Book Description

This manual, Field Manual FM 3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade April 2014, provides the maneuver enhancement brigade (MEB) doctrine. The manual is linked to joint and Army doctrine to ensure that it is useful to joint and Army commanders and staffs. To comprehend the doctrine contained in this manual, readers must first understand the nature of unified land operations as described in ADP 3-0 and ADRP 3-0. In addition, readers must fully understand the fundamentals of the operations process that is contained in ADP 5-0 and ADRP 5-0, the principles of mission command that are described in ADP 6-0 and ADRP 6-0, the stability tasks that are discussed in ADP 3-07 and ADRP 3-07, the execution of defense support of civil authorities (DSCA) that is discussed in ADP 3-28 and ADRP 3-28, the tactics that are contained ADRP 3-90, and the protection tasks that are discussed in ADP 3-37 and ADRP 3-37. The principal audience for FM 3-81 is commanders and staff elements at all echelons and MEB units that are primarily tasked with conducting support area operations and maneuver support operations. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this manual. The other intended audience for this manual is leaders and staff sections within units that will employ a MEB or may operate under the mission command of the MEB. This manual should also be used to guide joint, interagency, and multinational higher headquarters commanders and staff on MEB employment. This FM provides doctrine for the tactical MEB employment and operations. It provides the MEB with a unity of effort and a common philosophy, language, and purpose. As one of the multifunctional support brigades of the Army, the MEB is designed to support division operations (also echelons above division [EAD] operations within Army, joint, and multinational structures) and to respond to state or federal authorities as a part of DSCA. The MEB is a mission command headquarters with a robust multifunctional brigade staff that is optimized to conduct support area operations and maneuver support operations. This manual discusses how MEBs enable commanders to achieve their objectives in support of unified land operations through the unique capabilities of the MEB to conduct support area operations and maneuver support operations within the joint security area and Army division and corps support areas. A MEB is a combined arms organization that is task-organized based on mission requirements. The MEB is not a maneuver brigade, although it can be assigned an area of operations (AO) and control terrain. MEBs provide capabilities to enhance the freedom of mobility for operational and tactical commanders. The manual also addresses the broad capability of the MEB to support the similar tasks of stability and DSCA. FM 3-81 describes how MEB commanders, staffs, and subordinate leaders plan, prepare, execute, and assess MEB operations in support of Army forces that are conducting unified land operations within the framework of joint operations. It removes the MEB primary task of conducting consequence management and moves discussion under MEB capabilities to support stability and DSCA tasks. It increases the emphasis on the MEB to conduct support area operations while supporting decisive action-offensive, defensive, stability, or DSCA tasks. The MEB doctrine that is provided in this manual, together with related chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN); engineer; and military police doctrine will support the actions and decisions of commanders at all levels. This manual is not meant to be a substitute for thought and initiative among MEB leaders and Soldiers. No matter how robust the doctrine or how advanced the MEB capabilities and systems, it is the MEB units and Soldiers who must understand the operational environment, recognize shortfalls, and use their professional judgment to adapt to the situation on the ground.