Provost Marshal

3-112. The provost marshal is responsible for planning, coordinating, and employing all organic, assigned, or attached military police assets. Usually, the provost marshal is the senior military police officer in the command. He augments the staff with a small planning cell that works within the S-3 typically. The provost marshal prepares a portion of Annex C (Operations) and a portion of Annex E (Protection) to the operation order. (Refer to FM 3-39 for additional information.)

Note. The brigade special troops battalion that converts to a brigade engineer battalion within the

BCT no longer has a military police platoon. Military police support mission requirements are coordinated through the provost marshal to the echelon above the BCT.

A

3-113. Often, Army headquarters receive augmentation teams to assist with mission command. The commander integrates these teams and detachments into their command posts. For example, a division may receive an Army space support team when deployed. An Army space support team within a division can provide the BCT with space-related planning that may directly affect BCT operations. Critical space-related information provided to BCT operations includes navigation accuracy forecasts for planning and conducting mission and maneuver operations in support of fires and targeting effects. Space operations identify deliberate enemy interference activities such as attempts to jam friendly communications systems and navigation warfare that directly impacts targeting and maneuver forces. The BCT commander may request staff augmentation. Augmentation teams include but are not limited to—

z Army space support team. (See FM 3-14.)

z Army cyberspace operations support team. (See FM 3-38.) z Civil affairs planning team. (See FM 3-57.)

z Combat camera team. (See ATP 3-55.12.)

z Legal support teams. (See FM 1-04.)

z Mobile public affairs detachment. (See FM 3-61.) z Military history detachment. (See ATP 1-20.)

z Military information support operations units. (See FM 3-53.) z Army information operations field support team. (See FM 3-13)

z Individual augmentation by specialty (assessment or economic development).

COMMAND POST ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION

3-114. A command post is a unit headquarters where the commander and his staff perform their activities (FM 6-0). The BCT design, combined with robust communications, gives the commander two command posts,the main command post and the tactical command post, and a command group. The BCT commander may designate the main command post of a subordinate battalion, normally the field artillery battalion, as the BCT alternate command post. Either the brigade support battalion or the brigade special troops battalion (and when replaced, the brigade engineer battalion) main command post may be assigned responsibility for the brigade support area (see chapter 9). The brigade support area is a designated area in which sustainment elements locate to provide support to a brigade (ATP 4-90).

3-115. The BCT commander organizes these command posts by staff sections or staff cells. Organizing the staff among command posts, and into cells within command posts, expands the commander’s ability to exercise mission command and makes the system survivable. The commander assigns functions and tasks to each command post. The commander determines the sequence, timing of the deployment or movement, initial locations, and exact organization of command posts.

3-116. Command post survivability is vital to the success of the BCT mission. Command posts often gain survivability at the price of effectiveness. When concentrated, the enemy can easily acquire and target most command posts. However, when elements of a command post disperse, they often have difficulty maintaining a coordinated staff effort. When developing command post standard operating procedures and organizing headquarters into command posts for operations, the BCT commander uses dispersion, size, redundancy, and mobility to increase survivability.

3-117. Echelons within the BCT man, equip, and organize command posts to control operations for extended periods. Command post personnel maintain communication with all subordinate units and higher and adjacent units. The commander arranges command post personnel and equipment to facilitate internal coordination, information sharing, and rapid decisionmaking. The BCT commander and staff use standard operating procedures, battle rhythms, and meetings to assist with command post operations. (Refer to FM 6-0 for additional information.)

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3-118. The main command post is a facility containing the majority of the staff designed to control current operations, conduct detailed analysis, and plan future operations (FM 6-0). The main command post is the BCT’s principal command post. The main command post includes representatives of all staff sections and a full suite of information systems to plan, prepare, execute, and assess operations. The main command post is larger in size and staffing and less mobile than the tactical command post. Normally, the BCT executive officer leads and supervises the staff of the main command post. Functions of the main command post include the following:

z Planning current operations including branches and sequels.

z Developing contingency plans from identified branches to the plan. z Developing plans from information from higher headquarters. z Developing plans from sequels identified during the planning process.

z Controlling and synchronizing current operations.

z Synchronizing all aspects of the operational framework (see ADRP 3-0) such as—

„ Deep, close, and security. „ Decisive, shaping, and sustaining. „ Main and supporting efforts.

z Monitoring and assessing current operations for their impact on future operations. z Coordinating fires and effects.

z Synchronizing information-related capabilities; capabilities complemented by capabilities such as— „ Operations security. „ Information assurance. „ Counterdeception. „ Physical security.

„ Electronic warfare support. „ Electronic protection.

z Coordinating cyber electromagnetic activities including—

„ Electronic warfare. „ Cyberspace operations.

„ Spectrum management operations.

z Planning for future operations. z Employing information collection.

z Anticipating and monitoring the commander’s decision points and critical information requirements.

z Coordinating with higher headquarters and adjacent or lateral units. z Informing higher headquarters and units of ongoing missions.

z Supporting the commander’s situational understanding through information and knowledge management.

z Enterprise services and network operations. (See FM 6-02.) z Planning, monitoring, and integrating airspace users.

z Synchronizing sustainment including—

„ Common operational picture across all echelons of support.

„ Synchronization with the operations process; plan, prepare, execute, and assess. „ Alignment with military actions in time and space, prioritization, and purpose. „ Material readiness reports of combat power platforms.

„ Coordination of echelons above brigade sustainment support.

z Developing and implementing—

„ Safety and occupational health. (See AR 385-10.) „ Risk management. (See ATP 5-19.)

„ Accident prevention requirements, policies, and measures.

z Coordinating air-ground operations.

z Coordinating personnel recovery operations. (See FM 3-50.)

3-119. Positioning the main command post includes the following considerations:

z Where the enemy can least affect main command post operations.

z Where the main command post can achieve the best communications (digital and voice). z Where the main command post can control operations best.

Note. In contiguous areas of operation, the BCT main command post locates behind the battalion

tactical command post and the BCT tactical command post, and out of enemy medium artillery range, if practical. In noncontiguous areas of operation, the BCT main command post usually locates within a subordinate battalion’s area of operations.

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3-120. A tactical command post is a facility containing a tailored portion of a unit headquarters designed to control portions of an operation for a limited time (FM 6-0). The BCT commander employs the tactical command post as an extension of the main command post to help control the execution of an operation or

task. The BCT commander can employ the tactical command post to direct the operations of units close to each other when direct command is necessary. The commander can use the tactical command post to control a special task force or to control complex tasks such as reception, staging, onward movement, and integration. When the tactical command post is not used, the staff assigned to it reinforces the main command post. BCT standard operating procedures should address procedures to detach the tactical command post from the main command post.

3-121. The tactical command post is fully mobile and is usually located near the decisive point of the operation. As a rule, the post includes the personnel and equipment essential to the tasks assigned; however, sometimes the tactical command post requires augmentation for security. The tactical command post relies on the main command post for planning, detailed analysis, and coordination. Usually the BCT S-3 leads the tactical command post. Tactical command post functions include the following when employed:

z Control current operations.

z Provide information to the common operational picture. z Assess the progress of operations.

z Assess the progress of higher and adjacent units.

z Perform short-range planning.

z Provide input to targeting and future operations planning.

z Provide a facility for the commander to control operations, issue orders, and conduct rehearsals. 3-122. Airborne mission command support often requires independent operations by aircrews and aircraft under operational control to commanders and staffs down to the BCT and battalion level. An Army airborne mission command platform provides the maneuver commander with a highly mobile, self-contained, and reliable airborne digital command post. The command post is equipped with the mission command systems needed to operate with joint forces and components, multinational forces, and United States government agencies and departments. The airborne mission command platform allows the commander and his staff to maintain voice and digital connectivity with required elements, roughly replicating the systems and capabilities of a digitized maneuver BCT commander’s tactical command post. The commander and staff can perform all mission command and coordination functions from the airborne platform. The airborne platform provides tactical internet access to manipulate, store, manage, and analyze information, intelligence data, mission plans, and mission progress data. The size and functions required of an airborne tactical command post is mission dependent and within the capabilities and limitations of the aircraft. Ideally, as a minimum the S-3, S-2, fire support officer, and air liaison officer accompany the commander.

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3-123. The commander and selected staff members comprise a command group (see FM 6-0). Selected staff members accompany the commander to exercise mission command away from a command post. The command group gives the commander the mobility and protection to move throughout the area of operations and to observe and direct BCT operations from forward positions.

3-124. The command group led by the BCT commander consists of whomever he designates. The command group can include the command sergeant major and representatives from the S-2, S-3, and the fire support cell. Normally, the command group is task-organized with a security element whenever it departs the main command post. For example, a maneuver platoon from one of the BCTs maneuver battalions may be tasked to provide that element. The commander positions his command group near the most critical event, usually with or near the main effort or decisive operation. The BCT executive officer may establish a second command group when required.

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3-125. While not part of the unit’s table of organization and equipment, the commander can establish an early-entry command post to assist in controlling operations during the deployment phase of an operation. An early-entry command post is a lead element of a headquarters designed to control operations until the remaining portions of the headquarters are deployed and operational (FM 6-0). The early-entry command post normally consists of personnel and equipment from the tactical command post with additional intelligence analysts, planners, and other staff officers from the main command based on the situation. The

early-entry command post performs the functions of the main and tactical command posts until those command posts are deployed and fully operational. The BCT executive officer or operations officer normally leads the early-entry command post.

Note. Refer to FM 3-99, Airborne and Air Assault Operations for information on airborne assault

and air assault command post organization and operation.