Let's say hypothetically (fingers crossed) that the Army replaces the M777 in the Reg Force with a self-propelled 155mm howitzer system which frees up the M777's for the Reserves.
Let's for arguments sake say we purchase 36 x Archer-like systems with a couple of extras for training, spares, etc. What would be the best way to organize our Artillery units?
If we had 3 x Reg Force Artillery Regiments each with:
- 3 x 4-gun 155mm SP-Artillery Batteries (12 guns total)
- 1 x STA Battery
- 1 x FO Battery
- 1 x HQ Battery
Would it make more sense to:
- Attach 3 x Reserve 4-gun M777 Batteries (Reserve Regiments - 2 x 2-gun Troops per Regiment) to each Reg Force Regiment. This would give each Reg Force Artillery Regiment a total of 24 guns (3 x Reg Force 4-gun SP-155mm Batteries plus 3 x Reserve 4-gun M777 Batteries).
- Group the Reserve M777s into an Artillery Brigade. Each Reserve Artillery Regiment could be made up with 3 x 4-gun M777 Batteries generated from 3 x Reserve Artillery Regiments plus an additional Reserve unit per Regiment to provide the STA, FO and HQ Batteries.
I think I've expressed my opinion on this generally. For starters, I think creating gun or rocket or loitering munition or STA or GBAD batteries are easily within the real of what reservists can do (The US National Guard does all of those). Once you strip the FOO and FSCC elements out of the battery, what's left on the gun line can easily be run by a captain and an MWO, even reservists, albeit I like seeing some of the positions (such as the tech warrant, the BQMS, and a maintenance team being Reg F). A battery would probably number some 80 folks give or take depending on if its four or six detachments and the size of each detachment.
There is, however, a need for a certain number of Reg F people to 1) meet immediate deployment needs; 2) create and maintain in depth technical expertise in the various systems and 3) provide for a sufficient career progression system for the branch.
IMHO there should be sufficient Reg F FSCCs, ASCCs, TACCs, FOOs and JTACs to properly staff all REG F brigades and battalions on a full time basis. I'm a bit concerned that these functions are slowly creeping out of the expertise of reserve arty officers although I've been assured by folks in the know that they can still function very well in the dismounted FOO role (it's a little complex to learn all the aspects of a LAV OPV drills and JTAC continuation certification - but who knows with the right trg aids). FSCC etc definitely not.
That's a round about way of saying I can easily see three Reg F close support regiments with a single gun battery and partial elements of an STA battery and a complete FOO battery (all Reg F) augmented by two additional Res F gun batteries and one or two STA troops. By the way I favour the six-gun/launcher battery for when we start having to throw dumb iron around after all the smart stuff is gone and to ensure that there are still some guns/launchers there after we start losing some. They won't need more command posts as one CP in a battery will be able to manage several dispersed elements (an alternate CP is necessary as a back up)
In addition I can see an artillery brigade.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The last thing we need is another Reserve Brigade, which is probably the most useless organization ever devised.
Unless your mission is to generate large, highly paid, inefficient post offices, of course
The brigade would provide all artillery resources that are not part of the close support regiments (LRPR, GBAD, Loitering munitions, more STA, arty intelligence (yes D&B there is such a thing)). Like the close support regiment there would need to be a solid core of Reg F expertise which would include the operations cell of the bde complete and sufficient Reg F personnel within each equipment specialty to provide a rapid reaction force of probably a troop each, a career profile for those members, and the requisite technical maintainers. However, the large bulk of the batteries should be reservists as these systems need to be available but would rarely need to deploy beyond exercises or show of force operations (and of course major combat) I generally see three regiments (one each LRPR, GBAD and Loitering) with two or more batteries each.
I agree fully that we need less reserve brigades. In fact I don't think we need any, but what we do need is a limited number of deployable hybrid brigades over and above the three Reg F brigades that we have. Even if they were lightly equipped light infantry brigades they would be a benefit as long as we get rid of the herd of deadhead Res F leadership and convert the existing Reg F RSS staff into the cadre of far fewer but fully manned battalions. I also think we need one or two hybrid sustainment and/or manoeuvre enhancement brigades as well. Much of the Reg F cadre for a hybrid artillery, sustainment and manoeuvre enhancement brigade already exist within the CCSB and RSS and a judicious reallocation of Res F arty, Engr, Svc Sp and Med units would fill out the remainder. That kind of a structure does not require more PYs or Res positions. Just a lot less Cols, LCols, HCols, HLCols, CWOs and even majors
We need to abandon the protection the multitude of regimental anachronisms (both Reg F and Res F) and useless command layers (probably six or seven brigades and two divisional headquarters are sufficient for our size of force) and realign them into functioning and deployable elements properly equipped and trained. If, Heaven forbid, we ever need to raise another two or three hundred thousand man army, we can resurrect units from the Sup order of battle. We do not need a hundred and fifty some odd reserve units and ten brigades hanging around in waiting.
