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