The Brigade Combat Team (BCT)

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
Active Component
BCT Surgeon Role/Responsibilities Brigade Combat Teams
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:
A. Describe the basic units used to build the modular Army
B. Describe the organization of the BCTs
C. Describe the differences between the three different types of BCTs

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References Brigade Roll-up
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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 Transformation
Brigade Based Force to meet 21st Century Challenges
Divisions = Armys primary tactical warfighting headquarters

Divisions principal task: C2 over any mix of brigades

 Brigade Roll Up

Support Brigades
Combat Aviation Brigades Medical Brigades
Fires Brigades Air Defense Brigades
Battlefield Surveillance Brigades Military Police Brigades
Sustainment Brigades Military Intelligence Brigade
Engineer Brigades
EOD Brigades
Signal Brigades

Brigade Combat Teams

Heavy BCTs
Infantry BCTs
Stryker BCTs
 X x X

Infantry Heavy Stryker

Brigade Combat Teams for maneuver and close combat

X X X X X
SUST
Maneuver Reconnaissance, Aviation Fires Sustainment
Enhancement Surveillance,
Target Acquisition

Supporting Brigades extend depth and duration of land

operations
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Task Organizationa possibility

MNFI Division/Corps

MED
MED MED

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 What is a Brigade Combat Team?
BCTs are:
o The Armys basic tactical maneuver units that can be committed _______________
independently
o Designed to conduct offensive, defensive, and ________ operations
stability
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,

destroy
____________ __, and counterattack
close combat
The BCT can fight without _______________ , but it also can be
augmentation
tailored to meet the precise needs of its missions

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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 _______

Joint , interagency, and multinational assets.

BCTs advanced _____________ & ____________ systems enable them to

Command Control

conduct _______________ or semi-autonomous operations in larger areas

autonomous

of operations (AO) than the division brigades they replace.

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 Self Contained Unit
smaller, more self-contained organizations
compared to pre modularity Brigades

X
Brigade

MP/Security
MP/Security
Signal Logistics
Chemical

Fires Intelligence Engineer

Combined Armed Combined

Arms Recon Arms

A Ready and Relevant Force 12

ELO D
 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

Infantry BCT 3,400 Soldiers.

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
Heavy BCT Stryker BCT Infantry BCT

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
Restrictive Mobility in Mountainous Terrain & Dense Forest CBRNE attack

2 Maneuver BNs 3 Maneuver BNs 2 Maneuver BNs

Does not have firepower inherent with HBCT

Now has BSTB as of 09/10

 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, S&D 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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20
 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
health
D. Assists with facilitating timely planning, integration and synchronization of the

Force Health Protection Plan with the BCT __________ plan.

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

elements to ensure that Soldiers receiveMedical

complete and comprehensive medical

support.

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BCT Medical Capabilities
 Heavy Brigade Combat Team - HBCT

HQ, HBCT S4 / Brigade Surgeon Section

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, Fires (Field Artillery) Battalion
Medical Platoon

HHB

PA Only
Brigade Support Battalion

BSB

MH
 Brigade Support Medical Company Slide 1 of 2

Med Co PM

MH TX TX

Dental, PT, Rad, Lab Area Tx

 Brigade Support Medical Company Slide 2 of 2

TX TX EVAC

EVAC (AREA) BMSO

Support Operations (SPO)
Brigade Support Battalion
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?

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