Fort Carson infantry brigade converts to Stryker brigade

New Beginnings: Fort Carson infantry brigade converts to Stryker brigade

By Neysa Canfield

Throughout history the U.S. Army has proven, through multiple spectrums of operations and locations, that it is the most lethal and capable ground combat force.

To continue to shape the Army to remain lethal and ready for any type of mission, in September of 2018 the Army announced the conversion of two brigade combat teams, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas and the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

Nearly two years after the announcement, leaders and Soldiers gathered, both physically and virtually, in order to abide by social distancing guidelines, for the brigade’s re-designation ceremony, June 15, on Fort Carson, Colorado.

“Today the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team officially becomes the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team,” said Col. Scott Knight, commander of the 2nd SBCT during his speech. “This is a day that will be added to a long and rich history for our unit. A history that we will honor and carry forward.”

During the ceremony, Knight and Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarland, commanding general for the 4th Inf. Div., talked about the brigade’s history and future from an infantry brigade to Stryker brigade.

“When this re-designation was first announced, then Secretary of the Army Esper said this shift was part of a broader strategy to ensure that our Army remain the most lethal ground combat force able to deploy, fight and win against any adversary, anytime, anywhere,” said McFarland. “And while we don’t know where or when the next fight will take place, Stryker’s will certainly be a key part of that fight against any potential threat.”

Knight added that the brigade began their conversion process in the fall of last year. Since the beginning of the brigade’s conversion the unit has turned in more than 11,000 pieces of equipment no longer need for a Stryker brigade and has received more than 30% of Stryker vehicles, as well as adjusting personnel manning.

Since the beginning of the process, organizationally, the brigade has closed three infantry companies across the units maneuver battalions and gained one new troop, Echo Troop, to the brigade’s squadron.

The brigade’s efforts throughout the conversion have not been unnoticed by senior leaders.

“Today’s conversion of 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division to a Stryker Brigade represents the culmination of a major Army transformation effort which began in 2013 with the addition of a third maneuver battalion for each BCT (brigade combat team),” said Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn, director of operations and strategic plans for the Department of the Army. “Soldiers of 2nd Brigade should take pride in their hard work as they complete this conversion and prepare for their certification exercise at Fort Irwin. Soldiers of 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry, can be very proud of what they’ve already accomplished as they look forward to future challenges.”

According to the brigade leadership the unit plans to finalize their conversion in late 2021.

“You’ve spent countless hours working through property books and paperwork and you’ve initiated your OPNET (operator new equipment training) and your FLMNET, (field level maintenance new equipment training) and all of it is essential to making the conversion such a success,” said McFarland. “I am proud of the work you’ve done to date and I look forward watching you as you continue to embrace this vehicle.”

What is a Stryker Brigade?

What is a Stryker Brigade Combat Team?
The Stryker Brigade Combat Team – or SBCT – is an infantry-centric unit with 3,600 soldiers that combines many of the best characteristics of the current Army forces and exploits technology to fill a current operations capability gap between the Army’s heavy and light forces.
The SBCT is capable of conducting missions across the range of military operations, and it provides combatant commanders increased operational and tactical flexibility. The Army designed the SBCT to be operationally effective in low through high intensity combat operations. The SBCT’s
key operational capabilities include:
1) increased operational and tactical mobility
2) enhanced situational awareness and understanding 3) combined arms integration down to company level 4) lethal and non-lethal joint effects.

The SBCT’s capabilities differ significantly from those found in traditional divisional brigades, primarily due to an impressive array of units organic to the SBCT. In addition to its three infantry battalions, the SBCT has a cavalry squadron for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA), a brigade support battalion, a field artillery battalion, a military intelligence company, an engineer company, a signal company, an anti-tank company, and a headquarters company. Traditional infantry brigades are only organized with these capabilities for large training exercises or for war. In the SBCT, these units train together year-round.

The SBCT leverages advanced Command, Control, Computer, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems that enable the brigade personnel to “see” the entire battlefield and react before engaging the enemy. This is commonly referred to as “See First, Understand First, and Act First – and finish decisively, at a time and place of our own choosing.” The SBCT’s all weather intelligence and surveillance capabilities, together with its digitized systems, enable it to maintain 24-hour distributed operations on a non-contiguous battlefield against traditional and asymmetric adversaries throughout an area 50 x 50 kilometers.

To achieve decisive action in various types of terrain, including urban settings, the SBCT possesses a combined arms capability at the company level. Stryker Brigade companies are standing combined arms teams consisting of: A Mobile Gun platoon, Mortar platoon (consisting of 120mm and 60mm mortars), Forward Observers, sniper team and 3 Infantry line platoons. Designed to achieve decisive action through dismounted infantry assault, companies support themselves with enhanced organic direct fires from their vehicle-mounted primary weapons systems, as well as indirect fire support from mortars and artillery.
SBCTS also provide valuable insights for future transformation. The SBCT trains agile and adaptive junior leaders and soldiers today to be the Objective Force leaders of the future. Lessons learned in the fielding and operations of SBCTs will provide insights for the doctrine, training, organization and sustainment of the Objective Force.
Combatant Commanders’ future threats require forces that can deploy worldwide, where U.S. access is limited, connect to robust command and control networks, and fight and win. The fielding of six Stryker Brigades supports the execution of the Defense Planning Guidance, and enables the Army to provide the right force to the right place at the right time.