When do we teach Field Grade Leaders to conduct Brigade level Operations?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 14:42:01 -0500

My Training Officer (a CPT) and I were having a conversation recently about some frustration we had with a Brigade level product. For context, we're AGR full time unit support for a ARNG IBCT. One of the harder questions he asked was when we receive institutional training on how to fight a Brigade. I haven't been able to find a satisfactory answer so far. I attended the Active Component MCCC in 2013. We got a few reps at BN level operations, but BDE level ops were not discussed. I'm currently in Phase II of Reserve Component ILE. While it's certainly been interesting, nothing I have learned at ILE has been directly applicable to my job as a BN XO or my career field. From what I understand there is a small amount of maneuver coursework in Phase III, but it is not anything substantial. After ILE is the Advanced Operations Course, but that focuses on Division level operations.

To me it appears we have an institutional training gap. Is the Army's expectation that MAJs and LTCs learn the Brigade fight as OJT and through self-study? If not, when do FGOs receive academic instruction on the BCT fight?

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Jan 17 at 2022 1:24 AM

CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 01:24:11 -0500

Hi Mitch; there are several levels in Operations which are baptism by fire and shoot from the hip sort of thing. Understanding BN and Div Ops makes it simple to extract Bde Ops.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jan 17 at 2022 9:45 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 09:45:04 -0500

My recollection from my RVN days is that BNs fight platoons, BDEs fight companies and DIV fights BNs. Of course, that could depend on whose C&C ship is above the fight.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jan 17 at 2022 1:40 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 13:40:46 -0500

Somewhat confused, doesn't your BCT do leadership exercises with the Battalions and Companys? It seemed like in my time period, we did Brigade level computer exercises at least once a year.
I also think that there is an assumption that those field grades at Battalion level will move to that Brigade level and learn their functions from the existing staff.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 17 at 2022 5:26 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 17:26:53 -0500

Is your unit not doing BN, BDE and Division level exercises on the lead up to Training Center rotations?
I'm not sure what unit you're in, but in 10th Mountian it felt like we didn't nothing but field problems for Brigade and Higher echelon battles. Mountain Peaks, they were called.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 17 at 2022 7:41 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 19:41:10 -0500

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member for logisticians, The CCC because they support (FSCs) Battalions and (BSBs and DIV SBs) Brigades. The EAB SBs are focused on Division and higher operations.

I did sister service ILE and we were Joint Warfighting focused, the lowest level we considered was BDE level, only to understand what a Division as a JTF might be doing.

What I saw in BCTs was that the BN staff officers and former Company Commanders eventually through experience, were able to scale up. You see as a practice the BDE XO or S3 were picked after they were skilled BN XOs and S3s from within the same Brigade. Institutional pillar of learning wise, following CCC and ILE, thou Art qualified. It’s the unit training and experience that gets you ready to go from BN to BDE, unless someone snarfs you up to DIV to round out the G Staff.