FM 3-34.22 - Army Electronic Publications & Forms - U.S. Army

Phase/CP
BCT main CP
(brigade
crossing-area
headquarters)
Advance to
the River
� Moves into
the crossing
area to
provide
traffic
control,
crossing
means, and
obscuration.
Table E-2. CP tasks (continued)
Assault Across
the River
� Coordinates
assault crossing
means for
dismounted TFs
and continues
the obscuration
of crossing sites.
Combined Arms Gap-Crossing Operations
Advance From the
Farside
� Controls
follow-on TFs
passing through
the crossing
area into attack
positions.
Secure the
Bridgehead
Line
� Controls the
passage of
brigade units
into the
crossing area
and prepares
to cross
breakout
forces.
Continue the
Attack
� Passes
crossing-area
control to
division TAC CP.
DIVISION HEADQUARTERS
E-22. One of the deputy commanding generals (DCGs) is typically designated to provide C2 for the
division deliberate gap crossing as the crossing area commander (CAC). His primary function is to control
the gap-crossing operation, including synchronizing forces and integrating the warfighting functions as
they pertain to the crossing operation. The division TAC CP is normally established to provide C2 for the
lead BCT attack across the gap and to subsequent objects. The division main CP prepares the gap-crossing
plan and directs operations to isolate the bridgehead from enemy reinforcements and counterattacking
formations. The division crossing-area engineer is typically the commander of the engineer brigade or the
senior engineer of the MEB that is supporting the division deliberate gap crossing. The division
headquarters usually serves as division crossing-area headquarters. Under the direction of the division
CAC, the division gap-crossing activities are coordinated within the crossing area.
BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM HEADQUARTERS
E-23. The BCT TAC CP controls the advance to the gap and the attack across the gap. It displaces across
the gap as soon as practical after the assault to control the fight for the exit side and the intermediate and
bridgehead objectives. The BCT main CP controls the crossing of the remaining BCT. It prepares the BCT
crossing plan and provides the staff nucleus to coordinate it. For BCT crossings, the S-4 (assisted by the
supporting military police platoon leader, the company commander, or the BCT PM and engineers if
available) organize a small, temporary traffic control cell within the BCT main CP to coordinate with the
division movement center for movement control. Once the lead battalions assault across the gap and secure
the objective farside, the crossing area is activated. The BCT CAC, normally the BCT DCO or XO,
controls the movement of forces inside the crossing area. The BCT main CP controls the assured mobility
force that normally consists of an engineer battalion headquarters with bridge companies and other
engineer capabilities, military police, and perhaps CBRN units that have obscuration capabilities. This
leaves the BCT commander free to direct key activities while the DCO runs the crossing. The CAC
controls the—
� Movement and positioning of all elements transiting or occupying positions within the crossing
area.
� Security elements at crossing sites.
� Assured mobility forces (engineer, military police, and CBRN units) within the crossing area.
E-24. Each forward BCT is normally task-organized for the crossing operation with an engineer battalion
headquarters and subordinate elements. The engineer battalion commander is responsible to the BCT CAC
for the engineer crossing means and sites and generally functions as the BCT crossing area engineer
(CAE). While unlikely, if multiple engineer battalions are required to carry out a BCT deliberate crossing,
an engineer brigade would typically provide C2 and the engineer brigade commander would serve as BCT
CAE. The CAE informs the CAC of changes due to equipment or operator difficulties or threat variances
that render a crossing means inoperable or reduce its capacity. He commands those engineers tasked to
move BCT forces across the gap. They remain there as the attack proceeds beyond exit side objectives.
Task-organized combat engineers within the maneuver battalions remain under the C2 of those
organizations to support their movement and maneuver after the gap crossing.
11 February 2009 FM 3-34.22 E-9