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Preface

The changing world environment has led to significant changes in how the United States defines its need for a standing military, dictating that the US Army convert primarily to a CONUS-based force with limited forward presence. The 1993 edition of FM 100-5 gave definition to this new philosophy. Its keystone is the need for an Army that can maintain a vigilant posture-ready and able to project forces into areas of hostilities or of major concern to national interests.

The centerpiece of the new philosophy is having the capability to project CONUS-based forces to the area of operations (AO), requiring the involvement of numerous services, agencies, departments, and organizations. Its credibility depends on our capability to deploy, in a timely manner, an appropriate military force that is capable of accomplishing the missionófrom a military operation other than war to war.

This manual establishes the doctrinal framework for a major element of that critical, initial force projection capability: the Army pre-positioned afload (APA) heavy brigade with theater-opening combat support (CS)/combat service support (CSS) units. It describes the missions, duties, and responsibilities of all parties involved in moving a predesignated heavy brigade to an operational area. The term heavy brigadeheavy brigade includes the essential APA theater-opening CS/CSS units required for sustained operations. Successful APA planning and execution require synchronization of all APA combat, CS, and CSS units. APA supports the US Army's force projection concept. Any commander in chief (CINC) will have APA ships and equipment available for employment during any contingency across the range of military operations.

The proponent of this manual is HQ TRADOC. Send comments and recommendations on DA Form 2028 directly to Commander, US Army Training and Doctrine Command, ATTN: ATDO-A, Fort Monroe, VA 23651-5000.

Unless this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns or pronouns do not refer exclusively to men.