Did Force XXI Validate the Brigade Reconnaissance Troop? (Paperback)

This study investigates the U.S. Army's effort to field a brigade reconnaissance troop (BRT) in the heavy maneuver brigade within the Force XXI process and integrated Advanced Warfighting Experiments (AWE) of the Joint Venture Campaign. The study reviews the evolution of the brigade reconnaissance troop concept from 1995 to 1998. The research explored the question: "Does the data available from the Force XXI process validate the organization and structure of the BRT as proposed in the Force XXI heavy division design?" This report analyzes the applicability and performance of brigade reconnaissance units employed during the Mobile Strike Force 95 Organizational and Operational Analysis, Brigade Design Analysis Studies, Task Force XXI AWE, and Division XXI AWE. Analysis determines that the aggregate Force XXI process validated the BRT in terms of contributions to situational awareness but failed to validate the BRT in terms of contributions to the brigade's tempo and survivability or with respect to the BRT accomplishing the mission with acceptable losses. Finally, this study recommends future exercises with and evaluations of the BRT to complete the validation process.