560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade ( United States ) The 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade , based at Oglethorpe Armory in Ellenwood , Georgia , is a major command of the Georgia Army National Guard . It the first battlefield surveillance brigade in the Army National Guard . Overview . Since its inception on 1 October 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 , 108 Soldiers with which to carry out that mission . In October 2010 , the 560th BFSB changed command for the first time since its formation , with Col . Peter VanAmburgh relinquishing full - time command of the 560th to Col . Thomas Carden , JFHQ ’ s former military personnel officer . Commanders . 2007 - 2009 Colonel Peter VanAmburgh 2009 – 2013 Colonel Thomas Carden 2013 – Present LTC ( P ) Raymond D . " BOZ " Bossert Jr . Missions . The 560 BFSB has been involved in a number of missions since its inception . Northwind 2008 . During the period of 27 Feb – 18 Mar 2008 , the 560th BFSB sent a command and control ( C2 ) cell to participate in U . S . Army Japan Exercise North Wind 2008 . The operation was a bilateral field training exercise with active Army and ARNG Soldiers training with the Japanese Ground Self - Defense Force ( JGSDF ) . The 560th BFSB exercised overall command and acted as the higher headquarters for the exercise and the brigade response cell for the staff exercise and collective training . The units involved included the 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion ; 1 - 297th Infantry ( Alaska ARNG ) ; various ARNG Soldiers from California , Florida , and Nebraska ; and the 5th Regiment / 9th DIV , JGSDF . North Wind 2008 was held in the Iwatesan training area in a remote and mountainous part of north Japan . This was the first known U . S . Army exercise to employ a BFSB as a higher headquarters and as part of a bilateral operation . Natural Fire 2010 . In October 2009 , the 560 BFSB participated in Natural Fire 10 , a 13 - day exercise oriented on conducting a Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief exercise from 16 – 25 OCT 09 in the Republic of Uganda in order to enhance interoperability and the capability to respond to complex humanitarian emergencies . The exercise consisted of 3 events : a Table Top Exercise ( TTX ) focused on Pandemic Influenza Response , Senior Manager Disaster Response , and Multinational involvement ; a Field Training Exercise ( FTX ) consisting of area security , entry control point , vehicle control point , convoy security , non lethal weapons , and weapons training ; and a Humanitarian Civic Action ( HCA ) forcused on providing medical and dental assistance to the local population . During the exercise , the BFSB – as part of Task Force Kitgum – performed command and control operations in Kitgum , Uganda , in order to synchronize multinational forces conducting field training exercises and humanitarian civic assistance operations to enhance interoperability among participating forces . the 560 BFSB served as a joint and multinational task force headquarters of over 1000 Army , Navy , Air Force , Marines and personnel from Burundi , Kenya , Rwanda , Tanzania and Uganda . This was the largest exercise of its kind in East Africa and the first test of a BFSB as a joint and multinational HQS . Yama Sakura 57 . In 30 Nov - 13 Dec 2009 , 560 BFSB Soldiers traveled to Kumamoto , Japan , and Joint Base Lewis - McChord , to participate in Yama Sakura 59 – an annual bilateral joint training exercise intended to strengthen the working relationship and combat readiness of the two nations – alongside the Japan Self Defense Force and other U . S . military forces . The simulation - based command post exercise underscores the United States ’ commitment to Japan ’ s defense in accordance with a mutual defense treaty that was implemented in 1951 and revised in 1960 . Yama Sakura was held first in 1982 . KFOR 13 . In April 2010 , 221 MI mobilized and deployed 32 Soldiers as the KFOR 13 Analytical Control Element ( ACE ) in support of Multinational Division - East located at Camp Bondsteel . Mulberry Tree 2010 . In July and August 2010 , a contingent of 100 Soldiers from the 51st Scottish Brigade participated in 3 - 108 Cav ' s Annual Training at Camp Merrill and the Catoosa Training Area in the North Georgia Mountains . Training consisted of military operations in urban terrain , weapons familiarization and firing , drivers training , airborne operations and a wing exchange , and the Combat Tracker MTT . Prickly Pear 2010 . In August and September 2010 , 3 - 108 Cav participated in Operation Prickly Pear in Scotland , a 14 - day training exchange between the 3 - 108 Cav ( Task Force Recce ) and the 51st Scottish Brigade , consisting of weapons training , live fire training , field craft , patrolling , and platoon and below maneuver training . Training was conducted in the Otterburn Training Area and the Kirkcubright Training Area . MDMP Training . In May 2010 and December 2010 , Soldiers of the 560th worked specifically with the Ugandan army to set up a Military Decision Making Process ( MDMP ) training event . The idea was to familiarize the Ugandans with U . S . Army Light Infantry MDMP at the tactical battalion level . Uganda ’ s military is highly interested in understanding how the American Army conducts the MDMP based on their operational lessons learned in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia . The seminar assisted the process by establishing a basic understanding of roles and responsibilities of a light infantry battalion staff in the MDMP process , MDMP timelines and sequence of events , products or deliverables , and an understanding of how this product aids the field commander . This , in turn , set the foundation for a follow - on MDMP , which will familiarize the Ugandan army with the light infantry decision making process at the brigade level . Such training events also help the U . S . by enhancing awareness in the U . S . military of Ugandan infantry battalion practices , thereby improving interoperability . They also elicit lessons learned from the audience ’ s peacekeeping operations . KFOR 14 . In December 2010 , 221 MI mobilized and deployed 32 Soldiers as the KFOR 14 Analytical Control Element ( ACE ) in support of Multinational Division - East located at Camp Bondsteel . Eurosatory 2010 . In June 2010 , Soldiers from the 560 BFSB participated as liaison officers for senior DOD personnel who attended the 2010 Eurosatory International Land , Airland , and Homeland Defense Exhibition , a US Embassy supported Office of Defense Cooperation joint , combined , and multinational event held in Paris , France . Yama Sakura 59 . In January 2011 , 28 Soldiers from the 560 BFSB traveled to Kumamoto , Japan to participate in Yama Sakura 59 . Exercise Yama Sakura is an annual Command Post exercise ( CPX ) that continues to further strengthen the national security interests of Japan and the Asia - Pacific region . Largest bilateral engagement event USARJ facilitates and is the Japan Ground Self Defense Force ’ s ( JGSDF ) most important bilateral exercise . Particular gains achieved in Yama Sakura are the opportunity to exchange ideas on force structure , doctrine , and equipment with counterparts through : practical and realistic warfighting training in command and staff activities through the use of simulations ; and continued improvement of bilateral interoperability . Yama Sakura also contributes to the success of future CPXs by providing opportunities for training and observation by other JGSDF armies . The CPX also enhances the operational readiness of U . S . Forces stationed in or destined for Japan . Atlas Drop 11 . in April 2011 , the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade were part of a team of Guardsmen and Airmen who had been training and living together in the bush north of Soroti as part of Atlas Drop 11 . The training conducted during the iteration of the annual exercise , sponsored by U . S . Army Africa , sought to increase the capability of both Uganda People ' s Defence Force and U . S . forces to resupply soldiers operating in remote areas . After completion , all military operations and training exercises were assessed to determine the successes and failures within the mission . KFOR 15 . In August 2011 , 221 MI mobilized and deployed Soldiers as the KFOR 15 Analytical Control Element ( ACE ) in support of Multinational Division - East located at Camp Bondsteel . KFOR 15 . In October 2011 , 3 - 108 Cav mobilized and deployed Soldiers as the KFOR 15 Tactical Maneuver Force in support of Multinational Division - East located at Camp Bondsteel and Camp Novo Selo . GTST 2 . In January 2012 , Soldiers from the 560 BFSB deployed to the Republic of Georgia to support the Georgian training mission with maintenance , medical , and communications instructors . The Soldiers were deployed for a period of 6 months . Eurosatory 2012 . In June 2012 , Soldiers from the 560 BFSB participated as liaison officers for senior DOD personnel who attended the 2010 Eurosatory International Land , Airland , and Homeland Defense Exhibition , a US Embassy supported Office of Defense Cooperation joint , combined , and multinational event held in Paris , France . GTST 3 . In August 2012 , Soldiers from the 560 BFSB deployed to the Republic of Georgia to support the Georgian training mission with maintenance , medical , and communications instructors . Additionally , personnel served as the Camp Commandant . The Soldiers were deployed for a period of 12 months .