Tanks, Growing Brigades, & Snipers
Check-out the Army's newest website: Line of Departure!
As many of our readers know, on October 11, the Army launched its newest web platform, Line of Departure. If you somehow missed the launch, please see our article highlighting the event here:
In support of the new site, every other week we will be choosing two to three articles to highlight here on the Harding Project’s Substack. The topics will range from tactical expertise to the creative domain! Without further ado…
Tanks Need Infantry to Lead the Way
Author: 1LT Brandon Akuszewski and CPT Larry D. Tran
Journal: Armor
Tank and infantry integration during the second battle period of Operation Lock 2023. Crucial to Team Assault’s SOP was the coordination between dismounted infantry, mounted infantry and tanks. (U.S. Army photo by 1LT Raven Parker, battalion unit public affairs)
The backdrop for “Tanks Need Infantry to Lead the Way” is a combined arms Battalion’s deployment to Finland. This is the first of its kind and gave American and Finnish Soldiers the opportunity to work side-by-side. The article delves into the potential SOP adjustments necessary to integrate Infantry and Armor forces in a LSCO environment. The author argues that since the landscape of warfare is changing, so too must our TTP’s.
Growing a Brigade: Five Lessons Learned from Activating a Next-Generation Combat Force
Author: MAJ T. Justin Webb
Journal: Air Defense Artillery Journal
Patriot Missiles in front of McNair Hall set the scene and mark the start of the Remembrance Run on 9-11-23. (Photo by Angela Turner, Fort Sill Public Affairs Office)
In this article, the author highlights the changing geopolitical landscape and the consequential increased demand on Air Defense assets. To address this unforeseen gap, the Army activated the 52nd Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade. MAJ Webb dissects the hurdles and triumphs associated with standing up an ADA Brigade in Germany during a tumultuous time for the EUCOM.
More Than a Marksman: How and Why Commanders Misuse Snipers
Author: Cadet Knox Watson
Journal: Infantry
Snipers with 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), conduct sniper field training at Camp Adazi, Latvia, on 20 September 2023. (Photo by SSG Oscar Gollaz)
As the name suggests, this article highlights the underutilization of Army snipers. The author discusses the myriad of implementation for snipers including intelligence collection and surveillance ahead of the FLOT. The article argues that snipers attached to ground units provide a unique capability beyond UAS and ISR and the Army should begin to utilize these specialized soldiers for more than simply pulling the trigger (albeit they do this very well).