Brigade Combat Team

This work provides an organizational history of the maneuver brigade and case studies of its employment throughout the various wars. Apart from the text, the appendices at the end of the work provide a ready reference to all brigade organizations used in the Army since 1917 and the history of the brigade colors.

Brigade Combat Team (BCT) is a modular organization that provides the division, land component commander (LCC), or joint task force (JTF) commander with close combat capabilities. BCTs are designed for operations encompassing the entire spectrum of conflict. They fight battles and engagements by employing the tactical advantages of a combined arms force structure. BCTs accomplish their missions by integrating the actions of maneuver battalions, field artillery, aviation, engineer, air and missile defense, close air support, and naval gunfire. The BCT's reconnaissance squadron and automated information systems give it information superiority over threat forces. These assets enable the BCT to gather large amounts of information, process it rapidly into intelligence, and disseminate it to decision-makers quickly. Field manual 3-90.6, “Brigade Combat Team,” provides the commander and staff of the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and subordinate units with doctrine relevant to Army and joint operations. It applies to the Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT), the Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT). The doctrine described in this manual applies across the full spectrum of military operations – offense, defense, stability or civil support. This publication: Provides BCTs with a framework in which they can operate as part of a division or independently as part of a joint task force; Provides doctrine for BCT commanders, staffs, and their subordinate commanders and leadersresponsible for conducting major activities performed during operations; Serves as an authoritative reference for personnel who Develop doctrine (fundamental principles and tactics, techniques, and procedures), materiel, and force structure, Develop institution and unit training, and Develop unit tactical standard operating procedures for BCT operations; Reflects and supports the Army operations doctrine found in FM 3-0, FM 5-0, and FM 6-0.

This United States Army doctrine, Field Manual FM 3-96 Brigade Combat Team January 2021, provides doctrine for the brigade combat team (BCT). This manual describes how the BCT, as part of a joint team, shapes operational environments, prevents conflict, conducts large-scale ground combat, and consolidates gains against a peer threat. FM 3-96 describes relationships, organizational roles and functions, capabilities and limitations, and responsibilities within the BCT. Tactics, the employment, ordered arrangement, and directed actions of forces in relation to each other (ADP 3-90), are discussed in this manual and are intended to be used as a guide. They are not prescriptive. FM 3-96 applies to the three maneuver BCT types: Infantry, Stryker, and Armored. The principal audience for FM 3-96 is the commanders, staffs, officers, and noncommissioned officers of the brigade, battalions, and squadron within the BCT. The audience also includes the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command institutions and components, and the United States Army Special Operations Command. This manual serves as an authoritative reference for personnel developing doctrine, materiel and force structure, institutional and unit training, and standard operating procedures for the BCT. For lower maneuver echelon specific discussions, see the appropriate Army techniques publication for that organization. FM 3-96 applies to the Active Army, the Army National Guard/the Army National Guard of the United States, and the United States Army Reserve unless otherwise stated.

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Army FM 3-96, "Brigade Combat Team," provides doctrine for the brigade combat team (BCT). This publication describes relationships, organizational roles and functions, capabilities and limitations, and responsibilities within the BCT. Tactics, the employment and ordered arrangement of forces in relation to each other (CJCSM 5120.01), are discussed in this manual and are intended to be used as a guide. They are not prescriptive. FM 3-96 applies to the infantry brigade combat team, Stryker brigade combat team, and armored brigade combat team. The Army provides readily available and trained regionally aligned and globally responsive forces to prevent conflict, shape the security environment, and win wars. Army forces maintain proficiency in the fundamentals of decisive action, and possess capabilities to meet specific geographic combatant command requests. Regionally aligned forces provide combatant commanders with an Army headquarters tailored to missions from tactical level to joint task force capable. The brigade combat team shapes the security environment and wins across the range of military operations. FM 3-96 focuses on the employment and ordered arrangement of forces within the BCT during the conduct of decisive action across the range of military operations. The tactics addressed in this manual include the ordered arrangement and maneuver-the employment of forces in the operational area through movement in combination with fires to achieve a position of advantage in respect to the enemy (JP 3-0)-of units in relation to each other, the terrain, and the enemy. Tactics vary with terrain and other circumstances; they change frequently as the enemy reacts and friendly forces explore new approaches. Applying tactics usually entails acting under time constraints with incomplete information. Tactics always require judgment in application; they are always descriptive, not prescriptive. FM 3-96 addresses the tactical application of tasks associated with the offense, the defense, and operations focused on stability. FM 3-96 does not discuss defense support of civil authorities. Employing tactics addressed in FM 3-96 may require using and integrating techniques. Echelon-specific ATPs address techniques, non-prescriptive ways or methods used to perform missions, functions, or tasks (CJCSM 5120.01).