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APPENDIX B

LIGHT INFANTRY DIVISION

The LID provides the flexibility to accomplish missions on a global basis due to its rapid deployability and ability to operate in terrain or against a threat unsuitable for armored forces. The division conducts operations exploiting the advantages of restricted terrain and limited visibility. It is composed primarily of foot-mobile soldiers who are organized, equipped, and trained to conduct combat operations involving close-in combat against light enemy forces.

In peacetime, conflicts, and war, the LID can be augmented with armored forces, or augment an armored corps. Based on the factors of METT-T, a light infantry brigade (with the appropriate CSS augmentation) can be task organized to an armored division. The division is designed to conduct autonomous operations for up to 48 hours. The LID typically has three light infantry brigades (three light battalions each) and an aviation brigade.

The LID is a light combined arms force consisting of maneuver, CS, and CSS units. The LID possesses a high density of NVD and weapon sights to optimize its ability to fight under limited visibility conditions. The LID has less firepower, both direct and indirect, than armored and mechanized divisions.

Light infantry has its primary focus on operations other than war, but it can be employed throughout all intensity levels. In the right terrain, with the appropriate mission, and when adequately augmented with additional forces and support, the division is capable of fighting heavier forces. By maximizing the capabilities of their antiarmor systems and effectively using the terrain and weather to protect their forces, LID commanders greatly increase their effectiveness on the battlefield.

Although employed as an entity, the division can disperse widely throughout a large area and conduct synchronized but decentralized operations, primarily at night or during periods of limited visibility. Mass is achieved through the combined effects of synchronized, small-unit operations and fires rather than through the physical concentration of forces on the battlefield. Without augmentation, the LID does not have the mechanized assets to close with the enemy's heavy forces in terrain suitable for mechanized operations; it is more effectively employed in terrain favoring dismounted operations, such as large urban areas, mountains, and jungles.

DEPLOYMENT

The LID operates as a part of a corps or a JTF. The limited amount of organic heavy equipment allows the LID to be rapidly transported by strategic air and naval forces. The LID is not designed for opposed-entry operations. Available transportation can be devoted to moving combat troops without necessitating the movement of large numbers of maintenance units. The following paragraphs describe LID deployment considerations for BOS.

BATTLEFIELD OPERATING SYSTEMS

Intelligence. These considerations apply:

• Timely and accurate intelligence of the enemy's capabilities and intentions becomes critical to the division's disposition for combat since the LID's battlefield maneuverability is limited.

• The LID commander will deploy his division on terrain that will reduce the mobility differential between enemy motorized forces and friendly dismounted forces.

• Detailed analysis of METT-T is necessary to ensure that the division is properly augmented, when appropriate. The division has limited MI assets to assist in detailed METT-T analysis.

Maneuver. These considerations apply:

• When engaged in combat, the LID is predominantly dismounted.

• The division's lack of mobility increases reaction time, thereby limiting battlefield maneuverability.

• Most infantry concentrations of maneuver combat power will occur prior to the start of the battle, although movement in rugged terrain is possible during conditions of reduced visibility once the battle begins.

• Light infantry units use helicopter lift or ground transportation assets, when necessary, to increase their tactical mobility.

Fire Support. These considerations apply:

• Divisional artillery is light, easily set up and employed, and matches the mobility and fighting characteristics of the infantry it supports.

• The LID is supported by an artillery battalion employing the 105-mm towed howitzer.

Mobility and Survivability. These considerations apply:

• The LID is supported by an organic light engineer battalion, often augmented by one or more equipment companies and engineer battalions from the corps engineer brigade.

• The combat engineer battalion possesses minimal digging assets, consisting of SEEs and lightweight, high-speed bulldozers.

• The secondary mission of the engineers in an LID is to fight as infantry.

• Common engineer missions in support of the LID include breaching of obstacles and minefields; constructing helicopter LZs, obstacles and strongpoints; and maintenance of supply routes.

Air Defense. These considerations apply:

• The LID is supported by an air defense battalion short-range air defense (SHORAD).

• Primary antiaircraft weapons are the HMMWV-mounted Stinger and the Avenger.

Combat Service Support. These considerations apply:

• The LID requires less logistical support than equivalent mechanized or armored units. The LID's characteristically light equipment and less complex weapon systems require less maintenance support and less favorable conditions in which to operate.

• Though the functions of the LID DISCOM are essentially the same as those of the armored and mechanized divisions, the nature of the division and the austerity of the DISCOM itself produced a unique organization and concept of support. Instead of an MSB and FSBs for each maneuver brigade, the DISCOM is composed of functional battalions: supply and transportation (S&T), medical, and maintenance. Forward companies from each functional battalion are task organized into FASTs which operate in the maneuver brigade area. Materiel management is decentralized, with the maintenance battalion and the aviation maintenance company managing maintenance and Class IX supply. The S&T battalion manages supply (less Classes VIII and IX), and the medical company manages medical operations.

• The maintenance concept is different from that of an armored or mechanized division in that minimal intermediate (DS) maintenance is performed in the forward areas. The division depends on exchange of items and passback of repair. No significant missile repair is performed in the division area.

• Supply depends heavily on throughput resupply since DISCOM transportation assets are very limited. Preconfigured unit loads are configured in the wholesale base and stored in the COSCOM area. They consist of multiple items, required for a single purpose that can be requisitioned with a single stock number.

• In addition to support similar to that required by the heavy division, the LID CSS concept requires specific support. Corps augmentation must include a maintenance company structured to handle increased passback; a missile support team to augment the divisional support element; an aviation intermediate maintenance (AVIM) support team to provide supplemental aviation maintenance support; a supply support detachment to perform data processing beyond organic capabilities; and a mortuary affairs team de signed for the LID.

Command and Control. These considerations apply:

• On most occasions, the LID operates where terrain or the tactical situation preclude the use of vehicles; a dismounted TAC CP is required.

• The LID possesses limited long-range communications equipment. When operating with mechanized or armored forces, the LID may operate out of radio contact.

• Communications must be carefully planned. The LID will have to receive external support when working with heavier forces.

CAPABILITIES

The capabilities of the LID enable it to--

• Attack to defeat light enemy forces or seize terrain. If properly task organized and augmented, it can attack to defeat heavy enemy forces in close terrain.

• Conduct combat operations in contingency areas as part of a larger force, to include operations day or night, under all climatic conditions, and on any terrain.

• Reinforce forward deployed forces by full integration into their operating and support structure, particularly as an economy of force unit on close terrain. This allows mechanized and armored units the freedom for decisive employment elsewhere on the battlefield.

• Operate for 48 hours without external support.

• Conduct operations in BUAs.

• Conduct rear operations within the limits of organic tactical mobility assets.

• C2 its organic forces and any augmentation forces.

• Quickly integrate and then C2 augmentation forces, whether they are combat, CS, or CSS units.

• Participate in amphibious operations.

• Conduct air assault operations within the limits of organic aviation assets.

• Reinforce or be reinforced by combat, CS, or CSS units.

• Operate as a combined arms force with organic infantry, light armor, engineers, artillery, aviation, and air defense.

LIMITATIONS

The LID has the following limitations:

• The LID has limited capability for NBC reconnaissance, hasty smoke production, and hasty decontamination.

• Deployment into a hostile area normally requires local air superiority, and possibly naval support.

• Tactical mobility is restricted by limited organic vehicles and aircraft.

• Organic artillery has limited range and a lack of a variety of shell and fuze combina tions.

• External CSS is required after 48 hours of operations.

• The LID is extremely vulnerable to enemy heavy artillery, NBC attacks, and attacks by heavy enemy forces.