Signal support in the new heavy/infantry brigade combat team

Army Communicator, Fall, 2004 by Jason Winterle

Task Force Modularity, one of the Army Chief of Staff's transformation-focused task forces, was given the mission of compressing the Army's legacy force structure from four command and control echelons (Army Service Component Command [theater], corps, division and brigade) to three echelons (ASCC, division and brigade).

The construct that TF Modularity created changes the Army from a "division centric" force to a "brigade centric" force. Brigades of every type--heavy, light or support--that were at division level (and some at corps) will transform into a separate brigade.

A foreshadowing of this more modular structure was seen in the fielding of Stryker Brigades. The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team, for example, while historically associated with the 25th Infantry Division is not operationally organic to the division. The SBCT is designed to be a separate unit that is able to work for any kind of higher headquarters as needed. It is organized with organic reconnaissance, maneuver, mobility/counter mobility, signal, intelligence, artillery and logistics/ maintenance capabilities. The SBCT does not require augmentation from anyone to deploy, fight and establish intra-brigade communications.

TF Modularity built on the lessons learned from the SBCT and Operations Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom in the design of the heavy and infantry brigade combat teams. Both heavy and infantry BCTs have organic reconnaissance, maneuver, intelligence, signal, mobility/counter mobility, artillery and logistics/maintenance capabilities.

The key difference in the signal support provided to the new modular heavy and Infantry BCTs is that there is an organic signal company in every separate brigade instead of a division signal battalion providing a signal "slice" to each brigade.

The organic, separate, signal company that supports the heavy and light BCT is designed after the SBCT signal company, but was revised to be more modular. It consists of two network extension platoons and a headquarters and network-support platoon. The network extension platoons provide command post support to the brigade main command post and the brigade support area command post and have retransmission and Enhanced Position Location Reporting System Network Manager and gateway teams (in EPLRS-equipped units) that provide area coverage for combat net radio. The headquarters and network-support platoon contains the company-headquarters section, a network-operations cell, a RETRANS team and a small command post support team that provides voice/data support capability to the brigade forward command post.

The Joint Network Node is the central communications switching shelter for division and below support. It will replace mobile subscriber equipment currently in the force. It contains a Promina 400 to provide joint standard tactical entry point/Defense Information System Network connectivity (Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router, Secret Internet Protocol Router, Defense Switched Network Defense Red Switch Network and Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System) and uses an Ethernet backbone for internal/external connectivity.

For terrestrial connectivity, the JNN has transit case, high-capacity line-of-sight radios and is teamed with a line-of-sight V3 vehicle that can be used as a relay or to terminate a more robust line-of-sight network.

For satellite connectivity, the JNN will be equipped with Time Division Multiple Access and Frequency Division Multiple Access commercial Ku-band satellite equipment, and a Secure, Mobile, Anti-jam, Reliable, Tactical Terminal using extreme high-frequency military strategic, tactical and relay satellite communications. The TDMA and FDMA satellite connectivity will use the same 2.4 meter satellite dish using both TDMA and FDMA modems. The TDMA network will be used to establish communications between the Brigade Main command post, Brigade Support Area command post and battalion command posts. FDMA satellite links will be used to establish STEP/ DISN connectivity. SMART-T will be used as an alternate, protected, satellite link between the main and the BSA command posts or as a link to higher or adjacent units including U.S. Marine Corps, Navy or Air Force who may be equipped with SMART-Ts.

The 3rd Infantry Division is the first division to convert to a modular "brigade-centric" design. They received the first JNNs in the Army on Aug. 9, 2004. The Signal Center will continue to monitor lessons learned, after-action reviews, and tactics, techniques, and procedures to refine the division and below signal-support design and modify the design as necessary.

ACRONYM QUICKSCAN

1-25 IN--1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division

ASCC--Army Service Component Command

BCT--brigade combat team

BSA--brigade support area

DISN--Defense Information System Network

EPLRS--Enhanced Position Location Reporting System

FDMA--Frequency Division Multiple Access

JNN--Joint Network Node

RETRANS--retransmission

SBCT--Stryker Brigade Combat Team

SMART-T--Secure, Mobile, Anti-jam, Reliable, Tactical Terminal