Doctrine for the Initial Brigade Combat Team

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, Oct-Dec, 2000 by E. Lee Goodman Jr.

The Doctrine Division at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca (USAIC&FH) is currently coordinating with Fort Lewis, Washington, to develop draft doctrine for the Initial Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). The latest draft doctrine is in the Doctrine Division's website at http://USAIC.hua.army.mil/doctiine.htm. The coordinating draft is due in March 2001 and the final draft is due one year later. With this article, we seek to stimulate your input for the revision of the IBCT intelligence doctrine.

Introduction to the IBCT

A flexible force of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) personnel, organizations, and equipment comprises the Initial Brigades' intelligence systems. Individually and collectively, the components of this system provide the brigade with the capability to--

* Plan and direct ISR operations.

* Collect and process information.

* Produce relevant intelligence.

* Disseminate combat information and intelligence to those who need it, when they need it.

The brigade and its subordinate battalions possess organic ISR assets that enable each unit to meet the commander's requirements. Based on mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops, and time available and civilian considerations (METT-TC), the brigade will task-organize its organic ISR assets for the operation. The brigade may receive additional ISR assets from corps, joint, and national organizations.

Intelligence Organizations

An intelligence staff is organic to the brigade and its subordinate battalions and squadron. ISR analysis and ISR integration elements from the Military Intelligence (MI) Company and the Surveillance Troop, respectively, augment the brigade and RSTA (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition) Squadron staffs. The intelligence staff in the brigade's non-maneuver battalions possesses varying numbers of assigned MI personnel, and normally does not receive additional intelligence augmentation. Combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) units may not have any MI personnel. Those personnel designated as an "S2 section" often combine with the battalion's operations staff.

The MI company consists of one ISR analysis platoon, one SR integration platoon, and a human intelligence (HUMINT) platoon. The brigade S2 is the manager of ISR operations; however, the MI company's support is critical in the management of ISR requirements and planning, and in the analysis, production, and dissemination of intelligence. The ISR analysis platoon provides analytic support to the development of the brigade common operational picture (COP), support to targeting and effects, and refinement of the intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB). The ISR integration platoon serves as an extension of the brigade S2 staff for the internal and external management of ISR assets. The HUMINT platoon conducts the brigade's tactical HUMINT collection operations. The company has the organic systems necessary to interface with ISR systems resident at the U.S. Army Forces (ARFOR), joint, theater, and national levels.

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Organizations

Reconnaissance and surveillance (R&S) assets vary by echelon and unit type. The IBCTs have organic assets such as the RSTA squadron, the HUMINT platoon of the MI company, and infantry battalion scouts to perform R&S. In contrast, CSS units do not possess dedicated R&S assets but rely upon ad hocorganizations and standing operating procedures to perform such missions as route reconnaissance and occupation of observation posts.

The RSTA squadron is the brigade's primary source of combat information and targeting data. The squadron also provides the brigade with many R&S soldiers on the ground to help the brigade understand the operational environment in detail. This differs from the traditional scout focus primarily on threat forces. The brigade S2 integrates the ISR effort through the S3 (to include providing tasks to the RSTA squadron) and is supported by the ARFOR analysis and control element (ACE) or intelligence element in order to provide situational awareness and understanding in the AO.

The surveillance troop possesses an Air Reconnaissance Platoon, a Ground Sensor Platoon, and a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Reconnaissance Platoon. The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) enable the squadron to expand its reconnaissance capability considerably while mitigating risk in the absence of rotary-based reconnaissance. The NBC reconnaissance platoon provides the brigade's core capability for detection and early warning of chemical and radiological contaminants, plus some forms of biological agents.

The RSTA squadron closely integrates its operations with the activities of the infantry battalion's reconnaissance platoons and other ISR assets managed at brigade level. The squadron operates by stealth throughout the brigade footprint, and employs HUMINT collection personnel (who perform very limited HUMINT collection) extensively throughout the AO to compensate for shortfalls in the existing sensor capabilities, which are more suited for open terrain and unit- or force-based threats.