Reserve Component
New USAR MI Unit Structure
This is the fourth in a series of articles on the
MI Proponent-sponsored MI Reserve
Component (RC) Force Design Update (FDU). The focus of this piece
will be the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) MI unit force that is
currently in carrier status, scheduled to formally activate in
fiscal year 98. The new USAR structure is built to answer the
Active Component's (AC) requirement for wartime intelligence
augmentation at the corps and theater level. Elements formerly
aligned with the Army National Guard's combat divisions and
brigades have been deactivated in the USAR. In the future, the
Guard will "own" the MI structure that supports its tactical
combat forces.
The new USAR units will be of a cellular or modular construct,
designed to mobilize down to the team level via derivative unit
identification code (UIC). The USAR MI force will afford the AC
the capability to go to a higher operating tempo with a more
robust capability; literally providing the second and third
shifts critical to sustained operations.
The whole structure will move to a nearly pure MI military
occupational specialty structure. Personnel will be assigned to
MI functional teams. Training will focus to the team level.
Equipment will be downplayed. If required for peacetime training,
the reservists will, in main part, be assigned with existing AC
intelligence and electronic warfare equipment. This was one
primary factor in the stationing plan. In short, the USAR's
contribution will be agile, available on short notice, adaptable
and flexible. Mobilizing to the team level puts the RC
contribution into theater early in the fight.
The redesigned USAR force falls into two major regional
contingency (MRC)-focused groups aligned against the requirements
of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) Force
Projection Brigades (FPBs), the AC Corps and the theater. Each MI
FPB has a supporting RC MI Group.
The 505th MI Group (East), Fort Gillem, Georgia, mobilizes to
the 513th MI Brigade (FPB-E). The 513th supports four geographic
commanders in chief (CINCs); U.S. Central Command, U.S. Atlantic
Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Southern Command.
MRC-East theater and corps requirements are answered by a single
USAR corps support battalion (East Windsor, Connecticut) and two
theater support battalions (Fort Meade, MD and Fort Gordon,
Georgia). The language requirements for MRC-E are answered, in
part, by three USAR linguist battalions located in Chicago
Illinois, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Allison Park,
Pennsylvania. The 505th is also has two technical intelligence
(TECHINT) companies stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, an
imagery analysis battalion on Staten Island, New York, and an
aerial exploitation company in Orlando, Florida. See Figure 1.
The 259th MI Group (West) in Phoenix, Arizona, has a mobilization
responsibility to the 501st MI Brigade (FPB-W). Particulars
regarding the 501st's responsibilities in the Pacific region are
still evolving. MRC-W theater and corps requirements are captured
in a single theater support battalion (Oakland, California) and a
single corps support battalion (Pasadena, Texas). The MRC-W
language shortfalls are provided, in part, by two USAR linguist
battalions in Bell, California, and Austin, Texas. The 259th also
has a small imagery analysis company. See Figure 2.
The peacetime command and control (C2) of these units currently
runs through the Regional Support Command (RSC) in which the unit
resides. The next level of C2 is the U.S. Army Reserve Command
(USARC).
The close RC to AC relationship inherent in this structure
derives from the original concept in which each individual
element of the new structure exists because of a specific AC
requirement for wartime RC augmentation. The AC's corps and
theater requirement literally defines the size and composition of
the new USAR MI force. This requirement trace will answer most of
the RC corps and theater support battalion's questions regarding
Mission Essential Task Lists, annual training sites, contributory
support missions, training focus, and mobilization coordination
contacts. The success of this structural initiative hangs, in
large part, on the ability of the AC and RC to marry a specific
AC requirement to an identified RC MI augmentation element.
Knowlton Award
The first presentation of the coveted Knowlton award to a
commissioned USAR officer was made to Colonel Michael Capitman.
Colonel Capitman most recently served in the senior Army Guard
and Reserve MI position as Reserve Components' Advisor to the
Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence. His career spans
almost 30 years of active, reserve and AGR MI service beginning
in Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division. He has commanded at
the USAR unit level and served in varied staff positions at U.S.
Forces Command, INSCOM, and the Pentagon. Colonel Capitman is
largely responsible for the USAR's assumption of the contributory
support mission which will have reservists working real
intelligence missions in support of the CINCs.
Colonel John Craig is the USAR POC and Chief of the
Reserve Forces Office. Readers can contact him at (520) 533-1176,
DSN 821-1176, and via E-mail at craigj@huachuca-emh1.army. mil.
@SECONDBIO = Major Steve Ponder is the ARNG POC; his telephone
number is DSN 821-1177 and his E-mail addresses are
ponders@aol.com and ponders@huachuca-emh1.army.mil. Their fax
number is 821-1762 and the mailing address is Commander,
USAIC&FH, ATTN: ATZS-RA, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-6000.