Military

G-1. In a force projection environment, the employment of military ground forces and combat power decides the outcome of campaigns and operations. The success of these forces often depends on sound, timely deployment and sustainment support. A well defined, integrated transportation system is fundamental to the success of these operations. Movement control is one of the most critical functions of the transportation system. It contributes significantly to the success or failure of any operation. Effective movement control of forces, units, and logistics (particularly munitions) enhances combat effectiveness. Inadequate control results in waste, reduced efficiency, and loss of potential combat power. Movement control incorporates the following actions:

• Planning.
• Validating.
• Allocating.
• Routing.
• Coordinating.
• Force tracking.
• Priority management.
• In-transit visibility.

Also, movement control is the commitment of apportioned transportation assets according to command directives.

G-2. Theater distribution involves a fully integrated distribution management system that uses technology, doctrine, and procedures to enhance distribution operations. Effective distribution management coordinates the various sub-elements of the following distribution equation:

• Transportation elements of movement control, mode operations, and terminal and cargo transfer operations.
• Materiel management.
• Supply support.

Movement control is key to developing the distribution plan. Movement programming, highway regulation, and the establishment of movement control interfaces throughout the distribution structure are all critical to the success of the theater distribution plan.

G-3. One of the major tasks of the TSC is development of the theater distribution plan to support the theater commander's intent and concept of operation. This plan fuses transportation and materiel into one system, incorporating RSO&I and sustainment operations. The distribution system is a complex of networks, facilities, procedures, arrangements, and units. The unit's responsibility is to receive, store, maintain, issue, and move materiel, personnel, and equipment.

G-4. The distribution system functions along LOCs that take into account transportation assets and geography of the theater and area of operations. Throughput is a function of the transfer capacity of key nodes along the LOC. Nodes are locations where a materiel or unit movement requirement is originated, processed for onward movement, and transferred to another transport node or terminated. Nodes and LOC security are essential to an effective distribution plan. Nodes for materiel and munitions movements include the SPOD, APOD, TSA, CSA, ASP, and ATP.

G-5. An effective distribution system requires continuous coordination between materiel and movement control personnel and organizations at every level of command. During the movement program planning process, planners allocate available transportation resources to support requirements based on the commander's priorities. Logisticians at each level are responsible for implementing these priorities. The functions of the movement program are as follows:

• Establishes which requirements can be resourced given available transportation assets, units, and infrastructure.
• Serves as the authority for committing transportation assets.
• Authorizes MCTs to issue TMRs.
• Directs mode operators to furnish assets.
• Alerts receiving units to accept programmed shipments so they can unload transportation assets promptly.

G-6. Planners must be flexible because requirements often change to accommodate changes in priority, unit locations, asset availability, and conditions of the LOCs. Planners coordinate with the TSC and COSCOM regarding the positioning of transportation units and supply activities. Also, they coordinate with shippers and receivers to determine their capability to receive, handle, and load by various transportation nodes. This capability is based on the availability of MHE, CHE, ramps, labor, storage capacity, and other factors that effect transportation services.

G-7. The organizations discussed in this section are representative of those involved in the movement of munitions. All units in the munitions support structure must have an understanding of the movement process in the theater of operations and of the responsibilities of these organizations.

G-8. The MCA provides movement management services for all common user transportation nodes, including allied/HN assets when they are committed to support the theater logistics or transportation plan. The MCA performs the following functions:

• Monitors daily transportation movement requirements and capabilities.
• Implements the task force commander's priorities.
• Supervises movement control battalions (EAC).
• Develops and enforces theater highway regulations.

The MCA is a modularly designed organization and is assigned to a TSC.

G-9. The MCB (EAC) commands, controls, and supervises MCTs; controls the movement of all personnel, units, and materiel in the theater; and maximizes the use of available transportation assets. It is assigned to a TSC and is normally attached to the MCA. The battalion commands and controls MCTs behind the corps rear boundary. It provides asset visibility and maintains ITV of tactical and nontactical moves within the MCA defined geographical area.

G-10. The corps MCB commands and controls MCTs forward of the corps rear boundary. It is assigned to a corps and plans, coordinates, and manages movement programming, highway regulation, and transportation support for the corps. The corps MCB provides asset visibility and maintains ITV of tactical and nontactical moves within the corps defined geographical area.

G-11. The port MCT expedites, coordinates, and supervises transportation support of units, cargo, and personnel into, through, and out of air, land, or water ports (with the exception of bulk POL using a pipeline). The port MCT is assigned to a corps, ASCC, or TSC and is normally attached to an MCB (EAC or corps). It expedites the throughput of cargo through the transportation system and provides ITV of units, cargo, and personnel transiting from/to PODs/POEs. This MCT deploys on an as-needed basis, supporting onward movement and sustainment operations.

G-12. The area MCT expedites, coordinates, and supervises transportation support of units, cargo, and personnel into, through, and out of air, land, or water ports. It supports inland transfer points and supply support activities. It expedites cargo throughput and provides ITV of units, cargo, and personnel moving through an assigned geographic area. The area MCT is assigned to a corps, ASCC, or TSC and is normally attached to an MCB (corps or EAC).

G-13. The division support MCT augments the DTO. It assists the DTO with movement programming, highway regulation, and division transportation support. It assists in executing divisional highway regulation for nontactical movements and planning and coordinating division MSRs. Also, the division support MCT provides movement control for tactical and nontactical road marches. It is assigned to a corps and attached to a division.

G-14. The MRCT operates up to four separate movement regulating points. It is assigned to a corps, ASCC, or TSC and is attached to a MCT (corps or EAC). The MRCT operates on MSRs and other designated controlled routes to regulate convoys and serve as the eyes and ears of the MCB. Based on mission requirements, the unit deploys on an as-needed basis.

G-15. The CDT provides cargo documentation for the transshipment of cargo in water, air, motor, and rail terminals. It is assigned to a corps, ASCC, or TSC and is attached to an MCB (corps or EAC).

G-16. A major activity of most munitions units is loading trucks, railcars, and aircraft. The planning and execution of the loading process generally requires some knowledge of the types of transport and their capabilities.

G-17. Motor transport is the backbone of the Army's support and sustainment structure, providing mobility on and off the battlefield. Motor transport operations support a variety of missions depending on unit locations and situations. Motor transport units are usually employed for general support within a specified area or along specific routes. Most munitions units are actively engaged in shipping operations where the capacity of different types of vehicles must be known. Refer to Table G-1 for cargo cube and weight data. For more detailed information, see Chapter 3 of FM 55-15. This chapter contains current mechanical data on authorized motor transport vehicles, including axle weights; truck performance data; center of balance data for single-unit trucks; and dimensions and capacities for prime movers and towed vehicles.

G-18. Airlift is a flexible and essential element of the transportation system. Army aviation units support theater, corps, and division requirements. The aviation brigade is the Army's primary aviation unit and is found at EAC, corps, and division. Army airlift is not intended to compete with Air Force airlift. Its purposes are rapid response for high-priority personnel, supplies, and equipment and to supplement the lift capability of other Army transportation systems. Army airlift is essential to the logistic support of Army operations. There are only three approved methods of external air transport: slings, cargo nets, and cargo bags. Data on load capacities and configurations of current Army aircraft are found in FM 55-15, Chapter 2.

G-19. Different classification systems exist for locomotives in CONUS and most other countries throughout the world. Information to include characteristics of locomotives, capacities of different types of railcars, maximum load data, and track gauges of the world can be found in FM 55-15, Chapter 4.