1st Brigade, 87th Division (Training Support)
The 87th Division (Training Support) 1st Brigade (BCST), located in Birmingham, provides planning, execution, and evaluation for units participating in Combat Support Simulation Exercises and Brigade Battle Staff Training. The 1st Brigade (SIMULATION), 87th Division conducts exercises for the Battalion level and higher units throughout the Southeastern United States. The 1st Brigade, 87th Division (TS) is a Simulation Exercise Brigade with two Simulation Exercise Groups and a Battle Projection Group.
The mission is to conduct doctrinally sound Battle Command and Staff Training (BCST) exercises and Computer Simulation Training Programs for United States Army Reserve (USAR), Army National Guard (ARNG) and Active Component (AC) units up to the Brigade level. Typically, the Brigade provides this training for units located in the 87th Division area of responsibility. The Simulation Exercise Groups (SEG) serve as the central focus in planning, preparing, conducting, and evaluating these exercises. Additionally, the Brigade provides state of the art computer based Simulations Exercises (SIMEX) both locally in Birmingham, Alabama and at virtually any remote site through the Brigade's Battle Projection Center and also provides world class OPFOR to challenge any commander's exercise needs.
1st Bde is actively involved in the planning and execution of higher level Command Post Exercises to include Return of Forces to Germany (REFORGER) Exercises and serves also as a proponent for computer driven battle simulation. The Battle Projection Center, a 3.8 million dollar state of the art facility, serves as the prime focal point for 1st Brigade training and operations. This facility provides the 87th Division the ability to simultaneously exercise multiple units at their home stations, using automated battle simulation systems to include BCST, BBS/CBS, SPECTRUM, CSSTSS and Digitized Terrain models. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Brigades are newly integrated units combining Active Component forces from Army Readiness Groups and Regional Training Battalions; and the Division's former Field Exercise Brigades. The Brigades' primary mission remains to develop, coordinate and execute training and evaluation for Reserve Component and National Guard units; and to assist in unit mobilization when these units are called to active duty
