Pennsylvania Army National Guard Forms New Reconnaissance Unit
Pennsylvania Army National Guard creates new reconnaissance unit to counter drone and electronic warfare threats as part of major brigade reorganization.
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Army National Guard has established a new reconnaissance company to counter modern battlefield threats as part of a reorganization that officially transformed the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team into the 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team on March 31.
Company M, known as Mike Company, was created to address emerging threats from drones, electronic warfare, and advanced adversaries, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The unit represents a shift in the guard’s operational focus, moving away from Global War on Terror-era tactics.
“It brings a new thought process and doctrinal shift from the Global War on Terror era. It allows us to be ready, trained, and aware of modern capabilities of opposing forces,” said 1st Sgt. Brandon Lutz. “At the end of the day, what technology can’t replace is a good infantry reconnaissance team. Quiet, forward, lethal when necessary, and able to report enemy movements to higher headquarters undetected.”
Equipment Modernization
The transformation will see the guard phasing out its eight-wheeled Stryker armored fighting vehicles in favor of smaller and more agile unarmored troop carriers known as Infantry Squad Vehicles. This equipment change reflects the unit’s new mobile combat role.
“This transition involves significant changes in the organizational structure, equipment, personnel, and alignment of enablers,” said Col. Christopher McLaud, 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team commander. “The Independence Brigade will continue to deliberately” transition to its new capabilities.
Brigade History and Impact
The 56th Brigade, one of six units under the guard’s 26th Infantry Division, was created in 2004 and deployed to Iraq in 2009. The recent reorganization will eventually affect all 15,000 soldiers in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
The restructuring represents the guard’s adaptation to contemporary military challenges, emphasizing mobility and reconnaissance capabilities over the heavily armored approach used during previous overseas deployments. The new Mobile Brigade Combat Team designation reflects this strategic shift toward more flexible and rapidly deployable forces.
