BSFB 101: A Brief Introduction to the Battlefield Surveillance Brigade

Although the battlefield surveillance brigade (BFSB) has been in the force since September 2006, its mission, organization, and capabilities are not fully understood across the Army. Additionally, with the impending decisions on military intelligence (MI) rebalance and the emergence of new Army concepts, the future role of this organization is not clearly defined. This article addresses both of these issues and identifies near-term required capabilities. The BFSB is an established modular support brigade. Currently, there are three Active Component (AC) and seven Reserve Component (RC) BFSBs in the Army. All three AC BFSBs have served, or are serving, in Iraq. Two BFSBs (one AC and one RC) deployed this summer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation New Dawn, respectively. These units have successfully answered division, corps, and joint task force (JTF) commander’s priority intelligence requirements (PIR) and they will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The Army has committed resources for more than 6 years to BFSB development and has recently approved U. S. Army Field Manual (FM) 3-55.1, The Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.1 Background Recent U. S. Army concept documents describe future threats capable of quickly adapting their strengths to our weaknesses. Like the enemies we face today, they will conduct decentralized, asymmetric operations, using small elements to achieve strategic objectives. They will be located in complex terrain, dispersed among the population and highly networked. They will be skilled at information warfare and will often use commercially available technology to their advantage. Successfully defeating these threats will challenge the modular force, the Army as a whole, and homeland security. Of all the modular brigades in the Army, the BFSB is uniquely templated against these threats. The unit is employed as a network of combat information collection systems, both manned and unmanned, directly interfacing with the populace from which threat networks emerge.2 It is a full spectrum, combined arms unit that has the capability to disrupt threat networks and operate inside their decision cycle by quickly adapting its strengths to the enemy’s weaknesses. A Brief Introduction to the Battlefield Surveillance Brigade by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Shane E. Lee, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward G. Miller, and Major (Retired) Michael A. Thomas 13

The BFSB is the only modular brigade whose primary purpose is collecting information to satisfy division, corps, or JTF intelligence requirements, especially PIR.3 It can identify, track, and neutralize threats within its own capabilities or pass intelligence to adjacent units to enable and support area security operations over wide areas. Although interim BFSBs have deployed in support of OIF since 2007, the first BFSB, organized as designed, deployed in support of OEF in late summer

2010. The current BFSB is the result of along process, beginning with the development of the modular force in 2004:  Summer-late fall 2004 — reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) brigade organized with MI battalion and reconnaissance squadron (later removed).  March-August 2005 — General Wallace (commanding general, Combined Arms Center) directed TRAC and RAND studies, which identified requirements for BFSB ground recon.  August-October 2005 — General Wallace directed the design of a battalion-level recon and surveillance unit for BFSB, and signed requirements determination for reconnaissance and surveillance (R&S) battalion.  October 2005 — R&S battalion requirement necessitates redesign of

BFSB.

 November-December 2005 — General Petraeus (then CG, CAC) signed requirements determination for BFSB redesign, which was sent to Department of the Army for approval.  February-March 2006 — Director, Force Modernization, proposed 3-star vetting of BFSB design prior to vice chief of staff requirements approval brief; design approval modified.  March 2008-April 2010 — U. S. Army Armor School assumed BFSB proponency; field manual approved. Mission and Roles The BFSB performs a multitude of functions for the supported commander. It performs two major functions in support of division or corps PIR, which include conducting reconnaissance and surveillance tasks (to include MI discipline collection); and reinforcing the collection capabilities of other modular brigades as necessary.4 It is the second role that makes the BFSB uniquely well-suited to support area security over wide areas. The BFSB’s human intelligence (HUMINT) collection teams (HCT), multifunctional teams (MFTs), signal intelligence (SIGINT) platoons, and counterintelligence teams support nearly every brigade in a division or corps area of operations (AO). The combat information they collect is not limited to answering brigade combat team (BCT) PIRs. When fused with information collected throughout the division or corps AO and analyzed by the BFSB’s fusion element, the resulting actionable intelligence supports area security operations, improves situational understanding throughout the AO, and allows the commander to make informed decisions and allocate appropriate resources to accomplish operational objectives. Reconnaissance and surveillance tasks are not limited to the BFSB’s mounted troops and long-range surveillance (LRS) company; its HUMINT soldiers conduct human reconnaissance and surveillance and its SIGINT soldiers conduct signals reconnaissance and surveillance. Similarly, the BFSB’s counterintelligence soldiers conduct a form of counterreconnaissance directed against threat collection attempts. When formed into combined arms reconnaissance and surveillance teams, BFSB soldiers are capable of producing multiple and complementary layers of combat information. The BFSB’s combined reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and analysis capabilities provide a single source for information and intelligence previously unavailable to operational-level commanders. BFSB roles. The BFSB is capable of serving in a number of additional roles directly related to concepts described in the Army Capstone and Operating Concepts. The most important roles include:  Early entry. Among other tasks, BFSB elements can conduct population assessments, coordinate with host-nation forces, and conduct reconnaissance of host-nation infrastructure and transportation networks. The LRS company, teamed with other BFSB elements, can participate directly in joint forcible entry (JFE) operations.  Early follow on. The BFSB has the capability to follow and support assault forces by assisting with expansion of the lodgment area; identifying potential threats; making contact with the transitional government; coordinating with joint, interagency, intergovernment or multinational elements operating in the AO; and enhancing the situational understanding of follow-on BCTs as they occupy their AOs.  Economy of force. The BFSB mitigates risk in AOs where BCTs are not otherwise available. The brigade identifies and neutralizes threats within its capabilities, provides early warning when threats exceed its capabilities, and conducts battle handover with maneuver forces as required by the situation. Figure 1. BFSB organization5 14

 Identifying, tracking, and defeating threat networks. Since the BFSB is a network, it is well positioned to identify, track, and ultimately defeat threat networks during stability operations. Its combination of target interdiction teams, mounted scouts, and MI assets allow it to neutralize threats using both lethal and nonlethal means and to develop additional intelligence for use by other modular brigades and BCTs.  Echelons above brigade (EAB) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) integration, synchronization, and technical exploitation coordination. The BFSB is organized to support ISR integration and synchronization tasks now performed by task force observe, detect, identify, and neutralize (ODIN) with limited augmentation. BFSB MFTs already trained, organized, and equipped for site exploitation, can enhance the technical intelligence (TECHINT) functions currently performed by Task Forces Troy and Paladin by teaming with explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel.  EAB ISR command and control. The BFSB is a modular brigade designed to receive attachments. It has a robust headquarters, comparable in size to a BCT, and provides the capability to command and control (C2) both organic and attached units, including maneuver, manned and unmanned aviation, fires, and echelons above division ISR assets. This C2 capability enables the supported commander (division/corps JTF) to focus on planning and executing the overall operation rather than subordinate unit execution. The BFSB has the capability to C2 dispersed operations through the employment of a main command post and tactical command post. Operational and Organizational Design The BFSB’s operational principles provide a concise description of the current BFSB and how it operates:  The BFSB is the only modular brigade whose primary purpose is collecting information to satisfy division, corps, or JTF information requirements, especially PIR.  The BFSB collects combat information and, as directed, develops actionable intelligence for the supported commander consistent with mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, civil considerations (METT-TC).

 The BFSB is not designed to conduct reconnaissance in force. It can, however, perform all other reconnaissance tasks within the limitations of METT-TC.  As a rule, the BFSB does not fight for information. When directed by the commander, however, small units within the organization may be required to fight for information at their level.  The BFSB is a lightly armed organization. It normally avoids direct-fire contact with the enemy during reconnaissance and surveillance operations unless fleeting opportunities outweigh the risks of engagement; for example, observation of a high-payoff target that requires immediate engagement or capture.  The BFSB is a modular brigade designed to accept augmentation. The intent of this augmentation, however, is to enhance the brigade’score reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities rather than replicate a BCT’s capability for close combat.  The BFSB is a dual-role force. It not only performs intelligence collection and reconnaissance and surveillance tasks, but also reinforces the collection capabilities of other modular brigades as necessary.  While the factors of METT-TC vary widely depending on the operational theme, such as major combat operations (MCO) versus irregular warfare operations, the BFSB will generally perform the same types of missions across the spectrum of conflict.  The BFSB is especially well suited to identify and locate irregular forces within an AO; its capability to identify and locate enemy conventional maneuver formations is limited by its force structure.6 Changing these principles would require significant doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) adjustments. For example, the BFSB currently does not conduct reconnaissance-in-force missions. Organizational and equipment changes could enable the BFSB to conduct these missions, but may limit the unit’s ability to interact with the population to identify and locate threats operating in an AO. Deployed BFSBs have already performed a variety of area security tasks over wide areas. The BFSB’s employment along the Iraq-Syria border provides an excellent example. A task organized BFSB employed combined arms reconnaissance and surveillance to consistently produce high-quality actionable intelligence, which led to the successful interdiction of insurgent infiltration into the corps AO. This intelligence production capability, however, could be significantly enhanced with additional personnel for the unit’s fusion cell. The BFSB is neither an MI brigade nor a lighter version of an armored cavalry regiment. It is a full spectrum, combined arms (based on the expanded definition of combined arms) reconnaissance and surveillance unit that bears little resemblance to either of these two organizations.7 The BFSB consists of a reconnaissance and surveillance squadron, with two ground reconnaissance troops and a LRS “Reconnaissance and surveillance tasks are not limited to the BFSB’s mounted troops and long-range surveillance (LRS) company; its HUMINT soldiers conduct human reconnaissance and surveillance and its SIGINT soldiers conduct signals reconnaissance and surveillance. Similarly, the BFSB’s counterintelligence soldiers conduct a form of counterreconnaissance directed against threat collection attempts.” 15 company; an MI battalion, with a technical collection company; a collection and exploitation company; and a counterintelligence/HUMINT company. The BFSB is supported by a brigade support company and signal network support company; Active Component BFSBs have one organic and one assigned MI battalion. Mounted reconnaissance troops. The BFSB’s mounted reconnaissance troops distinguish this unit from earlier MI brigades. They are the base on which combined arms reconnaissance and surveillance teams are built. Army of Excellence MI brigades lacked the ability to form these teams and relied instead on supported brigades to provide the security necessary to enable MI discipline collection. When task organized with assets of the MI battalion, these troops can collect a wide variety of combat information, ranging from threat locations to route classification data and population demographics, while simultaneously providing security for site exploitation and MI discipline collection. LRS company. BFSB LRS companies are the only LRS companies in the Army. Unlike their predecessors in Army of Excellence MI brigades, the BFSB’s LRS company is fully motorized and can therefore not only conduct air and waterborne insertions, but can also insert mounted from relatively protected platforms, such as the mine resistant ambush protected all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV), which current BFSBs are scheduled to draw in theater. The vehicle is designed to offer the same level of protection as the MRAP, with the mobility of an HMMVW. The LRS company generally conducts operations as individually deployed teams and detachments. Its features include 24- hour, all-weather, persistent surveillance and conduct combat assessment; emplace and recover sensors; target interdiction; and limited site exploitation. MI battalion. The MI battalion is organized along functional lines to provide technical collection, exploitation, counterintelligence, and HUMINT support to the BFSB. Among other capabilities, MI battalion companies provide:  Site exploitation through MFTs.  HUMINT (including tactical interrogations, liaison and military source operations, a key component required for threat network identification and tracking).

 SIGINT.

 SIGINT terminal guidance.  Document and media exploitation (DOMEX).

 Counterintelligence. The Army will begin fielding Shadow tactical unmanned aerial system (TUAS) platoons to BFSB MI battalions in the FY 2013/14 timeframe. This aerial capability will enhance the BFSB’s ability to interdict threat networks through precision targeting (SIGINT), extend the BFSB’s ability to communicate over distance, and enhance the unit’s ability to conduct over-the-horizon reconnaissance and surveillance operations. The BFSB can retain full control of all organic MI assets or, when necessary, task organize MI capability packages to support other division/corps support brigades, such as fires, aviation, sustainment, and maneuver enhancement, or provide additional assets to BCTs to thicken organic MI collection capabilities. Fires. While current BFSBs lack organic indirect fire capability, they do have a robust fire support element (FSE) and an air defense airspace management/brigade aviation element (ADAM/BAE). The brigade can effectively plan, coordinate, and direct both Army and joint fires, including rotary and fixed wing assets, in support of its operations. It can also command and control attached indirect fire units as required. The U. S. Air Force has not resourced an organic tactical air control party (TACP) for BFSBs. Sustainment and C2/Communications Operations and Organization Sustainment general. The structure of the brigade support company (BSC) and “BFSB LRS companies are the only LRS companies in the Army. Unlike their predecessors in Army of Excellence MI brigades, the BFSB’s LRS company is fully motorized and can therefore not only conduct air and waterborne insertions, but can also insert mounted from relatively protected platforms, such as the mine resistant ambush protected all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV)...”

the brigade sustainment staff, while austere, adequately supports the organic components of the brigade. Supported division/corps commanders, however, must still ensure that any elements attached to the brigade report have sufficient organic sustainment capability. S1: personnel services support and health services support. The BFSB is structured to provide the same management, planning, and mission execution functions found in other modular brigades. A pending force design update addresses shortfalls in these areas based on the addition of a third reconnaissance troop. S4: sustainment. The S4 section performs the normal internal brigade sustainment planning and oversight functions for food service, maintenance, materiel readiness, and automated sustainment systems. In concert with the S3, the S4 is also responsible for support operations functions, which include the development and synchronization of sustainment operations, including resupply, transportation, maintenance, field services, and health services, as well as coordination with the combat sustainment support battalion/brigade (CSSB) as required. This function is performed by the forward support battalion in other BCTs and support brigades, and recent lessons learned indicate that this section would be more effective if moved to the BSC. Additional personnel for the support operations section may also be required to more effectively manage sustainment operations for any attachments to the BFSB. The brigade support company. The BSC conducts sustainment for organic elements of the brigade only. The BSC is not organized to support attached elements, nor does it perform sustainment operations functions. Specifically, the BSC provides field feeding support; water; distribution (including POL); a supply support activity; maintenance support, which includes maintenance control; and recovery/evacuation support. The reconnaissance and surveillance squadron and organic MI battalion receive maintenance support from teams that operate in their field trains locations. The BSC can also organize forward logistics elements to help ensure uninterrupted sustainment of the battalion and squadron. The brigade’s organic capacity can sustain operations for up to 72 continuous hours and receives replenishment and higher echelon maintenance support directly from the CSSB and/or medical battalion/brigade. The BSC does not have a dedicated command post node (CPN) or joint network node (JNN) and relies on an existing node for connectivity with elements of the BFSB and supporting sustainment organizations. C2 information systems and signal network support company. The brigade S6 supervises the employment, management, configuration, and protection of the brigade’s communications network and its interface with other Army, joint, multinational, and interagency networks and services. The section task organizes to form a network management team, a signal systems integration oversight/information dissemination management section, an information assurance and computer network defense team, and a communications security team. A relatively small (40-soldier) organic signal network support company provides the brigade’s connection to the Army’s LandWarNet global network enterprise. This company establishes and maintains connectivity via high capacity line of sight (LOS), satellite and joint network node services, including classified networks to the brigade’s command posts and BSC. The network support company also provides the brigade with the ability to extend internal brigade networks, such as the enhanced position location and reporting system (EPLRS), to ensure tactical line of sight and beyond line of sight (BLOS) network continuity to subordinate units during operations. Current equipment authorizations enable the brigade to function at a desired doctrinal level, but experience to date indicates the requirement for an additional command post node. Capability Requirements, 2016-2028 Vision. As currently organized and resourced, the BFSB has limited ability to perform the full range of find, fix, finish, exploit, analyze, and decide (F3EAD) tasks necessary to support operations across a corps or division AO. The future organization must be able to employ current and emerging surveillance assets, to include integration of joint assets, conducting physical ground and aerial reconnaissance, avoiding decisive engagements, and conducting MI discipline collection. The organization must also be staffed to accept additional combat multipliers, such as engineers, maneuver elements, and other supporting elements. To realize its full potential and enable the Army to meet the objectives outlined in the Army Capstone Concept, the BFSB will require additional reconnaissance assets, organic fire support, and additional diverse staff elements. The unit will also require a greater analytical capability based on the volume of combat information it collects and the scope of its mission. Force design update (FDU) approval and resourcing. The Maneuver Center of Excellence’s mounted requirements division recently submitted an FDU to:  Increase the personnel strength of the BFSB’s scout platoons to 36 soldiers mounted on six platforms per platoon.  Add an additional mounted troop.  Add a 120mm mortar section per troop. The FDU recommends the minimum essential capabilities required to enhance the squadron’s ability to conduct the full range of tasks, which are required of all reconnaissance squadrons, and improve its ability to survive chance contact and avoid decisive engagement. This FDU is critical to ensure the BFSB is capable of operating and surviving under uncertain and complex environments, which are envisioned into the 2016-2028 timeframe. Additional fusion and analysis capability. The BFSB’s downward reinforcing role is an important function that enables the BFSB’s wide area view of the AO. To fully realize the potential of this capability, the BFSB requires additional personnel to perform operational level fusion and analysis. Lessons learned from theater indicate that this capability is in high demand. Currently, BFSBs meet this demand through ad hoc organizations built from internal resources. Increasing the organic fusion and analysis capability will improve the effectiveness of the unit’s teams and resolve this problem. “The Army will begin fielding Shadow tactical unmanned aerial system (TUAS) platoons to BFSB MI battalions in the FY 2013/14 timeframe. This aerial capability will enhance the BFSB’s ability to interdict threat networks through precision targeting (SIGINT), extend the BFSB’s ability to communicate over distance, and enhance the unit’s ability to conduct over-the-horizon reconnaissance and surveillance operations.” 17

Improved UAS capability. BFSBs are not scheduled to receive a TUAS platoon until 2013. The unit requires this capability now to add an additional layer of technical collection capability that can cover large areas more efficiently and complement the unit’s other manned and unmanned systems. Additionally, the BFSB requires long endurance, multi-role TUAS, equipped with a wide variety of sensor packages and capable of delivering cargo and conducting limited attack missions. This capability would improve the BFSB’s ability to resupply and support its LRS teams and increase the overall surveillance capabilities of the unit. Staff enablers. The requirements for units assigned an AO vary depending on the situation, but generally include the ability to provide area security for tenant organizations within the AO, such as conducting civil-military operations and public affairs. Although the BFSB is generally not assigned an AO, it may require enablers, such as civil affairs, public affairs, psychological operations, and engineer, which enhance these capabilities. The BFSB may not require organic units to perform these functions routinely, but it does require staffs capable of planning and controlling augmenting units. The BFSB also requires additional liaison officers (LNOs). The BFSB will interact with nearly every brigade in an AO. Additional LNOs will improve the BFSB’s ability to perform area security tasks and enable area security operations across the division or corps AO. Additional analysis. As the BFSB’s mission and roles mature, the Army must use a recognized process to determine appropriate DOTMLPF solutions to emerging Army requirements. A BFSB capabilities-based assessment (CBA), conducted in coordination with a reconnaissance and security (as well as other) functional CBAs, will provide the means to determine the optimal path forward. The BFSB CBA must be supported with appropriate Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) material on the 525th BFSB during its deployment to OEF, as well as appropriate experimentation information. The BFSB’s potential as a force multiplier, capable of defeating threats on its own terms, currently exceeds its actual capabilities. Resourcing the improvements aforementioned in this article will bring the unit’s capabilities in line with its potential. The uncertain and complex environment characterized by persistent conflict requires an adaptable, flexible, full-spectrum unit, such as the BFSB, which is capable of setting conditions for the lasting achievement of the Army’s operational objectives. The BFSB provides a valuable current capability as proven during both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. The BFSB will have a significant role in meeting future Army requirements, to include security over wide areas. The ongoing warfighting function CBA will identify key capabilities requirements and potential gaps in the Army’s modular forces. Future roles and missions for modular brigades may evolve through this analysis. As we develop solutions for these modular brigades to meet the Army’s enduring requirements, we must ensure that the BFSB is analyzed and resourced within the scope of its mission. Notes 1Headquarters, Department of the Army, U. S. Army Field Manual (FM) 3-55.1, Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BFSB), U. S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC, June 2010. 2Ibid., p. 3-1. 3Ibid., p. 2-1. 4Ibid., p. 2-2. 5Ibid., p. 2-4 6Ibid., pp. 2-1, 2-2. 7Defined as “the synchronized and simultaneous application of movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, command and control, protection, joint, interagency, intergov-ernment, multinational, and Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) capabilities — multiplied by leadership and complemented by information.” Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Shane E. Lee is currently an associate, Booz Allen Hamilton, U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Capability Manager-Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BFSB) Support Team, Fort Knox, KY. He received a B. S. from the U. S. Military Academy and an M. S. from the University of Louisville. His military education includes U. S. Army Command and General Staff College, Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and Operations Research and Systems Analysis Military Applications Course. He has served in various command and staff positions, to include associate, BFSB Combat Development, Integration and Warfighting Forum Team, Fort Knox; director, U. S. Army Armor School, Fort Knox; editor in chief, ARMOR Magazine, Fort Knox; second in command, British Army Armored Fighting Vehicle Gunnery School, Lulworth Camp, United Kingdom, and executive officer, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor, Fort Hood, Texas, and Ba’Qubah, Iraq. Major (Retired) Michael Thomas is currently an associate, Booz Allen Hamilton, TRADOC Capability Manager-BFSB Support Team, Fort Knox, KY. He received a B. A. from the University of New Mexico. His military education includes U. S. Marine Corps (USMC) Command and General Staff College, Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and USMC The Basic School. He has served in various command and staff positions, to include associate, BFSB Combat Development, Integration and War fighting Forum Team, Fort Knox; commanding officer, Marine Corps Security Forces, Naval Central Command; and inspector/instructor, 4th Tank Battalion, San Diego, CA. Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward G. Miller is currently an associate, Booz Allen Hamilton, TRADOC Capability Manager-BFSB Support Team, Fort Knox, KY. He received a B. A. and an M. P. S. from Western Kentucky University. His military education includes U. S. Army Command and General Staff College and Ordnance Officer Advanced Course. He has served in various organizations, to include Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Pentagon; Army Initiatives Group, Headquarters, Department of the Army G3/5/7, Pentagon; U. S. Army Special Operations Agency, Pentagon; and served as executive officer, 47th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Germany. “As currently organized and resourced, the BFSB has limited ability to perform the full range of find, fix, finish, exploit, analyze, and decide (F3EAD) tasks necessary to support operations across a corps or division AO. The future organization must be able to employ current and emerging surveillance assets, to include integration of joint assets, conducting physical ground and aerial reconnaissance, avoiding decisive engagements, and conducting MI discipline collection.” 18