The Brigade Combat Team (BCT) is the basic combined-
arms building block of the Army. It is a permanent, stand-alone,
self-sufficient, and standardized tactical force of about 4,000
soldiers. At present, the Army consists of 60 BCTs, with 32
BCTs in the Regular Army (RA) and 28 BCTs in the Army
National Guard (ARNG).
The Army has three types of BCTs: Infantry BCTs (IBCTs),
Armored BCTs (ABCTs), and Stryker BCTs (SBCTs).
Infantry BCTs (IBCTs) include three infantry battalions, a
reconnaissance and surveillance cavalry squadron, a field artillery
battalion, a brigade engineer battalion, and a logistics support
battalion. IBCTs also are organized to be airborne or air-assault
capable. The Army currently has 13 Active Component and 21
National Guard IBCTs.
Armored BCTs (ABCTs) include three armor/mechanized
infantry battalions, an armed reconnaissance cavalry squadron, a
field artillery battalion, a logistics support battalion, and a brigade
engineer battalion. The Army currently has 12 Active
Component and 5 National Guard ABCTs.
Stryker BCTs (SBCTs) are centered on the Stryker, an eight-
wheel-drive armored vehicle. SBCTs consist of three infantry
battalions, a cavalry squadron for reconnaissance and target
acquisition, a field artillery battalion, a brigade support battalion,
a brigade engineer battalion, a military intelligence company, an
engineer company, a signal company, an antitank company, and a
headquarters company. The Army currently has 7 Active
Component and 2 National Guard SBCTs.