Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team (BCT) is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. Brigade combat teams are generally commanded by a colonel (O-6), in some rare instances they will be commanded by a brigadier general. A brigade combat team carries with it support units necessary to sustain its operations separate from its parent division. BCTs contain organic artillery support, formerly received from the division artillery (DIVARTY).
Currently, the U.S. Army is converting its brigades into the new Brigade Combat Team (BCT) program [1]. In this program, divisions that generally have not deployed individual brigades due to lack of integral support (1st Armored Division, 25th Infantry Division, etc.) have been restructured, giving them the ability to deploy one or more BCTs anywhere in the world. These BCTs will be able to stand on their own just like a mini-division; however, the soldiers assigned to a BCT will stay at their assignment for 3 years. This is intended to bolster readiness and improve unit cohesion.
Infantry Brigade Combat Team
The Infantry Brigade Combat Team is organized around 2 Battalions of Infantry. Each type of Brigade (Light Infantry, Air Assault, or Airborne) have the same basic organization. Each Infantry Brigade is capable of Air Assault Operations, whether or not it is officially designated as an Air Assault Brigade. Also, most units typically maneuver in HMMWVs when deployed and operate as "Motorized Infantry" to facilitate speed of movement. The Infantry Brigade Combat Team consist 2 Infantry Battalions and 1 each Reconnaissance (Cavalry), Fires (Artillery), Special Troops, and Support Battalions.
Infantry Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Medical Platoon
- Reconnaissance Platoon
- Sniper Section
- Mortar Platoon
- Rifle Company (x 3)
- Rifle Platoon (x 3)
- Mortar Section
- Motorized Heavy Weapons Company
- Heavy Weapons Platoon (x 4)
Each Infantry Brigade Combat Team consists of two Infantry Battalions. These two battalions will be the primary maneuver elements of the brigade and will each consist of around 650 personnel.
Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron
- Headquarters and Headquarters Troop
- Mounted Reconnaissance Troop with HMMWVs (x 2)
- Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop
- Surveillance Troop
Fires Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
- 105mm Towed Firing Battery (x 2)
- Target Acquisition Section
Brigade Special Troops Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Support Platoon
- CBRN Reconnaissance Platoon
- Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Military Intelligence Company
- Network Signal Company
- Combat Engineer Company
The Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) is a new formation of the Army. It is designed to provide command and control to the brigade combat support companies (Intel and Signal) and any company-sized attachments (such as Air Defense Artillery or Military Police).
Brigade Support Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Distribution Company
- Maintenance Company
- Medical Company
- Forward Support Company (Infantry) (x 2)
- Forward Support Company (Reconnaissance and Surveillance)
- Forward Support Company (Fires)
Stryker Brigade Combat Team
The Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) is a Mechanised infantry force structured around the Stryker 8-wheeled variant of the General Dynamics LAV III, chosen as "Interim Armored Vehicle" for the US Army. A full Stryker brigade was intended to be C-130 Hercules air transportable into theatre within 96 hours, while a division sized force is expected to need 120 hours. The Stryker program was The Stryker Brigade is an organic combined arms unit of light armoured vehicles, and is organized differently than the Infantry or Heavy Brigade Combat Teams. The Stryker brigades are being used to implement Network-centric warfare doctrines, and are intended to fill a gap between USA's highly mobile light infantry and its much heavier armoured infantry. The BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program is the planned successor of the Interim Armoured Vehicle.
Each Stryker Brigade Combat Team consists of 3 Infantry Battalions, 1 Reconnaissance (Cavalry) Squadron, 1 Fires (Artillery) Battalion, 1 Brigade Support Battalion, 1 Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1 Network Support Company, 1 Military Intelligence Company, 1 Engineer Company, and 1 Anti-Tank Company. Unlike the Infantry and Heavy BCT's there is not a Brigade Special Troops Battalion nor Forward Support Companies in the Brigade Support Battalion for the five maneuver elements.
Infantry Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Infantry Company (Stryker) (x 3)
Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron
- Headquarters and Headquarters Troop
- Mounted Reconnaissance Troop (Stryker) (x 3)
- Surveillance Troop
Fires Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
- 155mm Towed Firing Battery (x 3)
Brigade Support Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Distribution Company
- Maintenance Company
- Medical Company
Individual Companies
- Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Military Intelligence Company
- Network Signal Company
- Combat Engineer Company
- Anti-Tank Company
Stryker Vehicles
- M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle
- M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicle
- M1128 Mobile Gun System armed with 105mm overhead gun for direct fire
- M1129 Mortar Carrier armed with 120 mm or 81mm Mortar
- M1130 Command Vehicle
- M1131 Fire Support Vehicle (FSV) with targeting and surveillance sensors
- M1132 Engineer Support Vehicle (ESV)
- M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV)
- M1134 Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle (ATGM) armed with TOW missile
- M1135 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBC RV)
- Mxxxx Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) has not progressed from successful prototype testing
Heavy Brigade Combat Team
The Heavy Brigade Combat Team is the Army's primary armored force. It will be designed around Combined Arms Battalions that contain both M1 Abrams Tanks and M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). In the future it will also contain vehicles from the BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program. The Heavy Brigade Combat Team consist of 2 Combined Arms Battalions and 1 each Armed Reconnaissance (Cavalry), Fires (Artillery), Special Troops, and Support Battalions.
Combined Arms Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Medical Platoon
- Reconnaissance Platoon
- Sniper Section
- Mortar Platoon
- Tank Company (x 2)
- Tank Platoon (x 3)
- Mechanized Infantry Company (x 2)
- Mechanized Infantry Platoon (x 3)
- Mechanized Combat Engineer Company
Armored Reconnaissance Squadron
- Headquarters and Headquarters Troop
- Reconnaissance Troop (x 3)
- Scout Platoon (x 2)
- M2 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (x 3)
- M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV w/ Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3) (x 5)
- 120mm Mortar Section
- Scout Platoon (x 2)
Fires Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
- 155mm SP Firing Battery (x 2)
- Target Acquisition Section
Brigade Special Troops Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Military Police Platoon
- CBRN Reconnaissance Platoon
- Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Military Intelligence Company
- Network Signal Company
Brigade Support Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Distribution Company
- Maintenance Company
- Medical Company
- Forward Support Company (Combined Arms) (x 2)
- Forward Support Company (Fires)
- Forward Support Company (Reconnaissance and Surveillance)
Modernization
The U.S. Army plans to implement elements of the BCT Modernization program in 2010. This program utilizes elements from the Future Combat Systems program that was canceled in early 2009.
The program comes in two segments. The first to be implemented would be the Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team Capability Package (Early IBCT Package) which would modernize Infantry brigade combat teams. The second to be implemented would be the Follow On Incremental Capability package which could modernize all Brigades.
See also
- United States Army
- Transformation of the United States Army
- USMC Marine Air-Ground Task Force, for comparison
- British Army Future Army Structure (Next Steps), for comparison
- MOWAG Piranha derived vehicles used by other forces
References
- FM 3-20.96 Reconnaissance Squadron
- FM 3-21.20 Infantry Battalion
- FM 3-90.6 Brigade Combat Team
- FM 3-90.61 Brigade Special Troops Battalion