Heavy Brigade Combat Team in COIN

Are Heavy Brigade Combat Teams (HBCTs) effective in counterinsurgency (COIN) operations with the capabilities to clear, hold, build, and sustain success? This research examined the modular HBCT's capabilities to execute the clear-hold-build COIN approach described in Field Manual (FM) 3-24, Counterinsurgency, and FM 3-24.2, Tactics in Counterinsurgency. The research approach used Iraq as a case study with three case events about HBCTs that conducted COIN from the beginning of the Iraqi insurgency to the 2007 surge in support of the Baghdad security plan. To answer the question of whether HBCTs are effective in COIN, this study used a three part analysis which included a tactical assessment wargame, a cross walk of capabilities against doctrinal COIN lines of effort, and a DOTMLPF capabilities assessment. This model showed improvements made to HBCTs over time in terms of capabilities, as well as enablers that improved their effectiveness in the COIN environment. The HBCT has adapted in many ways since OIF 1 to meet the demands of the COIN environment. HBCTs have improved training, implemented new doctrine, and received augmented equipment and special skill sets to improve their effectiveness in COIN. The purpose of this study was to explore the problem of insufficient research to assess the modular HBCT's effectiveness in COIN based on its structure, equipment, and skill sets available to provide the capabilities to clear, hold, build, and sustain success.

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