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 1,109 Soldiers with which to carry out that mission. The 560th BFSB carried out several significant and unique training events and mobilizations in 2012. In January, Company A of the 221st Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion mobilized and deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan. The 221st Soldiers trained to support signals and human intelligence missions. In February 2012, the 165th Quartermaster Company and elements of Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry, participated in the first Global Guardian Joint Training Exercise at CRTC Savannah. During this exercise, both units executed airborne operations in a joint, multinational environment accomplishing universal joint tasks and improved their proficiency with aerial delivery and personnel airborne operations. In June 2012, elements of the 17 | Georgia Department of Defense
221st MI Battalion deployed to Camp Williams, Utah, to participate in the Panther Strike training exercise, which was designed specifically to reach military intelligence training requirements. This two-week exercise allowed those with low-density military occupational specialties within the 221st MI Battalion to train in realistic combat scenarios, sharpening their skills for future support of the warfight. Supporting operations through the State Partnership Program, in July 2012, the 560th BFSB mobilized and deployed elements of various specialty skills to the nation of Georgia. The Georgia Training Support Team was also deployed to provide functional area support to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Georgia Training Team Core and Rotational Mobile Training Teams. These teams had the mission of training Georgian infantry battalions to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In Sept. 2012, the Brigade headquarters participated in the United States Army Pacific’s joint, combined, multinational exercise Keris Strike 12 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. During this exercise, the Brigade served as part of a joint staff, partnered with the 7th Infantry Brigade of the Malaysian Army, and conducted exercises that supported United Nations joint resolutions and humanitarian assistance. Also during the month of September 2012, the brigade reintegrated the 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry, at Camp Atterbury, Ind. The Squadron had been mobilized in support of operations in Kosovo (KFOR) and was responsible for the tactical combat force mission. In Dec. 2012, the Brigade reintegrated Company A of the 221st MI Battalion, which had been mobilized to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 221st Soldiers supported signals and human intelligence missions.
Col. Thomas Carden, Jr. Commander 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade Ga. Army National Guard
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, Oglethorpe Armory, Ellenwood • 165th Quartermaster Company (Light Air Drop Supply), Marietta • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Oglethorpe Armory, Ellenwood