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| 199th Infantry Brigade (Light Combat) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 199th Infantry Brigade (Light Combat) |
| Caption | Shoulder sleeve insignia |
| Dates | 1966–1971; 2007–2018 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light combat training |
| Size | Brigade |
| Garrison | Fort Benning; Fort Moore |
| Nickname | The Redcatchers |
| Notable commanders | Brigadier General William Westmoreland; Colonel James T. Conway |
199th Infantry Brigade (Light Combat) was a United States Army infantry formation primarily associated with light infantry training and counterinsurgency preparation during the Vietnam War era and later modular training transformations. The brigade conducted troop preparation, squad- and platoon-level maneuver instruction, and rotational training for force generation at installations associated with Infantry School (United States Army), Fort Moore, Fort Benning, and III Corps (United States Army). Elements of the brigade participated in readiness missions tied to United States Army Pacific, United States Southern Command, and joint exercises with United States Marine Corps units.
Constituted amid Cold War mobilization, the brigade traces origins to reorganization directives from Department of the Army publications during the 1960s and the expansion of United States Army Forces Command training capacity. Activated at Fort Gordon and later stationed at Fort Benning under the direction of leaders associated with United States Army Infantry School doctrine revision, the unit supported mobilization for Vietnam War operations through cadre generation and individual replacement training. During this period the brigade interacted with units from 1st Infantry Division (United States), 101st Airborne Division, and reserve components such as the Army National Guard (United States) and United States Army Reserve.
Brigade organization followed light infantry templates emphasizing mobility and small-unit autonomy, reflecting guidance from Field Manual 7-8 and operational concepts debated at United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Typical subordinate elements included multiple infantry battalions, a reconnaissance company, an engineer platoon, and a logistical support detachment aligned with Division Support Command (DISCOM) practices. Staff sections mirrored G-1 through G-6 functions and coordinated with higher headquarters such as XVIII Airborne Corps and Eighth United States Army during joint taskings. Command relationships often involved temporary attachments from Ranger Regiment (United States)-style companies and rotational aviation elements from 1st Aviation Brigade (United States).
Training emphasized light-combat tactics, patrolling, ambush and counter-ambush techniques derived from manuals influenced by Vietnam War counterinsurgency lessons, proposals from Robert McNamara, and analysis by the RAND Corporation. Courses integrated live-fire ranges, combatives, land navigation with Global Positioning System, and close coordination with United States Army Special Forces cultural and language advisors. The brigade pioneered rotated battalion training rotations modeled on Operation Rolling Thunder-era requirements and supported joint training with United States Navy and United States Air Force close air support doctrine, embedding joint terminal attack controller principles from AirLand Battle evolution.
Although primarily a stateside training formation, brigade elements deployed as advisory teams and rapid reaction forces to support contingency operations in theaters managed by United States Southern Command and United States Africa Command, and provided personnel for the Vietnamization program. Individual soldiers were assigned to combat advisory roles with units influenced by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam missions and partnered with allied formations from Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces and Philippine Army. The brigade also contributed to domestic readiness during crises by coordinating with Federal Emergency Management Agency-aligned missions and supporting mobilization under statutes such as the Insurrection Act of 1807 when directed.
As a light infantry brigade, the unit fielded lightweight small arms such as the M16 rifle, squad support weapons like the M60 machine gun, and crew-served systems including the AT4 and M203 grenade launcher. Mobility relied on rotary-wing platforms from Boeing AH-64 Apache and transport helicopters influenced by Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk doctrine for air assault tactics. The brigade's shoulder sleeve insignia featured a stylized red motif and motto reflecting the nickname connected to historic Infantry branch (United States Army) heraldry; distinctive unit insignia incorporated symbolism recognized by the Institute of Heraldry.
Following drawdowns, elements of the brigade were inactivated, reflagged, or transformed into modular training brigades under United States Army Training and Doctrine Command reorganization initiatives, with personnel and lineage integrated into units supporting the Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve training pipelines. Legacy effects include doctrine contributions absorbed into subsequent editions of Field Manual 3-21 and training programs at Fort Moore and Joint Readiness Training Center rotations, preserving the brigade's emphasis on light maneuver, small-unit leadership, and combined arms integration.
Category:Infantry brigades of the United States Army