Battlefield Surveillance Brigade

Army Modular Force^[1]

Throughout the history of warfare, soldiers have needed to know who and where the enemy is. In order to address that need in the context of the 21st century threat, the army has planned for the creation and transformation of nine units, in 2007 to the Battlefield Surveillance Brigade format. The first Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB) was deployed the same year conducting Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations.

However, gathering information is only half the challenge it faces. Along with the transformation of its structure and intelligence capabilities, the sustainment capabilities of the brigade also changed.^[2] The United States Army is currently reorganizing its intelligence formations into Battlefield Surveillance Brigades (BfSB). The brigades are self-sufficient Army Modular Forces. Army doctrine changed the name of the BfSB to Reconnaissance and Surveillance Brigade in 2011.

Mission

The Brigades are meant to improve situational awareness for commanders at division or higher so they can focus joint combat power in current operations while simultaneously preparing for future operations. The units have the tools to respond to the commanders needs from unmanned aerial vehicles to signals gathering equipment and human intelligence collectors.^[3] One of the major initiatives of the modernization plan involves migrating the Army from a division-centric force designed to fight one or two potential major-theater wars toward a modular, brigade-centric force that is expeditionary in nature and deployed continuously in different parts of the world.

Structure

The BfSB Structure

The BfSB improves situational awareness for commanders at division or higher so they can focus joint combat power in current operations while simultaneously preparing for future operations. The units have the tools to respond to the commanders need from unmanned aerial vehicles to signals gathering equipment and human intelligence collectors.^[3]

Each BfSB consists of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company. Active units have two military intelligence battalions, while the Army National Guard BfSB's have one. Each brigade has a Reconnaissance & Surveillance Squadron consisting of a headquarters troop, two ground troops (Troops A and B) and a Long Range Surveillance (LRS) Troop; a signals company (Network Support Company, or NSC); a Forward Support Company (FSC) and, depending on the component, at least one military intelligence company (MI).

Transformation

Former units consisted of one active component and two inactive detachments, there are now both Active-duty and National Guard Surveillance Brigades, each having a specific Table of Organization and Equipment.

The changes made were all part of an Army-wide transition to the Army Modular Force, future-concept ("Grow The Army Plan" of modernization) proposed by US Army Chief of Staff General Peter Schoomaker in 2007.^[1] The plan calls for ten Surveillance Brigades.

Unit	Patch	Component	Home Headquarters
504th BfSB[4][5]		Regular Army	Fort Hood, TX
525th BfSB		Regular Army	Fort Bragg, NC
201st BfSB[6][7]		Regular Army	Fort Lewis, WA
58th BfSB		Maryland Army National Guard	Maryland
67th BfSB		Nebraska Army National Guard	Nebraska
71st BfSB		Texas Army National Guard	Texas
142nd BfSB		Alabama Army National Guard	Alabama
219th BfSB		Indiana Army National Guard	Indiana
297th BfSB		Alaska Army National Guard	Alaska
560th BfSB		Georgia Army National Guard	Georgia

All units are moving to the objective designs by the scheduled completion of the Grow The Army Plan by fiscal year 2013.

References

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