Alternative Organizations for Interim/Stryker Brigade Combat Teams

Abstract

Abstract : This paper examines a key element of the Army's Transformation program--the Interim or Stryker Brigade Combat Team (I/SBCT). The purpose of this research is to study the basic organization of the I/SBCT with the goal of identifying alternative organizational structures for the teams. These alternative structures may prove useful in several situations. Alternative structures might be useful if programming decisions by the Department of Defense or Army leadership change the Army's plan to field the number of I/SBCTs currently programmed. In this scenario, in lieu of fielding fewer of the current-sized I/SBCTs, the Army might elect to field the planned six teams with a lower vehicle density or less organic capability than currently envisioned. Secondly, alternative structures may be sought if the current I/SBCT organization proves in practice to be less capable, in one of several areas, than envisioned or desired. The Army is bringing the I/SBCT into being in an accelerated fashion that combines development, experimentation and fielding into a parallel process. In this accelerated procurement program for the I/SBCT, the Army may yet discover that the current structure can't achieve goals for deployment, employment, sustainment or training. Finally, if the Army decides at some point in the future to field I/SBCT-type capabilities to other segments of the legacy force it may very well consider different structures than the I/SBCT baseline. Fielding the Objective Force is tied directly to technological breakthroughs that will make the Future Combat System (FOS) possible. If FOS technology fails to mature rapidly enough or if programming decisions delay Objective Force fielding, it is conceivable the Army might decide to spread I/SBCT capabilities to a larger segment of the legacy force in the interim. This paper will analyze these scenarios and briefly examine three potential alternative I/SBCT structures to apply against them.