BfSB

[reed11b]

So the Alaska National Guard has decided (or more to the point had it decided for them) that they are going to change there infantry units into a BfSB (Battlefield Surveillance Brigade). For those of you who are familiar with what a BfSB is, could somebody please, please tell what there actual purpose is? Are they removing the ISTAR capabilities from the HBCTs and SBCT's? And why does it make sense to have a very perishable and complicated skill set regulated to the NG? Especially the Alaska Guard that has had all kinds of difficulties in the not very distant past? Really, I mean it, I want somebody to convince me that this is a GOOD idea and has great merit so that I can stop bitching about it and angering my superiors.
Reed
P.S. I have shelved the 68x MH specialist job and have chosen to return to the infantry, where I am much happier.

[Ken White]

You've probably seen these (LINK), (LINK),or have more info on it than is here but given the talent of the Scouts, it fits.

Georgia Guard has one and it's doing okay.

[reed11b]

You've probably seen these (LINK), (LINK),or have more info on it than is here but given the talent of the Scouts, it fits.

Georgia Guard has one and it's doing okay.

Alaska Guard has had nominal performance and personel ratings for over two decades now. Our reading and technical ASVAB scores are the lowest in the NG. What State mission does a BfSB have? If a BfSB makes any sense (and other then Ken's word, I find little to recommend it) it would be in the form of an active duty component unit. So HOW is it a good idea? Ken, you are normally fairly verbose and clear, so lets have it.
Reed
<<runs for cover...

[Ken White]

with the Scouts of the 207th...

First, AVSAB and Tech Test scores are not the be all and end all for many jobs. Test score are absolutely not a predictor of combat skills, I'll tell anyone...

The AK Guard probably has had "<i>"nominal performance and personel ratings for over two decades now"</i> due to the fact that the US Army -- and thus the ArNG -- has been wandering around in the marginally competent mode for two decades. IOW, we've lost our way -- so people got graded not on how well they can do their job but on how they look and their paperwork. Neither one of those things count for much in a war.

What state Mission does an Infantry Battalion have? What State Mission does an Eskimo Scout Det have? What State Mission did I have as a Tanker in the SC ArNG in 1948? Or A Cannoneer in the Ky Guard the year before that (I did get to go to the Derby for free on a state Mission... )? I've got a Guard Strategic Signal outfit near where I live -- they could pass out water after a Hurricane as well as the Rifle Company from the same Armory.

Secondly, most of the ~1,500 -2,000 folks in the AK ArNG (last time I checked) were from rural areas and most were natives in the two Scout Bns -- how much and how good schooling? I wouldn't expect 'em to have great scores -- nor would I care that they don't, there'll be enough smart city boys to man the high tech side (just like those who man the AK Air Guard and Army Guard avn units). Most of the Scouts have bred in and environmentally enhanced scouting skills that no amount of training can replicate; they're great scouts and I can't think of any group of people who could do a better job of long range surveillance. They're a national treasure whether you like 'em or not. Like I said, it's a natural fit.

As to that the population factor and the size of the Guard and you couldn't support more than one regular Infantry Bn, the two Scout Bns are small -- a BfSB is small. Sorry you're unhappy, I still think it's a good idea.

[Uboat509]

I worked with these guys at JRTC in the mid nineties. I was not all that impressed. We all had heard about their mythical tracking skills but we never saw it. They weren't bad soldiers as NG goes but they certainly weren't any kind of super scouts that I could see.

SFC W

[Ken White]

Try 'em in Alaska. They do cold and ugly -- hot LA (even in winter) isn't their locale without some additional training.

Not that they're super soldiers or super scouts, long as I was around only met three of those (and I sure wasn't one). Good, yes -- but not super, job's too hard for more than one out of a 100K or so (if that many) to be super. No unit is gong to be super and even the good ones go through bad patches.

[BayonetBrant]

The BfSB is just the old corps MI BDE with shift toward a HUMINT/CI focus and away from many of the 'big' systems like GSRs. There's no significant change in the mission from when they were corps MI, but as a part of all the other terminology changes (what's the actual difference between a "brigade" and "brigade combat team") we just had to have one more.

As to state missions, unless you're expecting mass riots somewhere that need a large influx of troops to augment the local PD (a la LA '92) you'll be fine with a BfSB.

[TAH]

So the Alaska National Guard has decided (or more to the point had it decided for them) that they are going to change there infantry units into a BfSB (Battlefield Surveillance Brigade). For those of you who are familiar with what a BfSB is, could somebody please, please tell what there actual purpose is? Are they removing the ISTAR capabilities from the HBCTs and SBCT's? And why does it make sense to have a very perishable and complicated skill set regulated to the NG? Especially the Alaska Guard that has had all kinds of difficulties in the not very distant past? Really, I mean it, I want somebody to convince me that this is a GOOD idea and has great merit so that I can stop bitching about it and angering my superiors.
Reed
P.S. I have shelved the 68x MH specialist job and have chosen to return to the infantry, where I am much happier.

BFSBs are an out-growth of the transformation/modularization of the Army. In one respect, they are a combination of the "old" division Military Intell (MI) Bns and the Theater Intell Bde (TIB).

MI had advocacy/proponency for a while, did nothing with it and it got punted over to the Armor/Cav branch as a "recon" issue.

Lots of Counter-intel and HUMINT types in the BFSB's MI Bn (s). By design there are supposed to be 2 MI Bns and a Recon Sqdrn. Most BFSBs are finding it hard to field more then one MI Bn. Of the 10-11 projected, 4 are active and the rest are Army National Guard.

In no way shape or form can a BFSB do what an "old" division cavalry sqdrn or ACR could do. The ACR function will end up being done by a BCT and DIV CAV is still being explored.

The MI Bns has lots of HUMINT teams, lots of Counter-intel teams, a Prophet SIGINT team of 3-4 collectors and a Shadow UAV team. Pretty much more of the same capabilities found in a BCT.

The recon Sqdron has two recon troops of 2 platoons and a Long-Range Recon/Surveillance Co.

Great unit to pair up with a rear-area HQs for RACO or to reinforce a Main Effort BCT. Not enough capability alone to meet the information needs/requirements of a DIV, Corps /JTF commander.