The document discusses Interim Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT), including: - An IBCT is a 3,400 troop motorized infantry brigade with towed artillery and a 240 troop reconnaissance squadron. - IBCTs require converting 20% of today's combat force and are focused on high-end small scale conflicts and urban warfare. - IBCTs depend on augmentation from division/corps assets and are not capable of autonomous joint task force operations without additional support. - There is a question around why the Army needs to provide a capability for small scale conflict that may be redundant to the US Marine Corps' capabilities.

1. Interim Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT)
(continued)
• Normal Combat Weight 37, 796
lbs.
• Remote Weapons Station
MK 19/.50 cal Machine gun
• Superior Ride Quality/Low
Interior Noise Reduces Crew
Fatigue
• Low Acoustic Signature
• Roll-On/Roll-Off Capable With
C130 Aircraft
According to General Motors sources at the AUSA Symposium on 9
November, 2001, to cope with 14.5 mm armor piercing ammunition, more
armor is required that will raise the weight to 20+ tons. This increases
mean failure times for engine and chassis and raises questions about
LAV’s C130 deployability. LAV profile is already higher than M1 tank.
To provide RPG protection, LAV weight without turret rises to 27 tons.
Added armor robs LAV of any current agility or fuel efficiency.

2. Interim Brigade Combat Team
X
3,400
troops
l ll ll
RSTA ll l l
HHC BSB MI
In organizational terms, the IBCT is a light, 3,400 man motorized
infantry brigade in a motorized infantry division with towed artillery
and a 240 man reconnaissance (RSTA) squadron.
The Army insists that the tactical mobility operational tempo of the
IBCT is greater than the current force, but it would have to be
demonstrated under a variety of tactical and logistical conditions.
Current DPG scenarios could be employed.
The capability to run down a hard surfaced road a little faster, and
use less fuel is beneficial under certain conditions, but it does not
automatically create the capability for greater operational tempo.

3. Interim Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT): A Force for the High
End of Small-Scale Conflict and Urban Warfare?
• Interim Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) require conversion of 20%
of today’s combat force to motorized infantry brigades that are
focused on high-end of small scale conflict or peace enforcement
missions.
Future IBCTs will be organized into interim divisions. 3,400
man IBCT depends on augmentation from division/corps assets
for effectiveness.
IBCTs are not capable of autonomous operations within a
JTF - not Joint-capable without augmentation from division
troops and headquarters.
IBCTs were designed in isolation from the joint environment
and include those items the Army senior leaders decided to
incorporate.
Question: The USMC is already ideally structured for small-sale
conflict. The Army has yet to demonstrate why it must provide a
redundant, albeit less robust capability for this mission too.