Brigade Combat Team (United States)

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Contents 1 Brigade Combat Teams 2 Infantry Brigade Combat Team 2.1 Infantry Battalion 2.2 Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron 2.3 Fires Battalion 2.4 Brigade Special Troops Battalion 2.5 Brigade Support Battalion 3 Heavy Brigade Combat Team 3.1 Combined Arms Battalion 3.2 Armed Reconnaissance Squadron 3.3 Fires Battalion 3.4 Brigade Special Troops Battalion 3.5 Brigade Support Battalion 4 Stryker Brigade Combat Team 4.1 Infantry Battalion 4.2 Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron 4.3 Fires Battalion 4.4 Brigade Support Battalion 4.5 Individual Companies 5 See Also 6 References

[edit] Brigade Combat Teams

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 branched 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. Some BCTs contain organic air and artillery support separate from the division air/division artillery (DIVARTY).

Currently, the US Army is on converting its BCTs into the new Brigade Unit of Action (BUA) program [1]. In this program, divisions that generally do not deploy individual brigades due to lack of integral support (1st Armored Division, 25th Infantry Division, etc.) will be restructured, giving them the ability to deploy one or more BUoAs anywhere in the world. These BUoAs will be able to stand on their own just like a BCT; however, the soldiers assigned to a BUoA will stay at their assignment for 3 years. This is intended to bolster readiness and improve unit cohesion. Brigade Units of Action will still be referred to as Brigade Combat Teams.

[edit] Infantry Brigade Combat Team

The Infantry Brigade Combat Team is organized around battalions of dismounted infantry. Each type of brigade (light infantry, air assault, or airborne) will have the same basic organization. Each infantry brigade will be capable of air assault operations, whether or not it is officially designated as an air assault brigade.
The Infantry Brigade Combat Team will consist two Infantry Battalions and one each Cavalry, Field Artillery, Special Troops, and Support Battalions.

[edit] Infantry Battalion

• Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • Medical Platoon
  • Reconnaissance Platoon
  • Sniper Section
  • Mortar Platoon
• Rifle Company (x 3)
  • Rifle Platoon (x 3)
  • Mortar Section
• Weapons Company
  • Weapons Platoon (x 4)

Each Infantry Brigade will consist of two Infantry Battalions. These two battalions will be the primary maneuver elements of the brigade and will consist of around 650 personnel.

[edit] Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron

• Headquarters and Headquarters Troop
• Mounted Reconnaissance Troop (x 2)
• Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop
• Surveillance Troop

[edit] Fires Battalion

• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
• 105 T Firing Battery (x 2)
• Target Acquisition Section

[edit] 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

[edit] 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)

[edit] Heavy Brigade Combat Team

The Heavy Brigade Combat Team will be 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).
The Heavy Brigade Combat Team will consist of two Combined Arms Battalions and one each Cavalry, Field Artillery, Special Troops, and Support Battalions.

[edit] 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

[edit] Armed Reconnaissance Squadron

• Headquarters and Headquarters Troop
• Armed Reconnaissance Troop (x 3)
• Surveillance Troop

[edit] Fires Battalion

• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
• 155 SP Firing Battery (x 2)
• Target Acquisition Section

[edit] 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

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).

[edit] 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)

[edit] Stryker Brigade Combat Team

The Stryker Brigade Combat Team is designed entirely around a new armored vehicle: the Stryker wheeled armored vehicle. The Stryker Brigade is organized differently than the Infantry or Heavy Brigade Combat Teams. The Stryker Brigade Combat Team will consist of three Infantry Battalions, one Cavalry Squadron, one Field Artillery Squadron, one Brigade Support Battalion, one Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company, one Network Support Company, one Military Intelligence Company, one Engineer Company, and one Anti-Tank Company.

[edit] Infantry Battalion

• Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• Infantry Company (Stryker) (x 3)

[edit] Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron

• Headquarters and Headquarters Troop
• Mounted Reconnaissance Troop (Stryker) (x 3)
• Surveillance Troop

[edit] Fires Battalion

• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
• 155 T Firing Battery (x 3)

[edit] Brigade Support Battalion

• Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• Distribution Company
• Maintenance Company
• Medical Company

[edit] Individual Companies

• Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company
• Military Intelligence Company
• Network Signal Company
• Combat Engineer Company
• Anti-Tank Company

[edit] See Also

• United States Army
• Transformation of the United States Army

[edit] References

• FM 3-90.6 Brigade Combat Team
• FM 3-21.20 Infantry Battalion
• FM 3-90.61 Brigade Special Troops Battalion