FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Chapter 1 1-4 FM 3-81 09 November 2021 1-11. DSCA is not a primary task of the MEB; however, the MEB is a very capable force (when properly task-organized) to conduct DSCA operations. Appendix B provides MEB planners general guidance for conducting DSCA operations as part of their decisive action mission in stability operations or for humanitarian support or support of homeland civil authorities. HIGHER HEADQUARTERS 1-12. Echelons above brigade (EAB) consist of divisions, corps, and theater Army headquarters. The division is optimized for the TACON of brigades during combat operations. The corps provides a headquarters that specializes in operations as a joint force land component command headquarters or that may be employed as an intermediate tactical headquarters. The theater Army headquarters serves as the Army Service component command, providing administrative control over ARFOR and some theater-wide planning and controlling support to joint forces. The Army Service component commander focuses on geographic combatant command level land power employment and support to joint, interagency, and multinational forces. All three headquarters are modular entities designed to employ expeditionary forces tailored to meet the requirements of specified joint operations. Division 1-13. A division force package may include a mix of armored BCTs, infantry BCTs, and Stryker BCTs. In addition to BCTs, each division controls a tailored array of multifunctional and functional brigades. The division may control functional groups, battalions, or separate companies; however, these are normally task- organized to a brigade. 1-14. The division uses BCTs to fight in battles and engagements. It uses support brigades primarily for shaping and sustaining operations and to complement or support BCTs. The MEB is normally assigned the division support area. The division support area may contain all or part of a sustainment brigade (other units or headquarters positioned in support of the division). The MEB conducts support area operations when given this role by the division. Echelons Above Division 1-15. The corps is optimized to serve as an intermediate tactical headquarters for land operations. The corps may serve as an Army force headquarters or, with augmentation, as a joint task force headquarters or a joint force land component headquarters. A corps can deploy to any AO to exercise command and control for Army, joint, and multinational forces. The corps force is likely to include a MEB. Figure 1-2 is an example of a Corps as an intermediate land force headquarters. 1-16. The AO is a fundamental control measure, and the commander assigns subordinate areas of operations based on METT-TC. It empowers subordinate initiative and provides a limit for decentralized execution. The first priority for allocation of terrain is to the divisions. The division AO should allow the division commander full use of division BCTs and supporting brigades. When serving as a joint task force headquarters or a joint force land component commander, the corps also assigns areas of operations to Marine Corps combat units, multinational divisions and brigades controlled by the corps, and MEBs attached to the corps. 1-17. The corps establishes a support area when required. The support area requires a controlling headquarters (a division, a BCT, or a MEB). For major operations, considerably greater capabilities may be required. This may include a division, regional support groups, a second MEB, or a rear command post to control operations throughout the support area and rear area. 1-18. A joint force commander may place a MEB in support of another Service or multinational forces, such as a Marine air ground task force, to provide command and control to Army units and capabilities that are assigned, attached, or made available to those forces during operations. As such, the MEB commander would serve as the senior Army commander and advisor responsible to the Marine commander and remain responsible to the Army force commander for internal Army issues.