The airdrop concept for a theater of operations is in a period of transition. The current concept (Figure 3-1) has existed for a number of years. It reflects the same type of airdrop support units in the corps and COMMZ. These units have the same mission. Since they are relatively large, they are difficult to resource. This has resulted in the bulk of the airdrop force structure being placed in the Army Reserve or in an unresourced category. Also, no specially designed unit is responsible for the deployment of the airborne elements of the airborne corps as there is for the airborne division. FM 101-10-1/2 planning factors include two major points that will affect the revised concept. First, most supplies will be airdropped using containers rather than the heavier airdrop platforms. Second, very little airdrop equipment will actually be recovered and sent back to the unit for repair and return to the supply system. Another factor is the ability of the distribution system to throughput supplies to units throughout the theater of operations. The various factors that were considered during the development of the revised concept (Figure 3-2) will be highlighted as each airdrop support unit is discussed in this chapter.
Under the current airdrop concept, three airdrop support companies, three airdrop support teams, and some small, special-purpose units provide airdrop support. These are discussed below.
The Quartermaster Airdrop Supply Company (Figure 3-3) is organized under TOE 10407. Normally, one company is allocated to each corps and TAACOM. It should be attached to the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Supply and Service Battalion (TOE 42446). FM 10-400 has more information on this company.
Capabilities. The company can receive, store, and prepare 200 tons of selected supplies and equipment a day for airdrop. It maintains stocks of supplies used to rig items for airdrop. It assists, as required, in loading supplies and equipment into aircraft for airdrop. When airdrop supplies and equipment have been issued to the direct support level, they are no longer carried on formal reports at the MMC. The company maintains informal accountability through use of status cards and other such records until the items have been used on an airdrop mission. On a limited basis, the company assists in the recovery and evacuation of airdrop equipment. It performs unit-level maintenance on all assigned equipment. Each platoon of the company can operate independently if administrative support, food service, organizational supply and maintenance support, and operational supplies are provided.
Limitations. The company depends on other units for medical, chaplain, finance, and personnel services. It requires additional transportation support to move rigged loads to departure airfields and to assist in company displacement.
The Quartermaster Airdrop Equipment Repair and Supply Company (Figure 3-4) is organized under TOE 10449; however, some units may still be organized under TOE 10417. Both TOEs have two versions. One version supports an airdrop supply company. The other version supports the airdrop equipment support company of the airborne division. Normally, the company is attached to a Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Supply and Service Battalion (TOE 42446). FM 10-400 has more information on this company.
Capabilities. The company receives and classifies airdrop equipment, performs direct and general support maintenance, and reclaims airdrop equipment. It requisitions, receives, stores, and issues airdrop equipment to support an airdrop supply company or an airdrop equipment support company.
Limitations. The company depends on other units for medical, chaplain, finance, and personnel services. It requires additional transportation to move airdrop equipment to airdrop units and to assist in company displacement.
The Quartermaster Airdrop Equipment Support and Transportation Battalion, Airborne Division Company (Figure 3-5) is organized under (TOE 42055). FM 10-400 has more information on TOE 10337. The company is organic to the Supply this company.
Capabilities. The company can support an airborne division. It receives, stores, and issues supply items in coordination with the DMMC of the airborne division. It accounts for airdrop items on the division property book the same as it accounts for other division items. The company maintains informal accountability through the use of status cards and other records. When the items are airdropped, they are dropped from accountability. The company packs parachutes and rigs and loads supplies and equipment for airdrop. It can provide 200 tons a day of follow-up supply for a 10-day period. It provides assistance in the recovery and evacuation of airdrop equipment. The company performs unit-level maintenance on airdrop equipment. It has the capability of task organizing to support the division's operational requirements.
Limitations. The company depends on other units for medical, finance, personnel, and maintenance services. It airdrops only the airborne division (troops and equipment) and its basic load. It requires additional transportation to move rigged airdrop loads to departure airfields and to assist in company displacement.
Airdrop support teams are organized under 10510 TOEs. They are used when units of less than company size are needed to increase the capabilities of fixed-strength airdrop units. The teams may operate independently, in groups, or as part of a company-sized airdrop support unit.
Team LA, Airdrop Supply Team. This team can provide 25 percent of the mission capability of the Quartermaster Airdrop Supply Company (TOE 10407).
Capabilities. The team can receive, store, and prepare 50 tons of selected supplies and equipment a day for airdrop. It maintains stocks of supplies used to rig items for airdrop. It assists, as required, in loading supplies and equipment into aircraft for airdrop. When airdrop supplies and equipment have been issued to the direct support level, they are no longer carried on formal reports at the MMC. The team maintains informal accountability through use of status cards and other such records until the items have been used on an airdrop mission. On a limited basis, the team assists in the recovery and evacuation of airdrop equipment. It provides personnel parachutes for 500 parachutists. It performs unit-level maintenance on all assigned equipment.
Limitations. The team depends on other units for medical, chaplain, finance, and personnel services. It requires additional transportation to move airdrop equipment to airdrop units and to assist in team displacement.
Team LC, Airdrop Equipment Repair and Supply Team. This team can provide 25 percent of the mission capability of the airdrop equipment repair and supply company.
Capabilities. The team receives and classifies airdrop equipment, performs direct and general support maintenance, and reclaims airdrop equipment. It requisitions, receives, stores, and issues airdrop equipment to support an airdrop supply team.
Limitations. The team depends on other units for medical, chaplain, finance, and personnel services. It requires additional transportation to move airdrop equipment to airdrop units and to assist in team displacement.
Team LE, Parachute Pack and Maintenance Team. This team can support 1,000 parachutists with personnel parachutes to include unit, direct support, and general support maintenance.
Capabilities. The team may be used in a theater army, a corps, or an independent division to inspect, pack, and maintain personnel parachutes. Normally, it is attached to a Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Supply and Service Battalion (TOE 42446).
Limitations. The team depends on other units for medical, chaplain, finance, personnel, and food services. It requires total transportation support for the unit to displace.
In addition to those units already discussed, there are two small, special-purpose airdrop support units. These are discussed below.
Support Company, Special Forces Group. This company is organized under TOE 31803 and contains a small rigger section. The rigger section provides personnel and cargo parachute packing, unit maintenance of air delivery items, rigger support, and limited aerial delivery support to the special forces group. The Quartermaster Airdrop Supply Company provides airdrop resupply support on a sustained basis for the SFG.
Support Company, Special Forces Battalion. This company is organized under TOE 31808 and contains a small rigger section. This rigger section provides personnel and cargo parachute packing, unit maintenance of air delivery items, and rigger support. The Quartermaster Airdrop Supply Company provides airdrop resupply support on a sustained basis for the special forces battalion.
The new airdrop concept provides for six types of airdrop support companies and several miscellaneous units. These are discussed below.
The Quartermaster Light Airdrop Supply Company (Figure 3-6) is organized under TOE 10443. Normally, one of these companies will be allocated to each corps. It will replace the Quartermaster Airdrop Supply Company (TOE 10407) now allocated to the corps. This unit should be attached to the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Supply and Service Battalion (TOE 42446).
Capabilities. This company can receive, store, and prepare 120 tons of selected supplies and equipment a day for airdrop. It maintains stocks of supplies used to rig items for airdrop using the container delivery system. It assists, as required, in loading supplies and equipment into aircraft for airdrop. When airdrop supplies and equipment have been issued to the direct support level, they are no longer carried on formal reports at the MMC. The company maintains informal accountability through use of status cards and other such records until the items have been used on an airdrop mission. On a limited basis, the company assists in the recovery and evacuation of airdrop equipment. Each platoon of the company can operate independently if administrative support, food service, organizational supply and maintenance support, and operational supplies are be allocated to each corps. It will replace provided.
Limitations. This company can rig only supplies and equipment that will fit inside a single or double A-22 container. Most supplies and small equipment items can fit into an A-22 container. A single A-22 container has a 4- by 4-foot base. It can be rigged to a maximum height of 100 inches. The double A-22 container has a 4-by 8-foot base. It can be rigged to a maximum height of 100 inches. Airdrop requests for items that cannot be rigged in these containers must be passed to the supporting TAACOM. The items then will be rigged by the heavy airdrop supply company. The company depends on other units for medical, chaplain, finance, and personnel services. It requires additional transportation to move rigged loads to departure airfields and to assist in company displacement.
The Quartermaster Heavy Airdrop Supply Company (Figure 3-7) is organized under TOE 10643. Normally, one of these companies will be allocated to each TAACOM. It will replace the Quartermaster Airdrop Supply Company (TOE 10407) currently allocated to the TAACOM. This unit should be attached to the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Supply and Service Battalion (TOE 42446).
Capabilities. This company can receive, store, and prepare 200 tons of selected supplies and equipment a day for airdrop. It can rig container loads the same as the Quartermaster Light Airdrop Supply Company. It also can rig platform loads weighing up to 42,000 pounds each. The company maintains stocks of supplies used to rig items for airdrop. It assists, as required, in loading supplies and equipment into aircraft for airdrop. When airdrop supplies and equipment have been issued to the direct support level, they are no longer carried on formal reports at the MMC. The company maintains informal accountability through use of status cards and other such records until the items have been used on an airdrop mission. Only under unusual circumstances will the company assist in the recovery and evacuation of airdrop equipment. Each platoon of the company can operate independently if administrative support, food service, organizational supply and maintenance support, and operational supplies are provided.
Limitations. The company depends on other units for medical, chaplain, finance, and personnel services. It requires additional transportation support to move rigged loads to departure airfields and to assist in company displacement.
The Quartermaster Airdrop Equipment Repair and Supply Company (Airborne Corps) (Figure 3-8) will be allocated to the airborne corps. It will provide airdrop equipment supply and maintenance support to the three airdrop support units. These units are the airborne division airdrop equipment support company, the airborne corps airdrop equipment support company, and the light airdrop supply company. The airborne corps will be the only corps with an airdrop equipment repair and supply company. It will normally be attached to the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Supply and Service Battalion (TOE 42446).
The Quartermaster Airdrop Equipment Repair and Supply Company (TAACOM) (Figure 3-9) will be allocated on the basis of one per TAACOM. The company will provide airdrop equipment repair and supply support to the heavy airdrop supply company allocated to the TAACOM. It must also provide airdrop equipment repair and supply support to the light airdrop supply companies allocated to the supported corps (except for the airborne corps). It will normally be attached to the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Supply and Service Battalion (TOE 42446).
The Quartermaster Airdrop Equipment Support Company (Airborne Corps) (Figure 3-10) will be allocated to the airborne corps to provide deployment support to the airborne elements. It will also be capable of providing 200 tons per day of follow-up supply for a 10-day period. It will normally be attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Supply and Service Battalion (TOE 42446).
This unit will remain unchanged under the new concept. It will remain organized under TOE 10337. See Figure 3-5 for information on the assignment, organization, capabilities, and limitations of this unit.
As in the current concept, there are two miscellaneous airdrop support units. These units will remain organized as discussed earlier in this chapter.
Support Company, Special Forces Group. This company is organized under TOE 31803 and contains a small rigger section. The rigger section provides personnel and cargo parachute packing, unit maintenance of air delivery items, rigger support, and limited aerial delivery support to the special forces group. The light or heavy airdrop supply company provides airdrop resupply support on a sustained basis for the SFG.
Support Company, Special Forces Battalion. This company is organized under TOE 31808 and contains a small rigger section. The rigger section provides personnel and cargo parachute packing, organizational maintenance of air delivery items, and rigger support. The light or heavy airdrop supply company provides airdrop resupply support on a sustained basis for the special forces battalion. See FM 100-25 for additional information on how SOF are supported in the theater.
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