The missile support company provides DS maintenance support and class IX supply for land combat missile systems and SHORAD/FAADS systems. The company also provides DS maintenance support for FAAR, MCTNS, associated training support equipment, and missile peculiar test measurement and diagnostic equipment for the division. The company is organized as shown in Figure 8-1. It consists of a company headquarters, maintenance control section, storage/RX section, land combat maintenance platoon, and SHORAD maintenance platoon. Figure 8-2 shows a sample of a tactical disposition layout. The company is usually deployed in the DSA, but also sends out MSTs.
The company also provides-
- Reinforcement of land combat/MCTNS class IX and RX supply support for FSB maintenance companies.
- Receipt, storage, and issue of class IX supplies for land combat, SHORAD, and MCTNS systems to support mission shop stock, RX, MST requirements, and missile/weapon systems user requirements.
- MST support for all systems not organic to brigades.
- Technical assistance inspections when requested by supported units.
- QA/QC inspections of system-peculiar equipment maintenance and TMDE maintenance.
Maintenance principles for this company are the same as those outlined in Chapter 6.
The missile support company is organized and equipped to provide forward support maintenance, as well as to operate a base shop in the DSA. MSTs of the missile support company provide limited on-site DS maintenance of malfunctioning equipment, to include repair by RX of selected components. Malfunctioning components are returned to the missile support company base shop by MSTs for repair. The company also-
- Provides a technical supply source.
- Provides base shop repair for line replaceable units.
- Provides line replaceable unit RX for all missile systems in the division.
- Has the TMDE necessary to perform maintenance as allocated by maintenance allocation charts.
The levels of missile support maintenance are as follows:
- Unit level is performed by operator/maintainer for land combat systems and an operator and unit maintainer for SHORAD/FAAD. Unit maintenance keeps the system operating by isolating and replacing malfunctioning LRUs.
- Direct support maintenance is performed by missile support teams, which assist unit maintainers and the base shop maintenance. The base shop repairs defective LRUs by isolating and replacing defective SRUs.
- General support/depot maintenance consists of repairing defective SRUs by isolating and replacing defective components. Repaired SRUs are returned to the supply system.
- CONUS depots and contractor facilities provide reinforcement for EAC/depot facilities.
The missile support company depends on a constant flow of repair parts. MSTs operating from the FSB will evacuate their unserviceable LRUs through forward support maintenance facilities to the missile support company. These LRUs are exchanged for serviceable ones. The defective LRU may be repaired by the missile support company by replacing the defective SRU. Whole systems evacuated to the missile support company for repair normally receive first priority for repair effort.
The defective SRUs are turned in and evacuated to the GS/depot maintenance facility in EAC for repair. The missile support company will requisition a serviceable SRU through the DMMC. The DMMC will pass the requirement to the COSCOM MMC.
Maintenance support teams provide support for land combat missile systems, multiple launch rocket systems, and Vulcan, SHORAD, FAAR systems. The missile support company has an additional mission of fielding BDA teams. This function will normally be accomplished by the MSTs as they perform their mission.
The advantages of moving MSTs to equipment rather than moving equipment to the base shop are-
- Reducing equipment downtime.
- Saving time in transit for large and bulky items.
- Eliminating damage caused by transporting major items.
- Minimizing security risk in moving classified items.
- Repairing major items without disconnecting them from the system.
Effective MST support depends largely on response time, training, and communications between user and support personnel. Before the MST is dispatched, there must be a fully coordinated effort between the maintenance support team and the requestor. The MST must have vital information concerning the scope of the problem before being dispatched. Such information should include symptoms of malfunction, anticipated repair parts, identity of requestor unit, location of the unit, and point of contact.
Prior to team departure, the supported unit maintenance officer is advised of repairs completed and of unresolved problems. Maintenance forms and logbook entries are completed. Work order requests opened on equipment requiring base shop repair will be closed out and the equipment evacuated by the supported unit.
Base shop support in the DSA is provided by the land combat maintenance and SHORAD/FAADS maintenance platoons of the MSB missile support company. The shop is responsible for the receipt, inspection, control, repair, and coordination of evacuation of all equipment received from supported units. Shop supply may maintain small stocks of frequently demanded items to improve maintenance response. The shop must be laid out to allow free flow of work and to minimize the required movement of repair parts, tools, and equipment. The maintenance control officer supervises the overall operations and establishes policy and procedures.
Shop procedures will be outlined in the maintenance internal SOP which should be based on guidance in DA Pam 738-750. An external SOP for use by supported units should also adhere to those guidelines.
The management activities vary depending on the system available in the division. TAMMS is a manual system described in DA Pam 738-750 that prescribes equipment records to be used for controlling the operation and maintenance of all Army materiel. SAMS, operating on TACCS, replaces other automated systems. It automates work order requests, parts requisitions, maintenance and supply management, and production of ad hoc maintenance and supply reports.
The company headquarters provides the necessary organization, administration, supply, and unit maintenance for support of the unit. The headquarters is typically organized with a command element, a supply element, and a motor pool element. In addition to the commander, the first sergeant, and vehicle driver, the command element has a tactical communications systems operator/mechanic. This individual installs, operates, and performs operator and unit maintenance on radio and wire communications systems and equipment.
The motor pool element, in addition to working the normal maintenance mission, is also capable of performing unit maintenance on refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, multifuel forced-air heaters, high pressure air compressors, gasoline engines, and electrical motors peculiar to equipment supported. Unit maintenance is also performed on tactical utility and precise power generator sets, light sets, and power consumption equipment organic to the missile support company.
A key figure in the supply room element is the NBC NCO. This individual conducts and coordinates training on methods and techniques of NBC defense at the company level. He instructs unit personnel in NBC procedures and maintains the units operating efficiency and preparedness in matters relating to NBC defense.
The maintenance control section provides control, coordination, and overall supervision of maintenance shops. It provides technical inspections, shop supply, job orders, equipment accountability, and administrative operations of the maintenance control office. This section is organized with a maintenance control office and an inspection element. It is the maintenance control office that maintains the coordination with customer units and higher headquarters in the accomplishing of the unit's maintenance mission. The section maintains the net control station for the missile support company.
The inspection element is the inspection and quality control element of the missile support company. It is under the supervision of the maintenance control officer. Technical inspectors are responsible to the company commander for all aspects of quality assurance, technical inspection, and QC for the DS maintenance activities of the company. They also serve as the nucleus for QA/QC and BDA teams.
This section is responsible for receipt, storage, and issue of ASL items. The ASL consists of approximately 3,100 lines of supply including approximately 600 lines of RX items for land combat and SHORAD/FAADS systems. This section also provides-
- Technical assistance to supported units.
- Off-loading assistance of incoming shipments.
- Receipt, storage, and issue of nonstock or fringe items.
- Physical movement of items to storage location and relocating of stock.
- Issue of parts from stock.
The storage element assigns incoming supplies to storage locations and manages the stock locator system and document control procedures. It safeguards, protects, stores, and preserves supplies by proper use of dunnage, packing materials, and other storage aids.
The RX element receives, stores, and issues reparable exchange items. It also receives requests for issue documents along with the unserviceable items and accompanying turn-in documents. The RX element will retrograde unserviceable. The element performs inventories as directed by the accountable officer.
The land combat maintenance platoon is organized with a platoon headquarters, a land combat maintenance section, and a land combat maintenance support team section. The platoon provides personnel for base shop support in the DSA and reinforcing on-site DS maintenance and technical assistance to supported units in the division rear area. It also reinforces support to the forward brigades. It provides control and overall supervision of platoon repair functions.
The land combat maintenance section provides base shop support for land combat and MCTNS equipment within the division to include system training equipment. This section also performs unit and DS maintenance on all system-related test equipment.
This section provides technical expertise for all maintenance areas, to include LCSSs, which are the responsibility of the section. Direct supervision is provided to LCSS test operations on a 2-shift basis to meet system requirements. Specialists are provided for each shift to permit rotation of LCSS manning to achieve maximum testing accuracy and maintenance of safe testing procedures. These specialists perform unit and DS maintenance for all the LCSS test stations.
The land combat maintenance support teams provide reinforcing on-site maintenance service in the division rear land combat systems and primary support for MLRS. The equipment is identical to that of the MSTs located in the forward support company. The MLRS MSTs use the concept of automatic test equipment. Unserviceables that cannot be repaired by the MSTs are evacuated to the base shop section. Items are repaired and returned to the user or to RX assets.
The SHORAD maintenance platoon provides base shop DS repair and maintenance support team service for Vulcan and FAAR systems. The platoon is organized with a platoon headquarters, a SHORAD maintenance section, and maintenance support team section.
This section performs base maintenance on all SHORAD/FAADS missile systems in the division. The section also provides gas and battery charging services for STINGER trainers. Items are repaired and returned to the user or the reparable exchange assets.
The SHORAD MST section is responsible for on-site maintenance of all Vulcan and FAAR systems in the division. The MSTs use 1 l/4-ton trucks, equipped with secure FM radios, to travel to sites where support is required. MSTs repair unserviceable equipment, using "on-board" spare parts and RX assemblies. They also provide on-equipment maintenance for missile system-related power units and environmental control equipment.
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