text: Chapter 1
  Organization
  Brigade combat teams (BCTs) organize to conduct decisive action—the continuous,
  simultaneous execution of offensive, defensive, and stability operations or defense
  support of civil authorities tasks (ADP 3-0). BCTs are the Army’s primary combined
  arms, close combat force. BCTs often operate as part of a division or joint task force.
  The division or joint task force acts as a tactical headquarters that typically directs the
  operations of between two to five BCTs across the range of military operations. The
  tactical headquarters assigns the BCT its mission, area of operations, and supporting
  elements. The headquarters coordinates the BCT’s actions with other BCTs in the
  formation. The BCT might be required to detach subordinate elements to other brigades
  attached or assigned to the division or task force. Usually, this tactical headquarters
  assigns augmentation elements to the BCT. Field artillery, maneuver enhancement,
  sustainment, and combat aviation brigades can all support BCT operations. (See
  ATP3-91 for additional information on division operations.)
  Note.This FMdoes not address defense support of civil authorities.(SeeADP3-28 and
  ATP 3-28.1for information.)
  BCTs include capabilities across the command and control, movement and maneuver,
  intelligence, fires, sustainment, and protection warfighting functions. These
  capabilities are scalable to meet mission requirements. All BCTs include maneuver;
  field artillery; intelligence; signal; engineer; chemical, biological, radiological, and
  nuclear (CBRN); and sustainment capabilities. Higher commanders augment BCTs
  with additional combat power for specific missions. Augmentation might include
  aviation, Armor, Infantry, field artillery, air defense, military police, civil affairs, a
  tactical psychological operations (PSYOP) company, engineers, additional CBRN
  capabilities, cyberspace, and information systems. Organizational flexibility enables
  the BCT to accomplish missions across the range of military operations.
  Chapter 1 provides the doctrinal foundation for the three types of BCTs: the Infantry
  brigade combat team (IBCT), the Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT), and the
  Armored brigade combat team (ABCT). The chapter addresses the mission,
  capabilities, limitations, and internal organization of each BCT.
  SECTION I – INFANTRY BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM
  1-1. The IBCT is an expeditionary, combined arms formation optimized for dismounted operations in
  complex terrain—a geographical area consisting of an urban center larger than a village and/or of two or
  more types of restrictive terrain or environmental conditions occupying the same space (ATP 3-34.80). The
  IBCT can conduct entry operations by ground,airland,air assault,or amphibious assaultinto austere areas
  of operations with little or no advanced notice. Airborne IBCTs can conduct vertical envelopment by
  parachute assault. The IBCT’s dismounted capability in complex terrain separates it from other functional
  brigades and maneuver BCTs.