82nd Sustainment Brigade
Division Support Command, 82nd Airborne Division
In January 2006, as part of the Army's transformation towards a modular force, the title and composition of the DISCOM unit was changed to the 82nd Sustainment Brigade. Unlike DISCOM, the Division Support Brigade includes elements of the 21st Cehmical Company and 11th Qauter Master Company, among others.
Previous Duties and History of Division Support Command (DISCOM), 82nd Airborne
The Division Support Command [DISCOM] is one of six major subordinate commands in the 82nd Airborne Division. The others are the three infantry brigades, the aviation brigade, and the DIVARTY. The DISCOM provides effective and responsive support to tactical units. To provide this support to the tactical commander, logistics and HSS assets are effectively organized and positioned where they are needed. The DISCOM provides division-level logistics and HSS to all organic elements of the division and, in certain cases, to nondivisional units in the division area.
The DISCOM commander of the airborne division divides his elements into the three echelons for support (assault, follow-on, and rear). He tailors support for each echelon based on the factors of METT-T; such as personnel and equipment to be supported, number of airframes available, and size of operation. Just as the airborne force is tailored for airdrop or airland combat operations, logistics is tailored to support the airhead or lodgment by airdrop, airland, overland, or sea. Critical support elements from the FSB such as Class III, V, VIII, and IX supply elements are typically in the assault echelon, and the remaining FSB assets enter during the follow-on echelon. In the case of a full-division deployment, key elements from the MSB and aviation maintenance company are in the follow-on echelon, and the remaining MSB and AMCO elements remain with the rear echelon. Planners must also ensure adequate command and control assets are included with each echelon to control logistics elements on the ground and coordinate all logistics activities. In the assault phase and early in the follow-on phase, elements of the FSB HSC may be sufficient to perform these roles. However, in some cases, personnel from the DISCOM headquarters may have to deploy in these early echelons to perform functions for which the FSB headquarters has no expertise. If host-nation support is a major factor, DISCOM personnel are likely to have more expertise to coordinate the effort.
In any case, the logistics C2 element expands as the size of logistics force on the ground grows. At all times the deployed logistics force must maintain contact with its supporting element whether that element is the rear echelon of the DISCOM or, in the case of a fully deployed division, the sustainment base of the next higher echelon, whatever that may beat the time. The critical component in maintaining this constant link is assured communications.
When the division is fully deployed, a nondivision ordnance company establishes an ATP in the division rear to support any division elements operating in the rear. The FSB headquarters and supply companies have assets to establish an ATP in each BSA. Even in operations involving less than a fully deployed division, the FSB would establish an ATP in the BSA to transload ammunition arriving from EAD. In the assault phase or early in the follow-on phase, the DISCOM may pool assets from more than one FSB ATP section to establish an ad hoc ammunition supply point. An ATP does not store ammunition but in the early stages of an airborne operation storage may be required until a transload system can be established.
Units carry a limited amount of Class IV into the objective area. Careful choice of drop and assault landing zones reduces the amount of Class IV necessary to support the operation by minimizing the requirement for construction equipment and material. The division commander determines the Class IV stockage in the division and the DMMC manages Class IV stockage. There is no specified division-level reserve for Class IV supplies. Class IV stockage capabilities are extremely limited, and DSA supply points stock them only when required to support a specific operation. Units use local resources for Class IV whenever possible.
Maintenance problems are magnified in the airborne division by the scarcity of maintenance personnel in the objective area during the assault phase and by the possible damage to equipment during air drop operations.
Maintenance personnel organic to the airborne battalions and separate companies along with limited critical elements from the FSB perform maintenance during the initial assault. The remainder of the FSB maintenance company plus other designated individuals and equipment from the MSB maintenance companies enter the objective area in the follow-on echelon. These maintenance personnel provide direct support of primary weapons systems and communications equipment. They carry fast-moving Class IX items and use maintenance support teams extensively to perform on-site repairs.
After the build-up of the airhead (assault phase), the remaining direct support maintenance elements are deployed. Once the division is fully deployed, the FSB maintenance company performs direct support maintenance for division units in the brigade area, and the MSB maintenance company provides direct support maintenance for division units in the division rear as discussed in Chapter 10. The MSB maintenance companies provide reinforcing DS to the forward support maintenance company. Nondivisional maintenance assets provide reinforcing DS to the division.
Extensive maintenance is performed prior to the start of the operation and only operator/crew maintenance is performed by the crews during the assault phase. The AVUM company from the aviation brigade provides support during the follow-on phase. Critical AVIM elements arrive during this phase and provide reinforcing AVUM and limited AVIM during this stage. As the lodgment expands, corps slices are tailored into the force for support.
The MSB light maintenance company receives and issues common and missile repair parts required by its maintenance activities. It receives, stores, maintains, and manages reparable. The FSB maintenance company maintains a stock of repair parts and maintenance-related supplies to support its own maintenance activities. It also carries a stock of demand supported and combat critical Class IX items for issue to supported units.
Vehicles are filled to USAF specifications (usually one-half to three-quarters of a full tank) prior to loading on the aircraft. Inspected fuel cans filled with fuel can also be loaded on the aircraft. Bulk fuel in "bladder birds" can be loaded on aircraft if desired by the commander. Once the follow-on echelon forces arrive, fuel and lubricant supplies arrive as packaged products. As the operation matures, fuel is usually delivered in bulk. Throughput distribution and supply point distribution are performed. Upon delivery of fuel from EAD, DISCOM personnel transfer the fuel from the EAD assets into HSC tanks. Supply personnel from the FSB HSC use organic transportation and 500-gallon drums either mounted on cargo trucks or sling loaded by helicopter to distribute emergency supplies. Supported units in the division rear pick up fuel in their organic refueling vehicles from the MSB HSC.
The DISCOM staff makes extensive plans for resupply of airborne forces using airdrop, airland, and helicopter operations. The US Air Force transports most personnel, supplies, and equipment in all three echelons during an airborne operation. The airborne division relies on its organic quartermaster airdrop equipment support company for rigging support. The G4 coordinates for aircraft for routine resupply missions. Aircraft for emergency resupply missions are coordinated through the G3. The division aviation brigade also provides some aircraft support to include limited transportation for personnel, supplies, and equipment. Corps aircraft deliver in theater any emergency resupply to the lowest possible support element in the division. CSS personnel should cross-load follow-on supplies to offset loss of one type of item if aircraft are lost.
Once on the ground, the airborne form has limited tactical ground mobility for both personnel and equipment Mobility depends on the numbers and types of ground vehicles that can be brought into or seized within the objective area. Captured enemy vehicles are used to supplement limited transportation resources. Efficient use of organic transportation is essential.
Health service support conserves the fighting strength (trained manpower) of the airborne force allowing the commander to maintain maximum combat power. The DMOC and the support operations sections of the MSB and the FSBs plan for medical operations before insertion of the division into an area of operation. Anticipated casualty rates and disease threats dictate the extent of initial and subsequent HSS required by the division. During the planning process, HSS planners also consider the limited number of tactical/strategic airframes, the limited duration of the operation and the special nature of the mission; such as hostage rescue and withdrawal operations. HSS personnel and equipment can be deployed into the operational area by parachute or by air landing.
HSS personnel rely upon palletized or containerized air delivery of supplies and equipment, both for initial deployment and subsequent resupply. The division and unit medical treatment elements stock a limited amount of Class VIII, with the DMSO maintaining a larger amount of Class VIII. Resupply is first made by push packages while the follow-on echelon is deploying. Door bundles are prepared for packaged Class VIII supplies, including IV solutions and bandages. These bundles are distributed among aircraft to prevent destruction by a single incident. Once the rear echelon is in place, normal supply procedures are followed. HSS personnel may use evacuation aircraft returning from EAD to provide urgently required Class VIII.
Airborne units carry MREs when entering the objective area. Airborne forces carry filled canteens, water purification tablets, and filters. Normally, they carry enough full organic water containers for travel to the airhead. CSS planners determine the location of possible water points. Water purification and storage assets are in the MSB HSC.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Division Support Command, 82d Airborne Division, was activated September 1, 1957 as HHC, 82d Support Group. In 1964, the company went through reorganization as a result of the 82d Support Group's redesignation to the 82d Division Support Command.
HHC, Division Support Command is a multifaceted company composed of three critical elements. The DISCOM headquarters provides the necessary command and control elements for the DISCOM. The Material Management Center manages all classes of supply (less class VIII, COMSEC, and classified maps) and monitors the operational readiness posture for the Division. The Division Medical Operations Center (DMOC) manages CHS resources in the Division to include evacuation, patient treatment, holding, and Medical Logistics (CL VIII). The Headquarters Company element provides command and control and logistical support to the DISCOM headquarters, Material Management Center, Division Medical Operations Center and attached units.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company participated in all 82d Airborne Division operations since its activation. The company participated in Operation "Urgent Fury", Operation "Just Cause", and Operations "Desert Shield" and Desert Storm".
