FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download

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Maneuver Enhancement Brigade 09 November 2021 FM 3-81 1-3 1-6. Corps and division commanders assign responsibility for the support area to a MEB headquarters. The MEB commander designates AAs, base camps, and base clusters for all units operating within the support area. Within that support area, division or corps commanders should delegate tactical control (TACON) of all friendly forces for protection, defense, and security to the MEB commander. The higher headquarters will designate base camp/base cluster commanders. Assembly area is an area a unit occupies to prepare for an operation (FM 3-90-1). Base camp is an evolving military facility that supports that military operations of a deployed unit and provides the necessary support and services for sustained operations (ATP 3-37.10). Base cluster in base defense operations, a collection of bases, geographically grouped for mutual protection and ease of command and control (JP 3-10). 1-7. The MEB capability to conduct support area operations provides added security and defense for other units located in the support area and enhances freedom of action for the supported echelon. The MEB is only capable of limited offensive maneuver by employing its TCF to counter or defeat a threat. The MEB can provide command and control for assigned forces to defeat Level I, II, and III threats within an assigned AO. The MEB requires a TCF built around a combat arms battalion headquarters with its associated tactical air control party to defeat a Level III threat. Note. The MEB can support specific missions outside its AO or provide forces to complement or reinforce other organizations conducting select missions or tasks that support the main effort. However, specific or select missions do not imply long-term task organization. If the MEB becomes a force provider for an enduring period of time, it could become ineffective in its ability to conduct support area operations. 1-8. Force-tailored MEB capabilities can provide critical capabilities to support offense, defense, and stability operations. They have the added staff to perform the tasks that are needed to manage an AO, including conducting select combat operations within that AO. Many of the units not staffed to control terrain become tenants within the assigned MEB AO (especially if the AO is the echelon support area). The AO provides an economy of force capability so that brigade combat teams (BCTs) or maneuver units can focus on combat operations. 1-9. The MEB characteristics are— Tailorable—can be task-organized based on the factors of METT-TC. Modular— attaches/detaches subordinate units. Expeditionary—can be deployed in modules. Networked—has an organic signal company and liaison officers to link with other headquarters/forces. Joint-interdependent—uses and contributes to other Service capabilities. Agile—can reinforce other brigades with subordinate capabilities for specific or select missions. PRIMARY AND SUBORDINATE TASKS 1-10. The MEB primary task of support area operations includes— Conducting terrain management. Conducting information collection, integration, and synchronization. Conducting civil-military operations. Controlling movement. Conducting clearance of fires. Enabling security. Conducting personnel recovery. Conducting airspace management. Conducting minimum-essential stability tasks. Conducting mobility and countermobility support. Support to rear command post operations.