The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division was activated in January 2006. It was one of three new types of brigades being formed by the US Army. The 4th Brigade is a light infantry brigade combat team. The 4th Brigade Combat is self-sustaining, unlike previous brigades, because of its support battalion and because it has its own reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition unit. Brigades had previously been supported in the latter role from separate cavalry troops or from reconnaissance elements in their maneuver battalions. Support elements had previously been held in division support commands, attached to brigades during combat operations.