• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Deployment

During the predeployment (alert) planning phase, unit commanders ensure unit personnel, supplies, and selected equipment are prepared for deployment. They update their AUELs to reflect actual personnel and equipment deployment posture. They coordinate the disposition of their units' remain-behind equipment and coordinate with the installation commander for support required for deployment that is not within the unit's organic capability. The deployment phase begins with the first movement from home station to an APOE. It ends with the arrival of the APA heavy brigade forces in the AO.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizations having deployment responsibilities are the-

• US Transportation Command.
• Air Mobility Command.
• Military Sealift Command.
• Military Traffic Management Command.
• Military installations.
• Movement control units.
• Departure Airfield Control Group.
• ARFOR/heavy brigade commander.
• Ammunition support team.

US Transportation Command

As the strategic deployment manager, USTRANSCOM is responsible for coordinating air and sea deployment.

Air Mobility Command

Air Mobility Command exercises overall control of airlift operations at APOEs. The Air Mobility Command tanker airlift control element (TALCE) establishes an airlift operations center (AOC) at the airfield, with all information related to onload operations coordinated through the AOC.

Air deployment is used to transport personnel and selected supplies and equipment from the APOE to an APOD in the AO. The time required to transport the force will depend on size of the force, aircraft availability, distance, and throughput considerations. The Air Mobility Command, using strategic aircraft, and civil contract carriers accomplish the airlift. Air Mobility Command will determine airflow routing and airflow based upon the approved TPFDD. Air Mobility Command also pre-positions an air terminal movement control team (ATMCT) at the APOD with the port-opening package to provide unity of effort and to accomplish required interface with the port operator to clear Army personnel and cargo from the port.

Military Sealift Command

MSC plans and executes sea deployments. Reports of the movement are made through normal chains of command in accordance with JOPES procedures. MSC will direct the movement of APA ships. Ship deployment should accommodate the earliest possible embarkation of the OPP. The ASCC and AMC will coordinate with USTRANSCOM (MSC) for authorization for OPP to embark APA ships. APA ships will rendezvous with escorts, if assigned, and conduct transit to the marshalling area.

Military Traffic
Management Command

MTMC will perform the port manager's function through all phases of a theater port life cycle from a bare-beach deployment to a commercial contract redeployment. This assures the seamless flow of transportation management information from SPOE through the theater SPOD. In theater, MTMC provides the supported CINC visibility of in-transit ocean vessels and cargoes, tasks the port operator based on CINC priorities, administers MSC vessel contracts, and contracts for water terminal related services. MTMC also provides documentation services, ADP system technical support, USTRANSCOM interface, and operational transition planning. As the theater matures, MTMC becomes the port operator through the use of commercial contracts.

Military Installations

Military installations play a key role in the alert and deployment process. CONUS replacement centers (CRCs) are installations assigned a mobilization mission. The installation commanders at or in the vicinity of POEs provide MHE, transportation, security, and other support as requested by the deploying unit. The installation also coordinates updating of the AUEL. The installation transportation offices coordinate commercial transportation and highway clearance for moving units to POEs.

Movement Control Units

Movement control units provide deployment assistance in preparation of equipment and movement procedures to assist the deploying unit in moving the POE.

Departure Airfield
Control Group

The DACG, the primary interface with the Air Force at APOE, should be pre-positioned as early as possible at the arrival/departure airfield. The DACG is responsible for coordinating and controlling the outloading of units for deployment or redeployment; receiving deploying equipment from the units at the APOE; coordinating with the TALCE to ensure the cargo and personnel are properly prepared for air shipment; and delivering cargo to the ready line. Further responsibilities are outlined in FM 55-12.

ARFOR/Heavy
Brigade Commander

Coordination between the moving unit, arrival/departure airfield control group, and TALCE is critical to an orderly deployment of airlift aircraft through the APOE/APOD. The ARFOR coordinates with the unified command, USCINCTRANS, and other supporting agencies. The arrival of unit equipment and personnel for onload must be sequenced to avoid bottlenecks at the APOE. The ARFOR/heavy brigade commander will provide an officer at the APOE to coordinate, with A/DACG and TALCE, the arrival of unit equipment and personnel .

Ammunition Support Team

If required, an ammunition support team (AST) may be deployed to the APOE to provide technical assistance, quality assurance, and safety support during the uploading of ammunition. These elements will also serve to provide asset visibility and accountability to the National Inventory Control Point and the CINC.

PREDEPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES

Predeployment activities include the planning and preparation for an eventual APA operation prior to notification and those actions undertaken upon notification leading up to actual deployment. Successful APA operations rely on a foundation of fully trained, equipped, and sustained units and soldiers. The brigade mission-essential task list (METL) should reflect tasks associated with conducting any contingency operation. Training should emphasize critical tasks associated with contingency and APA operations. Brigades assigned the mission to use APA should consider the following activities as part of their planning and preparation:

• Establishing, developing, training, and refining alert notification procedures.
• Conducting periodic operational readiness inspections of TAT/NAP.
• Maintaining and refining packing lists and load plans.
• Preparing for the hand-receipt and turnover of APA equipment.
• Maintaining effective family support group structures.
• Coordinating required public affairs officer/media interface.
• Establishing a rear detachment structure and identifying procedures for rear detachment operations.

The critical stage of predeployment activities begins when the brigade is alerted for an APA contingency operation. The brigade commander and staff's objective will be to task-organize the brigade and quickly develop and refine operational concepts. The need to plan and prepare for a strategic deployment will be a particularly demanding aspect of this stage.

The APA contingency operation actually begins when the unit is notified to deploy. The division or other higher headquarters of the brigade will initiate execution. This execution sequence is called the N-hour sequence. Units move to the POE in accordance with port call messages. During strategic lift phase, units move to the theater of operations in a flow sequenced to facilitate and support the efficient discharge of the APA ships.

APA FORCE PROJECTION OPERATIONS

APA force projection operations follow a general sequence, although the stages often overlap in space and time. These operations seldom begin with a clear idea of the entire package or purpose. Often, deployment requirements develop over time and with adjustments. Enemy actions further change the equation. APA force projection operations do not end when the brigade arrives in theater; they end when the mission is complete and the last soldier returns to home station.

ECHELONING OF FORCES

Echeloning is organizing the units for movement. Generally, the deploying units will organize into the off-load preparation party, the SLRP, the advance party, and the main body. The remainder of the units that do not deploy constitute the rear echelon force.

Off-Load Preparation Party

The purpose of an OPP is to facilitate the discharge, processing, and transfer of APA equipment and materiel. Tasks to be performed are delineated in AMC SOP for OPP and in the battle books for respective APA ships. OPP operations, as well as APA discharges, are a subset of RSO&I within the AOR. RSO&I operations and doctrine focus on the efficient and effective introduction of combat forces into a theater of operations. The goal is integration of the combat forces within the TAA as rapidly and as effectively as possible. The success of this process is key and essential to force protection.

Assignment of the OPP depends on the type of ship and the cargo it carries. Composition of the OPP depends on the condition of the equipment on the ship. AMC provides overall C2 for the OPP and will ensure that AMC personnel are briefed and trained regarding procedures and operational requirements to ensure the success of the OPP. The OPP personnel consist of AMC government and contractor personnel, who may be a mix of on-board contractor personnel assigned to the respective ships, personnel assigned to an AMC Tiger Team, other AMC contractor personnel, an AMC OPP officer in charge (OIC), a representative of MTMC and/or the port operator, a USAMMA representative, and others, based on METT-T. Generally, the receiving brigade will provide advance party representatives.

Survey, Liaison,
Reconnaissance Party

The SLRP is a task organization formed from the deploying units that is introduced into the objective area prior to the arrival of APA ships. It conducts initial reconnaissance, establishes liaison with in-theater authorities, and initiates preparations for arrival of the advance party and the main body.

Deployed at the direction of the ARFOR commander, the SLRP should deploy at the earliest possible time and at least 5 to 7 days prior to arrival of the APA ships in the AO. Considerations that may impact the SLRP include:

• Political implications that may affect its size, personal security, and whether personnel should deploy in civilian or military clothes.
• The objective, which may affect the team's composition and its deployment schedule.
• Local security, which may affect freedom of movement within the receiving country.

Task organization of the SLRP, which is under the direction of the designated port commander, must consider that-

• METT-T will govern the party's core composition. Unit personnel and equipment, procedures for deploying to and activating APA assets in country, and required face-to-face coordination will affect the makeup of the party core.
• At a minimum, the SLRP should include representatives of the port commander, the movement control team (MCT), the LSE, and the combat brigade.
• The party should be self-supporting relative to communications, transportation, rations, and personal security.
• The party's size, mission, and scope will always depend on the situation.

Advance Party

An advance party is formed from the brigade, division, and echelon-above-division support elements. It also includes the US Army Armament, Munitions, and Chemical Command (USAMCCOM) AST. The AST deploys to provide accountability and visibility of ammunition arriving in theater. The primary tasks of the advance party are to arrange for the reception of the main body and airlifted elements, rendezvous with the APA ships to continue depreservation procedures, and assist in port support and discharge operations. The advance party deploys before the main body and should include (as a minimum) battery teams, fuel handlers, drivers (wheeled and tracked vehicles), and property book and supply personnel.

Main Body

The main body is the balance of forces that remain after the advance party has deployed. The deployment of the main body is sequenced to receive equipment and supplies, move to the TAA, and prepare for continued operations. RSO&I is essential to the main body's flow being relatively uninterrupted to permit expeditious closure. Forces must not be introduced faster than logistics support is provided from the discharge and throughput process. Forces should arrive in theater no more than 24 hours prior to arrival of the first APA ship.

Rear Echelon Force

The rear echelon force will assist the advance party and main body with their deployment from home station, establish the rear detachment, and ensure the accountability of nondeploying assets and equipment.