. Fort Hood and Fort Irwin are both some of the largest army bases within the continental U.S. the latter located in the Mojave Desert is larger than the state of Rhode Island. From there the unit flew from England Air Park in Alexandria, Louisiana to Bangor, Maine then to Ramstein Air Base in Germany and finally to Kuwait City, Kuwait. The brigade spent another month training in the Desert of Camp Buehring, Kuwait prior to moving into Iraq.
In 2004-5 the 256th Brigade was sent to Iraq as part of OIF III (Operation Iraqi Freedom III, the third U.S. military rotation of forces into the area of operations). It served under the 1st Cavalry Division for its first five months and its last several months under the 3rd Infantry Division. During the first half of its combat tour in Iraq some of the brigades subordinate units also served under the 10th Mountain Division. The brigade served in and around Baghdad, Iraq in a FOB (forward operating base) known originally as FOB Victory until 15 June 2004. At this date FOB Victory name was changed to FOB Liberty because on this date the Iraqi government officially "stood up". Upon the 256th's arrival at North Liberty it became Camp Tigerland. During operations in theater the brigade operated under the configuration of one-third heavy and two-thirds light.
Each battalion in the brigade had one company of heavy forces with M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, or a mixture of the two. The other two thirds operated primarily from HMMMV Gun Trucks that mounted either machine guns or automatic grenade launchers. The field artillery battalion was cannibalized to bring the infantry battalions up to full strength. The remainder of the Washington Artillery was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division Base Defense Operations Center (BDOC) under the command of the 103rd Field Artillery Brigade and the XVIII Airborne Corps. Additionally, Task Force Bengal was "stood up" as a liaison/training team to equip, train and assist the 40th Iraqi National Guard (ING) Brigade. TF Bengal consisted of soldiers and officers of the infantry, field artillery, and engineer units from the Brigade as well as the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment (United States)aka(The Fighting 69th)from New York City which had been attached for the deployment. On February 21, 2005, the 40th ING Brigadde assumed authority for approximately 16 square kilometers in and around Al Akadhimian and began patrolling with approximately 2800 soldiers.
The 256th lost 32 soldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom. [1]
Organization
Task Organization History
Until 2006, the 256th Brigade was a "Heavy" brigade that consisted of 2 mechanized infantry battalions (2nd & 3rd Battalions, 156th Infantry Regiment) each equipped with 44 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 1 armor battalion (1st Battalion, 156th Armored Regiment) equipped with 44 Abrams Main Battle Tanks, and a self-propelled artillery battalion (1st Battalion, 141st Artillery Regiment) that was equipped with (18) 155 mm howitzers. This was known as a HBCT (Heavy Brigade Combat Team). As of 01 September 2006, the 256th Brigade is transitioning to a light configuration of two infantry battalions plus a battalion of towed artillery and one support light cavalry squadron. This new organization is known as an IBCT (Infantry Brigade Combat Team) which will have a little over 3 and a half thousand soldiers when at full strength. The HBCT and IBCT along with the SBCT (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) are to be the three organizations that will make up the future army's ground force maneuver units that will project combat power on land.
The old task organization of the 256th brigade was 6 mechanized infantry companies of 14 IFV(s) each, 3 armor companies of 14 tanks each and 3 batteries of 155 mm self propelled artillery cannons with 6 howitzers each. In addition the armor and both mechanized infantry battalions had two vehicles (tank or Bradley) set aside for the battalion commander and the battalion operations officer.
The new task organization will be 6 light infantry companies, 2 anti-tank companies armed with TOW missiles, 2 mounted recon troops, 1 dismounted recon troop, and 2 batteries of towed artillery with 105 mm cannons with 8 cannons each. The brigade will also have a support battalion and a special troops battalion for CS/CSS (Combat Support/Combat Service Support). These 2 battalions will possess support units such as signal, intelligence, military police, combat engineers, transportation, quartermaster (supply), maintenance, and medical.
2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry
The 1st Battalion, 156th Armor, headquarters Shreveport, Louisiana in Caddo Parish, has been decommissioned and replaced by the brigade's newest battalion, the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry as of September, 2006. The mission of the 2-108th CAV is to provide the 256th IBCT with reconnaissance and early warning during combat operations.
The new organization of the 256th IBCT will be easier to transport via fixed and rotary winged aircraft as there is no piece of equipment that approaches the 68-ton weight of an Abrams tank or the 26.5-ton weight of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. This will also make the unit cheaper to equip and maintain as the Abrams at $6 million a piece is one of the most expensive land vehicles in the US Army.
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Current Organization
2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry
The 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry is headquartered in Abbeville, Louisiana in Vermilion Parish. It consists of the following:
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) located in Abbeville, LA with a detachment in Jeanerette, LA.
- Company A (Rifle) located in Breaux Bridge, LA with a detachment in Plaquemine, LA.
- Company B (Rifle) located in New Iberia, LA with a detachment in Franklin, LA.
- Company C (Rifle) located in Houma, LA.
- Company D (Weapons) located in Thibodaux, LA.
- Company E (FSC from 199th BSB) located in Jeanerette, LA with a detachment in Abbeville, LA.
3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry
The 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry is headquartered in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It consists of the following:
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) located in Lake Charles, LA.
- Company A (Rifle) located in DeQuincy, LA with a detachment in DeRidder, LA.
- Company B (Rifle) located in Pineville, LA (Camp Beauregard) with a detachment in Oakdale, LA.
- Company C (Rifle) located in Crowley, LA with detachments in Jennings, LA and Eunice, LA.
- Company D (Weapons)
- Company E (FSC from 199th BSB)
1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery
The 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery "Washington Artillery", provides support by fire to the 256th IBCT and has its headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana (Orleans Parish).
- Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB) located in New Orleans, LA.
- Battery A
- Battery B
- Company C (FSC from 199th BSB)
2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry
The 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry is headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana. 2nd Squadron provides the 256th IBCT with both mounted and dismounted reconnaissance assets. It consists of the following:
- Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT) located in Shreveport, Louisiana.
- Troop A located in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
- Troop B located in Shreveport, Louisiana.
- Troop C located in Coushatta, Louisiana.
- Company D (FSC from 199th BSB) located in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1088th Brigade Special Troops Battalion
The 1088th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) headquarters is located at Plaquemine, Louisiana in Iberville Parish. The 1088th provides the brigade with its combat engineer, military intelligence, and signal support. The 1088th BSTB also provides C2 to the Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) (IBCT) (Brigade HQ) located in Lafayette, LA.
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) (BSTB) (Battalion HQ) located in Plaquemine, LA.
- Military Intelligence Company located in Lafayette, LA.
- Signal Company
- Engineer Company
199th Brigade Support Battalion
The 199th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) provides the 256th IBCT with most of its logistical, maintenance, and transport support, is headquartered at Alexandria, Louisiana in Rapides Parish.
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) located in Alexandria, LA.
- Maintenance Company
- Medical Support Company
- Supply and Distribution Company
- Forward Support Companies (FSC) - The FSCs are technically part of the 199th BSB, but remain habitually attached to the battalions they support. There are four FSCs in the brigade organized for the particular formation they support.
- - Infantry Forward Support Company (E Company in 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry).
- - Infantry Forward Support Company (E Company in 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry).
- - Fires Forward Support Company (C Company in 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery).
- - Reconnaissance Forward Support Company (D Company in 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry).
Training sites
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Weapons of the 256th
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Vehicles used
References
- FM 3-90.6 The Brigade Combat Team (August, 2006)
- FM 71-3 Tank & Mechanized Infantry Brigade
- FM 71-2 Tank & Mechanized Infantry Battalion Task Force
- FM 71-1 Tank & Mechanized Infantry Company/ Combat Team
External links
- Louisiana National Guard Official Homepage
- Global Security page on 256th Infantry Brigade
- Global Security page on Louisiana National Guard
- Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT)
- Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT)
- Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT)
