The Brigade Combat Team (BCT)The Brigade Combat Team (BCT)

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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

Active ComponentBrigade Combat Teams

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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

Learning Objectives

Enabling Learning Objectives:A. Describe the basic units used to build the modular ArmyB. Describe the organization of the BCTsC. Describe the differences between the three different types of BCTs

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References

• 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

Brigade Roll-up

TransformationBrigade Based Force to meet 21st Century Challenges

Divisions = Army’s primary tactical warfighting headquarters

Division’s principal task: C2 over any mix of brigades

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

Brigade Roll Up

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X

Stryker

X

Infantry

Brigade Combat Teams for maneuver and close combat

Supporting Brigades extend depth and duration of land operations

X

Aviation

X

Fires

X

ManeuverEnhancement

X

Reconnaissance,Surveillance,

Target Acquisition

X

Sustainment

Heavy

SUST

x

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Task Organization…a possibility

Division/CorpsMNFI

MED

MED MED

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What is a Brigade Combat Team?

BCTs are:

o The Army’s basic tactical maneuver units that can be committed _______________

o 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

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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

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smaller, more self-contained organizations …compared to “pre modularity” Brigades

XBrigadeBrigade

CombinedArms

ArmedRecon

CombinedArms

Fires Intelligence Engineer

MP/SecuritySignal Logistics

MP/Security

Chemical

A Ready and Relevant ForceA Ready and Relevant Force

Self Contained Unit

ELO D

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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.

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.

Heavy BCTHeavy BCT

Infantry BCTInfantry BCT

Stryker BCTStryker BCT

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

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Terrain/Capability ComparisonInfantry BCT

Stryker BCT

Heavy BCT

Heavy BCT Stryker BCT Infantry BCT

Full Spectrum Operations

Armored Vehicles with added mobility

Conduct Offensive, Defensive & Stability Operations

Suited for Restrictive Terrain

High Usage Rate of Supplies (CL III, IV, IX)

Restrictive Mobility in Mountainous Terrain & Dense Forest

Soldiers on the move are vulnerable to enemy fire

CBRNE attack

2 Maneuver BN’s 2 Maneuver BN’s3 Maneuver BN’s

Does not have firepower inherent with HBCT

Now has BSTB as of 09/10

Comparison of 3 BCT’s

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BCT BCT OrganizationsOrganizations

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• 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

BCT Organizations (Battalions)

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BCT C2BCT C2

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BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities:BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities:

A. Special Staff Officer

B. Facilitates Medical Operations in the BCT

C. BCT Surgeon keeps the Commander informed of the _______ of the Command

D. Assists with facilitating timely planning, integration and synchronization of the

Force Health Protection Plan with the BCT __________ plan.

E. Coordinates with the BSMC; Battalion _______ Platoons / Sections; and other staff

elements to ensure that Soldiers receive complete and comprehensive medical

support.

health

maneuver

Medical

BCT Medical CapabilitiesBCT Medical Capabilities

HQ, HBCT S4 / Brigade Surgeon Section

Heavy Brigade Combat Team - HBCT

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

HHB, Fires (Field Artillery) BattalionMedical Platoon

PA Only

BSB

Brigade Support Battalion

MH

Brigade Support Medical Company

PM

MH TXTX

Dental, PT, Rad, Lab Area Tx

Med Co

Slide 1 of 2

Brigade Support Medical Company Slide 2 of 2

TXTX EVAC

EVAC (AREA) BMSO

Support Operations (SPO)Brigade Support Battalion

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What we covered in this class

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SummarySummary

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

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Questions?Questions?