Army to add new ‘Battlefield Surveillance Brigade’ at Fort Polk in Leesville
 

U.S. Army to add new ‘Battlefield Surveillance Brigade’ at Fort Polk in Leesville, La. Funding includes building new HQ for 4th Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division

By: Tom Pace, Executive Editor, SBLive!
December 19th, 2007

The U.S. Army has decided to add nearly 1,300 soldiers to a new ‘Battlefield Surveillance Brigade’ at Fort Polk near Leesville, Louisiana, according to Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu. That announcement follows $17.7 million Sen. Landrieu secured for Louisiana military bases in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed by the Senate late last night. (Sen. Landrieu is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction that funds construction at military facilities. )

The bill includes funding to build a Brigade Headquarters for the 4th Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division. The Fort Polk-based brigade has more than 3,200 soldiers. Sen. Landrieu also secured $6.1 million in the spending bill for a childcare facility to be built at Fort Polk.

“On top of yesterday’s success in the spending bill, today’s announcement is excellent news for Fort Polk and all of central Louisiana,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Fort Polk is one of America’s most essential military facilities and is a significant part of the region’s economy. “

“The addition of a new brigade and 1,300 troops strengthens Fort Polk and the surrounding communities of Deridder, Leesville and all of central Louisiana.” said Landrieu. She continued, “I was proud to secure essential funding for Fort Polk in yesterday’s omnibus spending bill and will continue my fight for this key base and the servicemen and women and families that make it a proud center of training excellence.”

The Battlefield Surveillance Brigade is part of a stationing plan, that will increase the size of the Army by approximately 74,000 soldiers over the next five years. The new brigade will provide intelligence analysis and collection support through reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence operations. The brigade's capabilities include a full range of advanced intelligence analysis and intelligence collection that includes counterintelligence and long range surveillance. Landrieu is an advocate of that plan.

“The Battlefield Surveillance Brigade will be an asset as America continues to combat the forces of international terrorism,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Reconnaissance and intelligence are the most effective weapons we have in confronting the terrorist threat and this unit reaffirms Louisiana’s vital role in ensuring the nation’s security.”

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