FM 3-96 — Brigade Combat Team
FM 3-96 governs brigade combat team organization and employment across decisive action and military operations.
- Publication number: FM 3-96
- Title: BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM
- Date: 01/19/2021
- Proponent: T2COM
- Status: ACTIVE
View FM 3-96 on armypubs.army.mil
FM 3-96 describes the Infantry, Stryker, and Armored brigade combat teams, including their missions, capabilities, limitations, and internal organization. It addresses operations in offensive, defensive, and stability contexts, along with threats, mission command, reconnaissance and security, and sustainment.
Applies to: FM 3-96 applies to the Active Army, the Army National Guard/the Army National Guard of the United States, and the United States Army Reserve unless otherwise stated.
Topics covered
- Brigade combat team organization
- Operational environment
- Large-scale combat operations
- Mission command
- Reconnaissance and security
- Offensive operations
- Defensive operations
- Stability operations
Questions and answers
What is reconnaissance-pull?
Reconnaissance that determines which routes are suitable for maneuver, where the enemy is strong and weak, and where gaps exist, thus pulling the main body toward and along the path of least resistance. (paragraph 5-56)
What is reconnaissance-push?
Reconnaissance that refines the common operational picture, enabling the commander to finalize the plan and support shaping and decisive operations. (paragraph 5-57)
How is surveillance defined in FM 3-96?
Surveillance is the systematic observation of aerospace, cyberspace, surface, or subsurface areas, places, persons, or things by visual, aural, electronic, photographic, or other means (JP 3-0). (paragraph 5-59)
What is a relief in place?
An operation in which, by direction of higher authority, all or part of a unit is replaced in an area by the incoming unit and the responsibilities of the replaced elements for the mission and the assigned zone of operations are transferred to the incoming unit. (paragraph 9-186)
What is a level III threat?
A level III threat is an enemy force or activities beyond the defensive capability of both the base and base cluster and any local reserve or response force (ATP 3-91). (paragraph 9-184)