Fires brigade
Under the restructuring of the United States Army initiatives, when brigade combat teams replaced divisions as the primary maneuver unit, those division artillery resources that did not decentralize to the BCTs were placed in fires brigades.
ecognize that "fires" has been redefined to include "non-kinetic" means of combat, such as information operations including electronic warfare and psychological operations. These brigades are made up of a combination of former Division Artillery (DIVARTY) commands, plus various resources typically assigned to a corps headquarters. (10-12) such brigades are planned, half active and half reserve.
There are units that engage in combat, but are not considered part of the mission either of the Fires Brigade, or the artillery organic to BCTs. ADA is considered part of the functions of the Combat Support Brigade, in the sense that engineer support to cross a river, intercepting or jamming missiles, and decontaminating chemicals all are prerequisites to BCTs being able to maneuver. ADA is also taking on new missions of deconfliction in joint ADA-Aviation ADAM cells, and is also responsible for counter-rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM).
Some of the functions previously under DIVARTY, such as direct cannon support, moved to the BCT level. A fires brigade was more focused planning and execution for joint fire support operations. Its capabilities to affect the enemy emphasized newer systems to carry out precision-strikes, counterstrikes and shaping, which utilized lethal and non-lethal means.
The headquarters will contain a Marine officer, Air Force personnel, and sections for space command, information operations, psychological operations, civil affairs and a fires and effects cell. Additional missile, gun, and other kinetic and nonkinetic fires units would be assigned as needed, as well additional Navy and Air Force fire support.
These brigades are organized in heavy and light versions:
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