Military

PLANNING AND TRAINING

When units are designated as eligible to draw APL equipment, they--

• Incorporate APL equipment issue procedures training into their annual training calendars in conjunction with appropriate MACOM and AWRSPTCMD (see applicable battlebook). Training becomes particularly important if equipment being drawn from the APL site (for example, M1A1 tanks) does not match unit equipment at home station (M1A2 tanks).
• Review copies of applicable battlebooks and other APL-related manuals, SOP, and lessons learned from previous exercises and operations.
• Review and update internal SOPs for APL operations.
• Identify positions for the advance party.
• Identify APL unit organizations, to include all battalions/task forces, and CS and CSS units. Units conduct APL train-up under these task organizations for actual deployment.
• Identify C2 relationships.
• Review the updated hand-receipts.
• Verify, after consultation with the supported CINC, quantities of TAT and NAP materiel required and identify TAT/NAP shortages. Report TAT and NAP quantities to higher headquarters for transportation scheduling
• Develop plans for RBE and personnel

Upon notification that it will deploy and receive APL equipment, units-

• Conduct unit training, to include platoon, company, and battalion Army training and evaluation programs, and qualify all personnel on individual weapons and CDE.
• Finalize personnel shortfalls and nondeployables.
• Finalize APL TAT/NAP identification lists and update automated unit equipment list (AUEL) through the Transportation Coordinator Automated Information Management System (TC-AIMS) II, once it is available
• Identify unit organizations for APL train-up.
• Finalize movement plans to the APOE. See FM 100-17-4, for information concerning deployment planning and preparation.

Immediately before commencing APL operations in the theater, the ASCC ensures the unit drawing APL equipment receives command/theater orientation briefings. The ASCC briefing provides information concerning--

• CINC's/ASCC's internal procedures.
• CINC's/ASCC's intent of the operation.
• Current intelligence reports about the AO.
• Current status of the infrastructure.
• Command relationships.
• Deploying unit's responsibilities in the AO.

MISSION SEQUENCE

Units designated to draw and conduct operations with APL equipment conduct a command training program in which all involved activities participate. They rehearse procedures, exercise communications links, exercise the intelligence structure, refine liaison requirements, identify voids and gaps, and allow all participants who do not routinely work together to establish familiarity, set priorities, and focus on future training. They also conduct sustainment training, rehearsals, and continuous liaison in preparation for actual deployment. Before entering this cycle, the unit should determine the time line (N-hour sequence) and identify short-term training needs. Following is the sequence of tasks to be completed during the mission:

• Final preparation prior to deployment:

- Refine AUEL in TC-AIMS II.

- Refine notification procedures.

- Prepare advance party for deployment.

- Coordinate departure with appropriate transportation office.

• Alert/movement to theater of operations:

- Activate stay-behind plan.

- Deploy the advance party. (On the first flight of the advance party, deploy an accountability team consisting of the unit commander or his representative and required supply personnel to execute transfer of accountability procedures.)

- Prepare TAT/NAP for shipment.

- Activate movement plan to APOE.

- Depart main body from APOE.

- Activate force protection plan.

• RSO&I, commencing with arrival of the advance party:

- Locate staging base and TAA.

- Coordinate for billets and life support (food, fuel, and so on) with TSC support operations element.

- Review site configuration and issue procedures in preparation for receipt by the advance party.

- Coordinate transportation support and movements procedures with the port movement control team (MCT) for arrival of the advance party and main body.

- Make contact with the MCT to coordinate movement to the APL storage site and to the staging base.

- Review diagram of staging area and plans for reception of the advance party.

- Communicate with home station.

- Identify necessary support requirements to the CINC/ASCC.

- Take force protection measures as appropriate.

- Prepare to receive equipment and supplies.

- Prepare to assist with main body arrival.

- Locate ammunition upload areas.

- Receive and move equipment and supplies to the staging area.

- Secure area.

- Reinforce force protection measures as dictated by the threat.

• Arrival of the main body in the theater of operations:

- Coordinate support as required with the support organization.

- Coordinate ranges/training areas for firing.

- Reinforce force protection measures as dictated by threat.

- Draw sustainment stocks and ammunition.

- Move main body to the staging base.

• Movement to TAA.

• Configuration to task force, as appropriate.

This checklist is provided to assist commanders in planning.

REALISM

HOST NATION CONSIDERATIONS

HOST NATION AUTHORIZATION

Before an exercise in another country begins, the ASCC must obtain HN permission and cooperation. HN considerations include authorization for personnel to enter the country, permission to land at air facilities, and permission to use HN surface transportation systems and real estate. If more than one country is involved, such as when the Army transports APL equipment across borders, all participating countries must give permission. Ideally, HN representatives are included in all phases of exercise planning to obtain full cooperation and enhance exercise execution

AERIAL PORT OF DEBARKATION

An APOD of sufficient capacity is required to complete the airlift of APL deploying forces. The APOD should have sufficient runway and parking space to accommodate strategic aircraft, and it should have enough MHE to offload unit NAP equipment. When airfields are inadequate to accommodate strategic aircraft (or simulated as such), forces may complete the strategic movement leg of deployment via tactical aircraft such as the C-130. The APOD should be as close as possible to the issuing APL site to minimize surface transportation time

REAL ESTATE

HN land is necessary for exercising APL operations. Requirements include real estate for a marshaling area in the vicinity of the APL site to assemble APL equipment, a staging base, ranges for zeroing weapons, and TAAs. For APL operations, the staging base is probably the most important real estate consideration. It must be large enough for:

• Tactically dispersing several units simultaneously.
• Providing supply and service support to all units as they transit through.
• Performing equipment testing, maintenance, and property accountability functions.
• Organizing forces for onward movement to the TAA.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

To reach the staging base and complete the RSO&I process, an adequate surface transportation infrastructure is important. Critical transportation elements include:

• Highways, rail systems, bridges, and tunnels of sufficient capacity.
• Rail systems with sufficient numbers and types of railcars.
• Compatible railroad gauges if more than one country is transited.
• Sufficient seaport facilities if APL materiel must be relocated via sealift.

LOGISTICS AND LIFE SUPPORT

The ASCC, usually through the TSC, is responsible for providing logistics to deploying forces during exercises just as for actual contingencies. The TSC may obtain much of the food, fuel, water, and other commodities by contracting for them from HN vendors or directly from HN stocks

COMBAT HEALTH SUPPORT

In emergency situations, HN medical facilities may be used when organic US medical support is inadequate for treating injuries sustained or for illnesses contracted during an APL exercise

HOST NATION RESTRICTIONS

Especially during peacetime, US forces must be acutely aware of HN considerations while training outside of the US. In addition to needing authorization to enter HN borders as explained earlier, commanders abide by status of forces agreements (SOFAs) and local HN cultural rules and practices

STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENTS

SOFAs are relationships negotiated between two countries wherein the HN accords certain rights and responsibilities to members of the US armed forces. SOFAs often delineate jurisdictions for adjudicating legal matters. Many violations of HN laws are violations of US laws. In some cases, the HN defers jurisdiction to US forces. In other cases, however, the HN may retain the right to prosecute certain offenses.

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

APL stocks are strategically located around the globe in Europe, the Mideast, and the Far East. Each location has widely differing cultural beliefs, customs, and restrictions. For example, some countries disapprove of using women in military roles, ban the possession of alcohol and "offensive" reading materials, and prohibit the outward expression of certain religious practices. Therefore, APL forces are thoroughly briefed on cultural sensitivities and restrictions of the HN prior to deploying for exercise purposes.

CONFLICTING NATIONAL STANDARDS

Complying with the rules, regulations, and customs of a single HN is challenging. Doing the same when more than one foreign country is involved is even more complicated. For example, rules governing how equipment is loaded aboard rail cars can differ widely from country to country. If planners do not identify and resolve differences prior to exercise execution, lengthy delays can occur while equipment is downloaded and reloaded to satisfy requirements of the next country being entered.

LINGUIST CONSIDERATIONS

Recent exercises and operations in the Mideast, Africa, and Central Europe show how important close cooperation with HNs are for mission success. However, the language barrier often hinders close coordination. While proficiency varies from region to region, English is not the primary language of most foreign countries where APL is stored. Conversely, few Americans speak Korean, Japanese, Dutch, Arabic, or other host country languages. Therefore, deploying units should identify linguists prior to deployment to assist in-country personnel with HN coordination.