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FSSG to keep wartime structure

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 7/17/2003

Story by Sgt. Matthew J. Epright

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(July 17, 2003) -- Now that Camp Pendleton-based units are returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom, the commanders and staff of the 1st Force Service Support Group are considering leaving much of the wartime organizational structure intact ? a move they say would speed redeployment and forge stronger bonds between warfighters and those who support them.

The move would preserve the prevailing peacetime structure for some battalions but would reorganize 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Supply Battalion and 1st Transportation Support Battalion by commingling elements of the former with elements of the latter two.

Prior to deploying for OIF, the battalions that constitute the FSSG were split and reformed into numerous Combat Service Support Elements.

These CSSEs were then linked up with 1st Marine Division units so they could provide on-site maintenance, supply and logistics support wherever the Division units went.

In war, "we have to provide the whole spectrum of combat service support to each of the supported units," said Lt. Col. Aaron T. Amey, G-3, current operations officer for 1ST FSSG.

Individual CSSE's were tailor-made to meet the task requirements of the unit they supported. For example, a CSSE supporting tanks had more tank mechanics, while a CSSE supporting amtracks had more amtrack mechanics.

The commanders say the FSSG should be built in peacetime the way it is in war.

"I think that the decision to maintain that organization as we redeploy, and maintain those original relationships that were established, has a lot of merit. And, I know the supported units feel that way," said Brig. Gen. Richard S. Kramlich, who took over Friday as the FSSG's commanding general.

"It's not a complete reorganization of the FSSG. Some of the battalions will remain," said Col. Greg R. Dunlap, assistant chief of staff, G-3, for the Group.

The 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Dental Battalion and Headquarters and Service Battalion will stay the same. "The other battalions will be changed into multi-functional, direct-support and general-support groups," Dunlap said.

As in OIF, the CSSEs will likely be structured based on the requirements of the supported units.

According to Amey, part of the plan calls for the majority of 1st Maintenance Battalion to remain combined with parts of 1st Supply Battalion as Combat Service Support Battalion 12.

Another key element of the plan is to keep 1st Transportation Support Battalion organized as Transportation Support Group.

"TS(G) would receive additional maintenance assets from (1st) Maintenance Battalion so they could provide third-echelon maintenance to the division," Amey said.

Officials say the FSSG's restructuring will produce two primary benefits. First, it means less time spent on reforming the FSSG into CSSEs each time it deploys to a major conflict.

"We had about nine months to plan (OIF). If we didn't have nine months, we (would) be able to deploy ourselves and provide combat service support on the other side within a very short period of time," Amey said.

Second, the move will enhance cohesion between Division and FSSG unit commanders, Dunlap said.

"The fundamental (goal) that underlines this whole reorganization is the establishment of habitual, direct support relationships with the supported units," Dunlap said.

Some leaders are concerned the new structure will reduce availability of assets, including equipment and personnel, during peacetime training.

The wartime strength of the 1st FSSG was more than 14,000 personnel.

"A good portion of these assets came from the reserves, and all that is going to go away. A good portion came off (Maritime Prepositioning Force) ships, and all that is gone," Amey said.

"What we will have to do is take a real hard look at our garrison mission, versus the wartime mission, versus the amount of equipment and people we have," Dunlap said. "Some organizations will probably be structured and manned and equipped only in the event of war."

The re-forming probably means some Marines and sailors will be relocating within the base. CSSB-12 in particular may form as many as three separate CSS companies and station them at different locations around Camp Pendleton.

The troops won't be left out in the cold, though, Dunlap said. Every Marine and sailor will still have a barracks room, he said.

"It might not be the room he had when he left here (for OIF), but he will have a room that will be associated with the unit he is assigned to," Dunlap said.