The Battlefield Surveillance Brigade is a United States Army Surveillance/reconnaissance formation introduced from c.2006-2011. The United States Army planned for the creation and transformation of nine intelligence brigades to a 'Battlefield Surveillence' role in 2007. The first Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB) was deployed the same year conducting Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Intelligence operations.
However, gathering information is only half the challenge it faces. Along with the structural changes 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[]
Battlefield Surveillance Brigade Organizational Table
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 component 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 signal company (Network Support Company, or NSC); a Brigade Support Company (BSC). In 2012, the active component brigades started grouping the brigade HHC, the signal company and the support company under a Special Troops Battalion.
Transformation[]
Former units consisted of one active component and two reserve component 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] | 
|
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[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Army Times, November 2009". Army.mil. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110605044520/http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/11/13/30354-201st-bfsb-soldiers-carry-on-wwii-tradition/. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ↑ "Supporting the Army's first Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Army Logistician, Find Articles at BNET". Findarticles.com. Archived from the original on 9 Jul 2012. https://archive.is/At5d. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Army's New Battlefield Surveillance Brigades Ramping Up, Defense Daily, Find Articles at BNET". Findarticles.com. 10 February 2009. Archived from the original on 16 Jul 2012. https://archive.is/AqBB. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ↑ IOAH 0504th BfSB
- ↑ BUnit Homepage
- ↑ TIOH 201st BfSB
The original article can be found at Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and the edit history here.