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560th battlefield surveillance brigade

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Georgia Department of Defense
Georgia Department of Defense

The 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade is a Georgia Army National Guard unit based at the Oglethorpe Armory in Ellenwood. It provides reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence support to divisions and joint task forces. In 2011, the brigade participated in various training exercises in Japan and the US. It was notified it would not deploy to Iraq but would send personnel to Afghanistan for signals and human intelligence missions instead. The brigade conducted multiple training iterations to prepare for overseas operations.

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560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade The Georgia Army Guard’s 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BFSB) is commanded by Col. Thomas Carden and based at the Oglethorpe Armory in Ellenwood. The brigade’s senior enlisted leader is Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Stringfield. Since its inception on Oct. 1, 2007, the brigade’s mission has been to provide command and control of reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence operations in support of a division, corps, or joint task force. The headquarters provides command, control and supervision of the tactical operations of the brigade and attached units, while the headquarters company provides unit administration and logistical support for the brigade staff sections. The 560th is authorized an estimated 1,108 Soldiers with which to carry out that mission. The 560th BFSB carried out several significant and unique training events and mobilizations in 2011. In January 2011, the Brigade headquarters participated in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-sanctioned, joint, combined, multinational exercise Yama Sakura 59 in Kumamoto, Japan. During this exercise, the Brigade served as the BFSB for U.S. Army Pacific and conducted simulation exercises that stressed the defense of the Japanese mainland. Also in January, the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion conducted a send-off ceremony for the 32-Soldier Kosovo Peace Keeping Force (KFOR 14) Analysis Control Element Team. October 2011, the 3-108th Cavalry departed for Camp Atterbury, Ind., in preparation for a 12-month deployment to Kosovo. On Oct. 16, 2011, the Brigade was officially notified that it would not mobilize in support of Operation New Dawn because all U.S. troops were set to depart Iraq prior to Dec. 31, 2011. The Brigade received notification that it would assume a new mission of signals intelligence and human intelligence support in Afghanistan requiring a package of approximately 60-90 personnel to deploy with specialized skill sets. During the October/November 2011 Exportable Combined Training Capability Exercise (XCTC), the 560th achieved a number of notable firsts. This rotation was the first to conduct classified operations, to include a classified command post exercise. This was the first XCTC exercise to use active component observer controllers. This was also the first exercise where National Guard, Active Duty, and Reserve Soldiers and military intelligence subject matter experts worked together to evaluate National Guard Soldiers in preparation for deployment. During the exercise, the 560th BFSB S-2 section employed the Common Ground Station from Camp Blanding, Fla., and received live feeds from Joint STARS aircraft on live missions overseas. In December 2011, the Brigade focused on mobilizing Company A of the 221st MI Battalion in support of operations in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). The 221st prepared its Soldiers for mobilization to support signals and human intelligence missions and reintegrated KFOR 14 ACE personnel after their demobilization process. Meanwhile, the 3-108th Cavalry has transitioned to conducting its transfer of authority in Kosovo in preparation for assuming its mission. Over the course of the year, the 560th BFSB conducted five iterations Stewart, Ga., in preparation for overseas operations.
(Word Count 483) 560th BFSB Units • 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry, Atlanta, Marietta and Douglasville • 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, Gillem Enclave, Forest Park • 420th Network Signal Company, Cumming • 230th Brigade Support Company, Fort Gillem, Ellenwood • 165th Quartermaster Company (Light Air Drop Supply), Marietta • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Oglethorpe Armory, Ellenwood

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560th battlefield surveillance brigade

  • 1. 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade The Georgia Army Guard’s 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BFSB) is commanded by Col. Thomas Carden and based at the Oglethorpe Armory in Ellenwood. The brigade’s senior enlisted leader is Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Stringfield. Since its inception on Oct. 1, 2007, the brigade’s mission has been to provide command and control of reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence operations in support of a division, corps, or joint task force. The headquarters provides command, control and supervision of the tactical operations of the brigade and attached units, while the headquarters company provides unit administration and logistical support for the brigade staff sections. The 560th is authorized an estimated 1,108 Soldiers with which to carry out that mission. The 560th BFSB carried out several significant and unique training events and mobilizations in 2011. In January 2011, the Brigade headquarters participated in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-sanctioned, joint, combined, multinational exercise Yama Sakura 59 in Kumamoto, Japan. During this exercise, the Brigade served as the BFSB for U.S. Army Pacific and conducted simulation exercises that stressed the defense of the Japanese mainland. Also in January, the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion conducted a send-off ceremony for the 32-Soldier Kosovo Peace Keeping Force (KFOR 14) Analysis Control Element Team. October 2011, the 3-108th Cavalry departed for Camp Atterbury, Ind., in preparation for a 12-month deployment to Kosovo. On Oct. 16, 2011, the Brigade was officially notified that it would not mobilize in support of Operation New Dawn because all U.S. troops were set to depart Iraq prior to Dec. 31, 2011. The Brigade received notification that it would assume a new mission of signals intelligence and human intelligence support in Afghanistan requiring a package of approximately 60-90 personnel to deploy with specialized skill sets. During the October/November 2011 Exportable Combined Training Capability Exercise (XCTC), the 560th achieved a number of notable firsts. This rotation was the first to conduct classified operations, to include a classified command post exercise. This was the first XCTC exercise to use active component observer controllers. This was also the first exercise where National Guard, Active Duty, and Reserve Soldiers and military intelligence subject matter experts worked together to evaluate National Guard Soldiers in preparation for deployment. During the exercise, the 560th BFSB S-2 section employed the Common Ground Station from Camp Blanding, Fla., and received live feeds from Joint STARS aircraft on live missions overseas. In December 2011, the Brigade focused on mobilizing Company A of the 221st MI Battalion in support of operations in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). The 221st prepared its Soldiers for mobilization to support signals and human intelligence missions and reintegrated KFOR 14 ACE personnel after their demobilization process. Meanwhile, the 3-108th Cavalry has transitioned to conducting its transfer of authority in Kosovo in preparation for assuming its mission. Over the course of the year, the 560th BFSB conducted five iterations Stewart, Ga., in preparation for overseas operations.
  • 2. (Word Count 483) 560th BFSB Units • 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry, Atlanta, Marietta and Douglasville • 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, Gillem Enclave, Forest Park • 420th Network Signal Company, Cumming • 230th Brigade Support Company, Fort Gillem, Ellenwood • 165th Quartermaster Company (Light Air Drop Supply), Marietta • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Oglethorpe Armory, Ellenwood