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LESSON 3

US ARMY ORGANIZATIONS, EQUIPMENT, and STAFF ELEMENTS

Critical Task: NONE

OVERVIEW

LESSON DESCRIPTION:

In this lesson you will learn about the five types US divisions, their subordinate units, and key equipment.

TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

INTRODUCTION

Doctrinal and technology changes since the Gulf War have been significant and have forced the US Army to adopt new organizational structures and equipment to meet an ever more sophisticated threat. This document reflects the more significant of those changes.

Within the US Army, there are three kinds of divisions (heavy, medium, and light) of which there are five types. These include Armor, Mechanized Infantry, Infantry, Air Assault, and Airborne. While differing in mission, manning, and equipment, the five divisions possess a number of similarities that are outlined in Figure 3-1.

Figure 3-1. Example of Division Structure.

PART A--ORGANIZATION

Corps. The Corps is the largest tactical unit in the US Army. The organization of a corps is flexible with no established table of organization and equipment. A corps is tailored for the theater it is deployed to, its mission and the organization of the forces that it must support. Once tailored, the corps contains all the combat, combat support, and combat service support capabilities required to sustain operations for a considerable period. The corps structure will change based on the factors of mission, enemy, terrain, troops, and time available (METT-T). It may control combat forces ranging in size from a reinforced task force to a five-division force. A corps may even be the headquarters for a joint task force controlling forces from other services. A corps may be assigned divisions of any type required by the theater and the mission.

Heavy Division (Hvy Div). The mission of armored and mechanized infantry divisions is to close with and destroy the enemy by firepower, mobility, and shock effect. Armored units, heavy armored task forces, mechanized units, and mechanized task forces move, attack, and defend to defeat the enemy in close combat. Armored and mechanized units fight along with other combat and combat support units as a combined arms team. Their mobility; armor protection; and lethal, long-range, direct firepower contribute to the shock action required to defeat enemy forces. These characteristics also enable armored, mechanized, and cavalry forces to apply combat power through the depth of the battlefield, to disperse forces over wide areas, and to concentrate combat power at the decisive time and place.

• Maneuver Battalions. The heavy division, either armored or mechanized infantry, has nine maneuver battalions. The normal mix of maneuver battalions for an armored division is five tank battalions and four mechanized battalions. The mechanized division has five mechanized battalions and four tank battalions. The tactical situation and the commander's concept for accomplishing the mission dictate the allocation of these nine maneuver battalions to the three brigade command and control headquarters.
• Armor Battalion. Normally there are five armor battalions in an armored division and four armored in the mechanized infantry division. The armor battalion is well suited to operations that require mobility, direct firepower, and armor protection. It is well adapted for exploitation, pursuit, and disruption of the enemy's rear and subsequent echelons of defense. It contributes mobility, firepower, and shock effect to the combined arms team. Armor shielding reduces the vulnerability of soldiers to hostile fire and permits rapid exploitation through contaminated areas. An armor battalion requires more combat service support than the mechanized infantry battalion and is more sensitive to difficult terrain and barriers. The armor battalion usually is assigned to a brigade but can reinforce other units in offensive and defensive operations, can be cross-reinforced to form a combined arms task force, or employed without attachments. The armor battalion consists of headquarters and headquarters company and four tank companies.
• Mechanized Infantry Battalion. The Mech Inf Bn is organized and equipped for mobile warfare with the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) of which there are three types, the M-2 Bradley and the M-113. The Bradley now equips all active component units and a number of reserve component maneuver battalions. The M-113 is to be phased out as the prime mover for mechanized infantry. Mechanized infantry operations are characterized by rapid changes in location and a requirement to fight mounted and dismounted. Mechanized infantry battalions require more combat service support than other types of infantry battalions. They are also more sensitive to difficult terrain, obstacles, and barriers than other types of infantry battalions. Mechanized infantry battalions are especially suited for employment in dynamic defense, exploitation, pursuit, and counterattack operations. When dismounted, they are well suited for holding terrain, operations in difficult terrain and in adverse weather, moving by aircraft, and breaching fixed defenses. Battalions are organized with a headquarters and headquarters company, four rifle companies, and an antiarmor company.
• Division Artillery (DIVARTY). The division artillery is the division's primary organic indirect fire support. The division artillery has the dual mission of integrating all fire support available, as well as providing field artillery fires for close support, interdiction and counterfire support to the division. The heavy DIVARTY consists of a headquarters and headquarters battery, three self-propelled 155-mm battalions, a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) battalion, and a target acquisition battery.
• Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Bn. The ADA Bn is composed of a Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), three batteries with Bradley Stinger fighting vehicles and man portable air defense (MANPAD) platoons, and a battery equipped with the Avenger system.
• Aviation Brigade (heavy division). The aviation brigade's primary mission is to conduct sustained operations throughout the depth of the division's area of operations. The brigade consists of a headquarters and headquarters company, a cavalry squadron, two attack helicopter battalions (one is a reserve component roundout battalion), and a general support aviation battalion.
• General Support Aviation Battalion. The Gen Spt Avn Bn provides command and control aircraft for the division and aviation brigade, field artillery observation aircraft for DIVARTY, electronic warfare for the MI battalion and general support and assault helicopter support to the division.
• Attack Helicopter Battalion(s). The AH 64 attack helicopter battalions provide the armored and mechanized infantry division commanders with a highly mobile, rapid, anti-armor capability. The battalion destroys enemy armor, mechanized, and other forces using fire and maneuver as an integrated member of the combined arms team. It is comprised of a headquarters and headquarters company, an aviation unit maintenance company, and three attack helicopter companies.
• Cavalry Squadron. The Cavalry Squadron is organized to conduct reconnaissance and security operations to the front, on the flanks, and to the rear of the division. It conducts intelligence missions and facilitates command and control in support of division operations. Although assigned to the aviation brigade, the squadron is often employed directly under division control. A cavalry squadron assigned to the aviation brigade of a heavy division contains a headquarters and headquarters troop, three armored cavalry troops, two air cavalry troops, and an aviation maintenance troop.
• Engineer Brigade. The engineer brigades are organic to armored and mechanized divisions. The brigades replaced the former divisional engineer battalion. Each brigade consists of a headquarters and headquarters detachment and three engineer battalions.
• Military Police (MP) Company. The military police company supports the forward, rearward, and lateral movement of personnel, material and units; executes limited area security operations; conducts enemy prisoner of war operations; and performs law and order operations in assigned areas as required. It is comprised of a headquarters section, a division provost marshal section, three general support platoons, and three direct support platoons.
• Signal Battalion. The signal battalion of a heavy division installs, operates, and maintains a communications system in support of division-level functions including command and control, intelligence, fire control, combat support, and combat service support. It is comprised of a headquarters and headquarters company, three area signal companies, and a signal support company. The battalion has the capability to operate six mobile subscriber equipment area nodes.
• Division Support command (DISCOM). DISCOM is the only combat service support organization found in the divisional base. It is common to all divisions, although the internal organization of the respective DISCOM differs. It is comprised of the headquarters and headquarters company/material management center, the main support battalion, the aviation support battalion, and three forward support battalions.

Light Division (Lt Div). The mission of the light infantry, airborne, and air assault divisions is to close with and destroy the enemy, as well as control land areas, including population and resources. The division makes optimum use of offensive, decentralized, irregular-type operations by highly trained small units. Light infantry divisions are austere and capable of conducting independent operations for only 48 hours. They are experts in urban warfare, jungle warfare, and infiltration operations, and can kill enemy armored vehicles on any battlefield. The light infantry division is the most rapidly and strategically deployable of the various types US divisions. It is organized to fight as part of a larger force of a joint task force in conventional conflicts, or independently in stability and support operations. The ability of its command and control structure to readily accept augmentation forces permits task organizing for almost any situation, in almost any environment.

• The airborne division conducts parachute and air landing assaults and can rapidly deploy anywhere in the world to seize and secure vital objectives. The Abn Div is organized to be rapidly deployed worldwide to secure facilities or installations, reinforce already deployed forces, and to conduct a show of force. It can conduct parachute assaults into enemy areas to interdict enemy lines of operation.
• The air assault division combines strategic deployability with tactical mobility within its area of operation (AO). The essence of air assault tactics is rapid tempo of operations, over extended ranges. The division conducts air assault operations by transporting infantry and artillery battalions with necessary combat support and service support into battle with helicopters. Once on the ground, air assault infantry battalions fight like light infantry and their ground mobility is limited. The air assault (AASLT) Div is also vulnerable to enemy air activity and heavy forces.
• Maneuver Battalions. The light infantry division has nine light infantry battalions. Each has a headquarters and headquarters company (HHC) and nine rifle companies, each with an HHC, three rifle companies, and an antitank company. Both the airborne and air assault divisions have infantry battalions. Each battalion is composed of an HHC, three rifle companies, and an anti-armor company. The anti-armor company is equipped with 20 of the TOW heavy anti-tank weapons.
• DIVARTY. DIVARTY in the light infantry division is a brigade-sized element composed of an HHB, three towed 105-mm howitzer battalions, and a separate 155-mm battery. Both the airborne and air assault divisions consist of three battalions of 105-mm guns.
• Air Defense Battalion. The ADA Bn of a light infantry division is composed of a headquarters and headquarters Battery (HHB) and three firing batteries equipped with 12 Avengers and 6 MANPAD teams each. The ADA Bn of the Abn Div has a headquarters and headquarters battery and four firing batteries. Each firing battery has 12 Avenger and 8 MANPAD systems. The ADA Bn of the air assault div has a headquarters battery, three direct support batteries and a general support battery. The DS batteries have 12 Avenger and 10 MANPAD systems while the GS battery has 12 Avenger and 15 MANPAD systems.
• Aviation Brigade. The aviation brigade of a light infantry division has a headquarters and headquarters company, a reconnaissance squadron, and attack helicopter battalion, and an assault helicopter battalion. The aviation brigade of an airborne division is similar to that of the light infantry's with the only difference being that the air cavalry squadron has three air cavalry troops instead of the two that are in the light division. The aviation brigade of the air assault div is one of the largest brigades in the Army. It contains a headquarters and headquarters company, an air cavalry squadron, a medium helicopter battalion, a general support aviation battalion, three assault helicopter battalions, and three attack helicopter battalions (one reserve component).
• Engineer Battalion. The combat engineer battalion of a light infantry division is comprised of a headquarters and headquarters company and three engineer companies.
• Military Police Company. The MP Co in the light div is smaller than its counterpart in the heavy div. It consists of the division provost marshal section, a headquarters section, and three MP platoons.
• Signal Battalion. The light infantry division's signal battalion has a headquarters and headquarters company, two area signal companies, and a signal support company.

The Separate Brigade.There are no longer separate brigades in the active component and they are being consolidated into divisions in the reserve component.

The Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR). Each corps is assigned an ACR which has the mission of providing the corps with both a reconnaissance and combat security force and combat maneuver force. Unlike other units, the ACR is not self-sustaining and requires some logistical support from corps. It is composed of an HHT, three Armored Cavalry Squadrons, three field artillery batteries, an Aviation squadron, an ADA Battery, an engineer company, a military intelligence company, a chemical company and a support squadron.

• Armored Cavalry Squadron. The Armored Cavalry Squadron is composed of an HHT, three armored cavalry troops, a tank company, and one 155-mm howitzer battery. Each of the troops has two scout platoons and two tank platoons. The tank company has three tank platoons.
• Field Artillery Battalion. The Field Artillery Battalion has an HHB, and three batteries of eight 155-mm SP howitzers per battery.
• ADA Battery. The ADA Battery is composed of MANPAD/Avenger/Stinger missile teams.
• Aviation Squadron. The Aviation Squadron consists of an HHT, three Air Cavalry troops, two Attack Helicopter companies, an assault helicopter company, and an aviation unit maintenance troop.

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE UNITS:

• Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade - Corps. The MI Bde serves as the principal agency for information at the corps level.

• HHOC. Provides administrative support to the MI Brigade.
• Operations Battalion. The MI Bn (Opns) performs IEW functions in support of overall corps operations. It provides resources to assist the corps G3 in planning, coordinating, and evaluating the OPSEC and EW operations. The Opns Bn hosts the Crops ACE and LRSD.
• Aerial Exploitation Battalion (AEB). The MI AEB provides the corps commander with his deep-look capability through aerial reconnaissance, surveillance, and SIGINT collection. The MI Bn (AE) allows the commander to "see" the battlefield to the depth of the AO and beyond.
• Tactical Exploitation Battalion (TEB). The MI Bn (Opns) performs HUMINT functions in support of overall corps operations. The only corps-level TEB is now at the XVIII Corps.

• Military Intelligence Battalion. The military intelligence battalion provides all-source combat intelligence and OPSEC support to all echelons. This support includes all levels of Communications Intelligence (COMINT), signals Intelligence (SIGINT), HUMINT, and Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) through the integration of organic and national level assets and databases. The battalion provides all-source intelligence analysis, production and dissemination; ground surveillance; counterintelligence; and signals security. The MI battalion conducts G2-tasked intelligence collection operations according to the commander's priority intelligence requirements (PIR) and information requirements (IR) through the analysis and control element (ACE). The ACE is organic to the MI battalion and operates under the direction of the G2.
• MI Companies. Provide combat information to their parent battalion and any unit with which it has a command or support relationship. There are three types of companies with the MI Battalion assigned at division. These are the headquarters and headquarters operation company (HHOC), Direct Support, and General Support Companies.

• Headquarters, Headquarters and Operations Company (HHOC). Provides C² for headquarters elements of the battalion and elements OPCON of the battalion. It also contains the personnel who man the ACE.
• The MI direct Support (DS) Company provides personnel to staff the brigade ACT on operations platoon. There are 3 MI DS CO per BN.
• The MI General Support (GS) Company provides COMINT collection, low level analysis, and communications and jamming support to the division.

• Analysis and Control Element (ACE). Is responsible for disseminating intelligence from the division command post (CP) to all subordinate and higher units and provides database access and broadcast dissemination of all division intelligence products.

• An element of the ACE, the Collection and Mission Management (C&MM) section performs mission management for intelligence collection assets.

• Analysis and Control Team (ACT). Ensures a maneuver BDE asset rapid dissemination of combat information from the maneuver brigade staff to both subordinate S2s and the ACE.
• Long Range Surveillance Detachment (LRSD). The LSRD has the mission to provide long-range HUMINT collection against point targets. This detachment is only to be used for passive collection, not for combat operations. The LSRD are company-sized units found at the Corps Tactical Exploitation Battalion (TEB) and in light divisions within the MI battalion. There are six surveillance teams and two base communications teams.
• MI Co - ACR. The MI company is structured to allow organizational flexibility and tailoring to perform its mission. The company manages the ACE (a scaled down version of the division-sized ACE). The ACE integrates intelligence, EW, and OPSEC support assets and allows the integration of products both horizontally and vertically. The MI Company is organized with a company headquarters, service platoon, communication platoon, flight platoon, and two collection and jamming (C&J) platoons. The equipment found in the MI Co of the ACR will be the same as the MI Bn (Hvy).

PART B -- EQUIPMENT

M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV). The BFV is the primary fighting vehicle for mechanized infantry, replacing the old M113. It is a fully tracked, lightly armored vehicle that has significant improvements over the M113. It has greater power and acceleration for improved cross-country travel. Its armament is a 25-mm chain gun, TOW antitank guided missile and a M240 machine gun in a fully protected turret. The M2 has a crew size of three and is capable of carrying a six man infantry squad.

Bradley Linebacker. The Linebacker mission is to protect M1 tanks and other forward-area forces against cruise missile, rotary-wing, fixed-wing and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks while the maneuver force is on the move or on defense of the forward division. It is currently fielded to Force XXI with more fielding in late FY '98.

TOW. This is a Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile, a heavy anti-tank missile system with a range of 3000m. It can be fired from tripod, helicopter, or vehicle.

M1A1/2 Main Battle Tank (MBT). The MBT is a fully tracked, heavily armored, combat vehicle. It has smoke capability and is armed as follows:

Paladin 155mm SP Howitzer (M109/A6). The Paladin provides the primary indirect fire support for armored and mechanized infantry divisions. It has a range of 24,000 to 30,000 meters with standard and rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) rounds. It is also able to continue operations in an NBC environment.

Multiple Launcher Rocket System (MLRS). MLRS is capable of firing 12 rounds singly, multiple round bursts, or full salvo. This system can be used for counterfire, delivery of scatterable mines or smart munitions, and against area targets to a range of 30km.

AN/TPQ-36/37 FIREFINDER. Locates enemy mortar and artillery weapons systems. These radars are organic to separate infantry and armor brigades, to the TAB at DIVARTY and/or corps target acquisition detachments.

Stinger Missile. A shoulder-fired, short range (4000m+), infrared (IR) homing system. The launcher is disposable and the hand grip is reusable.

UH-60 BLACKHAWK. A newer utility helicopter replacing the UH-1 in most roles. It has heavier lift capability and carries up to 14 passengers (ten combat ready).

OH-58 KIOWA. An observation helicopter used for reconnaissance. One version (the OH-58D) is equipped with special target acquisition devices and it is used for target acquisition for DIVARTY.

AN/ALQ-151 QUICKFIX. An aerial EP system mounted on either the EH-1 or EH-60 giving increased range and mobility. The EH-60 version also has EA capability. OPCON to the MI Bn, they are assigned to CAB for logistical reasons.

AH-64 APACHE. The newest attack helicopter in the US Army. It has several improvements over the AH-1, such as greater maneuverability, armament capacity, and combat endurance.

M3 CFV. The M3 CFV is the reconnaissance version of the M2. It has greater ammo storage and a lesser troop capacity of seven. Armament is the same as the M2.

CH-47 CHINOOK. A medium transport helicopter. Passenger capacity is 33. Cargo capacity depends upon climate.

AN/PRD-12 is a manpackable ES system. It is used for interception and direction finding. Within the Hvy Div, these are used as backup systems for the AN/TRQ-32.

AN/TRQ-32 TEAM MATE. A vehicle mounted ES system. It has greater range and accuracy than the manpackable systems. This system is also found in the MI Co of the ACR, and MI Bde.

AN/TLQ-17 TRAFFICJAM. A short range EA system used to interfere with enemy communication. Found in the division MI GS Co and the MI Co of the ACR.

AN/PPS-5. A ground surveillance system used to locate moving targets such as personnel and vehicles. They are attached to the maneuver brigades or battalions. The AN/PPS-15 is a manpack version with shorter range.

AN/TSQ-114 TRAILBLAZER. A tracked vehicle mounted ES system. Where the previous systems are deployed in trios to get locations on the enemy, this system uses five stations to get a more accurate location. Found only in the MI Bn (Hvy Div).

Advanced QUICKFIX (AQF) / QUICKFIX (QF) Flight Platoon. The QUICKFIX Flight Platoon provides the division with aerial COMINT, DF, and EA with three systems. It is organic to the CAB but OPCON to the MI Bn in the Heavy, Light, and Airborne divisions, and organic to the HHOC of the MI Bn Air Assault. Asset management is normally a function of the MI GS Company.

AN/USD-9A/B improved GUARDRAIL V / GUARDRAIL Common Sensor(GRCS). An aerial ES System mounted in an RC-12. Used to identify and locate enemy communications. Found only in the MI Bde AEB.

PART C -- STAFF OFFICERS AND FUNCTIONS

Within combat divisions, as in other tactical units, the commander must have advisors which assist him in accomplishing his mission. The staff officers and their areas of responsibility are as follow:

• G-1. The G-1 is the principle staff officer for the commander on all matters concerning human resources. The G-1 has the primary coordinating staff responsibility for the following areas: Unit strength maintenance, personnel service support, such as orders and awards, chaplain services, legal services, and financial support.
• G-2. The G-2 Is the principle staff officer for the commander on all military intelligence matters. The G-2 has the primary responsibility for the production of intelligence, counterintelligence, and intelligence training.
• G-3. The G-3 is the principle staff officer for the commander in matters concerning operations, plans, organization, and training. All operations within the division are coordinated through the G-3.
• G-4. The G-4 is the principle staff officer for the commander in matters of supply, maintenance, transportation, and services.
• G-5. The G-5 is the principle staff officer for the commander in matters concerning the civilian impact on military operations, and the political, economic, and social effects of military operations on civilian operations.

Units smaller than division that are authorized a headquarters staff are brigades, regiments, groups, division artillery (DIVARTY), support commands, battalions, and squadrons. Staff functions of these units are generally the same as those for higher staffs, however, most of the planning and coordination is informal and possibly more abbreviated.

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