US ARMY MODULAR BRIGADES

US ARMY MODULAR BRIGADES

ORGANIZATIONAL FLAGS

The US Army's modular brigades were created to supplement the UEx divisions. The Maneuver Enhancement, Battlefield Surveillance and Sustainment brigades control most of the assets that were assigned to thedivision support command (DISCOM) under the previous organizational scheme. Though the modular brigades have a standard structure, additional assets can be plugged in as needed to support a UEx field force. For example, the Battlefield Surveillance Brigade consists of a special troops battalion (headquarters company, signal company and brigade support company) two military intelligence (MI) battalions and a cavalry reconnaissance squadron. However, depending on the mission profile, a third MI battalion or separate company, an MP company, a transportation company, etc. could be attached to the brigade. In addition to these combat support and combat service support brigade types, the Army force structure includes a number of separate modular Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) and Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT), mostly in the Army National Guard (ARNG). They are due to be augmented with a third maneuver battalion and extra FA assets. Some of the ARNG modular brigades, such as the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, use the shoulder sleeve insignia and perpetuate the lineage of former infantry divisions and separate combat brigades. The Regular Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment is organized as an ABCT.

The organizational flags of modular brigades follow the standard pattern for separate brigades: vertically divided, with the hoist stripe in the first-named branch color and the fly stripe in the second-named branch color. Infantry, Armored, Field Artillery, Battlefield Surveillance and Sustainment brigades use the branch colors for Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery, Military Intelligence and Support units respectively. (Exceptionally, flags for separate Infantry brigades have stripes of national flag blue and scarlet, though the Infantry branch colors are light blue and white.) Cavalry regiments organized as ABCTs carry their organizational color. Because they control units from several different branches with none predominating, Maneuver Enhancement brigades use the colors for Branch Immaterial: teal blue and yellow. Flag dimensions are 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly with 2 1/2-inch yellow fringe and the brigade shoulder sleeve insignia in proper colors centered. The flags are made of heavyweight rayon banner cloth with insignia applied to appear properly on both sides. Campaign and unit decoration streamers, if authorized, are always displayed with organizational flags.

See also UEx Combat Divisions and Functional Brigades.

Reflagging of Brigades: In 2014-15, the separate fires brigades associated with divisions of the Regular Army were reflagged as division artillery (DIVARTY) headquarters. For example, the 41st Fires Brigade is now 1st Cavalry Division Artillery. This was done to centralize training of the field artillery battalions organic to brigade combat teams and to provide division-level fire support coordination and control. Remaining fires brigades were redesignated field artillery brigades and their mission will be to provide fire support coordination and control at the corps and theater levels. Separate sustainment brigades associated with divisions of the Regular Army were reflagged as division sustainment brigades. For example, the 1st Sustainment Brigade is now the Division Sustainment Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. The modular battlefield surviellance brigades have been reorganized and redisgnated as expeditionarly military intelligence brigades.

Note on the Illustrations: Flags of RA support brigades are shown on the left; those of ARNG guard support brigades are shown on the right. The two combat brigades depicted are both ARNG units. Active links in descriptions point to pages depicting the guidons of subordinate units.