Brigade combat team

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The brigade combat team (BCT) is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branched maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. Brigade combat teams are generally commanded by a colonel (O-6), in some rare instances they will be commanded by a brigadier general. A brigade combat team carries with it support units necessary to sustain its operations separate from its parent division. Some BCTs contain organic air and artillery support separate from the division air/division artillery (DIVARTY).

Currently, the US Army is planning on converting its BCTs into the new Brigade Unit of Action (BUoA) program. In this program, divisions that generally do not deploy individual brigades due to lack of integral support (1st Armored Division, 25th Infantry Division, etc.) will be restructured, giving them the ability to deploy one or more BUoAs anywhere in the world. These BUoAs will be able to stand on their own just like a BCT; however, the soldiers assigned to a BUoA will stay at their assignment for 3 years. This is intended to bolster readiness and improve unit cohesion.