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CHAPTER 1

Sustaining the Aviation Brigade

AVIATION BRIGADE

The aviation brigade (AB) of a heavy division is a flexible organization designed to find, fix, and destroy enemy forces on the battlefield. It uses maneuver to concentrate and to sustain combat power at the critical time and place. The brigade can accomplish its mission as a pure-aviation organization or as a task-organized force. The speed and mobility of this brigade make it ideally suited for rapid-reaction deep, close, and rear operations. It can also move from one area to another to prevent enemy fixing of combat forces in a single area. In addition to attack helicopter and cavalry maneuver forces, the aviation brigade provides--

• Maneuver capabilities to dismounted infantry through air assault operations.
• Combat support by lateral repositioning of artillery, air defense, or engineer assets.
• Immediate personnel or logistics transport for critical specialties, supplies, or equipment.

Combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) units are task-organized to support the aviation brigade as required. The aviation brigade operates over the entire width and depth of the division area of operations. Chapter 2 addresses how the DISCOM commander task-organizes to support units within the division area. All aviation brigade units require CSS on a battlefield unlike any in the past. Fluid, nonlinear operations and enormous demands for resources characterize Army operations.

SUPPORT PRINCIPLES

Sustainment of the aviation brigade in Army operations is the challenge facing CSS planners and operators. The logistics system must man, arm, fix, fuel, and sustain the aviation brigade. The aviation brigade commander can then seize opportunities to achieve tactical advantage. This requires the aviation support battalion (ASB) commander and CSS planners at all levels to integrate CSS and operational planning. The logistics planning characteristics are: anticipation, integration, continuity, responsiveness, and improvisation. These are not substitutes for the basic tenets of Army operations doctrine; they complement them.

CSS leaders and staffs anticipate future requirements and missions by understanding the commander's plan and by staying aware of current developments. The main purpose of anticipation is to help the aviation brigade commander form a supportable plan. The ASB commander and staff must develop the close relationship with the brigade staff described in Chapter 3. The ASB commander may attend aviation brigade staff meetings. He monitors the aviation brigade command net to anticipate required CSS.

The ASB staff works closely with the aviation brigade staff to integrate logistics operations into aviation brigade operations. The aviation brigade commander and staff plan tactical and CSS operations concurrently. The ASB commander and staff develop and implement a logistics plan that ensures timely, flexible CSS for the aviation brigade.

Another characteristic is continuity. The aviation brigade requires continuous CSS to perform its mission. Any break in logistics operations can diminish its combat power. CSS elements continuously both sustain combat forces and replenish their own capabilities. The ASB must adapt to changing missions and priorities, supporting force-projection operations.

The CSS system must also be responsive. It must meet needs that change with little notice, reacting rapidly to crisis. ASB personnel must maintain maximum flexibility. They must be ready to respond quickly, often with a task-organized structure to meet force-projection requirements.

Finally, sustainers must be prepared to improvise. The fluid nature of Army operations may quickly make routine support methods obsolete. This manual suggests support techniques for the ASB. However, leaders and staffs must not interpret a guideline or technique as an absolute requirement. If a technique is not effective in maintaining maximum combat power and momentum, ASB personnel must be willing to discard it. Sustainers must be innovative.

FORWARD SUPPORT CONCEPT

The concept for support of the heavy aviation brigade is forward support. The CSS structure in the ASB provides support as far forward as practicable. Supplies, weapons systems, repair assets, and support beyond the capability of the ASB come from the corps, main support battalion (MSB), or forward support battalions(FSBs). The ASB should also coordinate evacuation of damaged equipment form as far forward as practicable. As discussed in the next paragraph, CSS assets organic to the aviation brigade are scarce. Aviation brigade units should not have to puck up supplies outside their operating areas or recover damaged equipment to a maintenance collection point in the rear.

AVIATION BRIGADE LOGISTICS

The ASB is part of the overall logistics system that sustains the aviation brigade. The ASB is essentially a DS-level support organization. The support system for the aviation brigade does not end with the ASB. The ASB provides the support link for the AB between DISCOM elements in the brigade support areas (BSAs), division support area (DSA), and corps support command (COSCOM).

Individual units of the aviation brigade are, in most cases, responsible for unit-level support. The support includes food service, supply distribution, unit maintenance, health services support (HSS), movement of organic assets, and unit-level mortuary affairs (MA). The assets available to provide this support vary among aviation brigade units:

• The attack helicopter battalions have a full component of organic support assets in their headquarters and service companies. Each company has an aviation unit maintenance (AVUM) platoon, a Class III & V platoon, and a medical section. FM 1-112 discusses unit-level support for the assault helicopter battalion (AHB).
• The cavalry squadron also has a full range of unit support assets, normally echeloned into combat and field trains. FM 17-95 describes the cavalry squadron.
• The general support aviation battalion/com pany (GSAB/GSAC) has limited support assets, usually in its AVUM platoon, which are organized into unit trains. FM 1-113 discusses the GSAB/GSAC.
• The command aviation company organizes the, limited unit-support assets of its service platoon into unit trains.

DIVISION SUPPORT COMMAND (DISCOM)

The aviation support battalion is part of the heavy division support command. The DISCOM provides level logistics and health services support to all organic and attached elements of the division. As shown in Figure 1-1, the DISCOM consists of the following elements:

• Headquarters and headquarters company/materiel management center (HHC/MMC). The HHC provides C2 for all units of the DISCOM, including the ASB. It also advises the division commander and staff on logistics throughout the division. The MMC provides materiel management for weapon systems, controls maintenance priorities, and coordinates supply functions to meet division needs. FM 63-2 provides a full discussion of the responsibilities, organization, and operations of the HHC/MMC.
• Main support battalion (MSB). This logistics and medical unit provides CSS in the division rear area. It provides direct support to division units and designated reinforcing support to the FSBs and the ASB. It is based in the DSA and provides support forward as required. Information on the MSB is in FM 63-21.
• Forward support battalions (FSB). The DISCOM has one FSB to provide direct support to each division maneuver brigade. The FSB also supports divisional, and in some cases, nondivisional units operating in the brigade area. In addition, the FSB provides reinforcing support to the ASB. FM 63-20 covers FSB operations.
• Aviation support battalion (ASB). The ASB serves as the primary source of logistics for the aviation brigade of the heavy division. Though it locates in the division rear, it has elements operating throughout the of the HHC/MMC. division area.