The Brigade Combat Team (BCT)

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The Brigade Combat Team (BCT)
FM 3-90.6
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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 BCTs
• BCT Organizations
• BCT C2
• BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities
• BCT Medical Capabilities
• Summary

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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
• Describe the basic units used to build the
  modular Army
• B. Describe the organization of the BCTs
• Describe the differences between the three
  different types of BCTs

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Brigade Roll-up
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

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TransformationBrigade Based Force to meet 21st
Century Challenges
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Divisions Armys primary tactical
warfighting headquarters
Divisions principal task C2 over any mix of
brigades
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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

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Heavy
Brigade Combat Teams for maneuver and close combat
X
SUST
Sustainment
Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition
Maneuver Enhancement
Supporting Brigades extend depth and duration of
land operations
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Task Organizationa possibility
Division/Corps
MNFI
MED
MED
MED
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• What is a Brigade Combat Team?

• BCTs are
• The Armys basic tactical maneuver units that can
  be committed _______________
• 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.
• BCTs 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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Self Contained Unit
smaller, more self-contained organizations
compared to pre modularity Brigades
A Ready and Relevant Force
ELO D
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Tailorable Command and Control
Current
Transformed
XXXX
Army
Operational HQ
Army Joint Support In AOR
Primary Warfighter
Migrating functions and capabilities to lower
levels
BCT
Battles Engagements
Functional Array, not pure Hierarchy
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The HBCT is the Armys 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.
Heavy BCT
The IBCT is the Armys 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.
Infantry 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
Stryker BCT
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Terrain/Capability Comparison
Infantry BCT
Stryker BCT
Heavy BCT
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Comparison of 3 BCTs
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 BNs
2 Maneuver BNs
3 Maneuver BNs
Does not have firepower inherent with HBCT
Now has BSTB as of 09/10
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BCT Organizations
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BCT Organizations (Battalions)

• Combined Arms Battalion (CAB) the Brigades
  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, SD Co.,
  FMC, and 4 x FSCs per maneuver battalion
• Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) network
  support company, military intelligence company,
  military police (security), and CBRNE assets

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BCT C2
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(No Transcript)
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BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities

• Special Staff Officer
• Facilitates Medical Operations in the BCT
• BCT Surgeon keeps the Commander informed of the
  _______ of the Command
• Assists with facilitating timely planning,
  integration and synchronization of the Force
  Health Protection Plan with the BCT __________
  plan.
• Coordinates with the BSMC Battalion _______
  Platoons / Sections and other staff elements to
  ensure that Soldiers receive complete and
  comprehensive medical support.

health
maneuver
Medical
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BCT Medical Capabilities
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Heavy Brigade Combat Team - HBCT
HQ, HBCT S4 / Brigade Surgeon Section
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Brigade Special Troops Battalion
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Brigade Special Troops Battalion
PA Only
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HBCT - 2 Combined Arms Battalions
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Medical Platoon, HHC, Combined Arms Battalion
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Reconnaissance Squadron
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HHT, Recon Squadron, Medical Platoon
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Fires (Field Artillery) Battalion
HHB
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HHB, Fires (Field Artillery) Battalion Medical
Platoon
HHB
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Brigade Support Battalion
BSB
MH
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Brigade Support Medical Company
Slide 1 of 2
PM
Med Co
MH
TX
TX
Dental, PT, Rad, Lab
Area Tx
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Brigade Support Medical Company
Slide 2 of 2
TX
EVAC
TX
EVAC (AREA)
BMSO
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Support Operations (SPO) Brigade Support
Battalion
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What we covered in this class
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Summary

• 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?