CHAPTER 4
Supply
Supply is the process of providing all items necessary to equip and sustain a military operation. This chapter discusses supply management, requisition flow, and supply distribution within the TAACOM.
TAACOM SUPPLY SYSTEM
The supply capability of the TAACOM must equal the supply requirements of units located in or passing through its assigned area of the COMMZ, plus the requirements imposed by the TAMMC for support to designated corps and other forces. These requirements are met through the combined efforts of the TAACOM commander and staff, the MMC, and the units required to provide logistics support in the COMMZ. These units coordinate their functions and follow established procedures to provide supply support.
As staff supervisor of supply activities in the TAACOM, the ACofS, materiel, exercises centralized stock control over all TAACOM assets. The ACofS, materiel, is responsible for these functions in direct coordination with the TAACOM MMC, the ADPU, and GS units.
TAACOM GS supply units are responsible for the receipt, storage, issue, and care of supplies in storage as well as of PWRMS as directed. The TAACOM subordinate supply units are generally grouped under the TASG, the ASG, the petroleum battalion, and the ammunition group. The subordinate units follow procedures to meet support requirements after they receive instructions from the TAACOM MMC or, in the case of DS units, when they receive requests for supply from using units.
SUPPLY MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
Supply management consists of those functions performed and actions taken to provide required supply support. It involves systematic coordination between the user, direct and general support supply units, and materiel management centers at all levels. Key functions include--
- Supply planning.
- Maintaining the stock control system.
- Managing the direct support system.
- Controlling requisition and materiel flow.
- Controlling combat critical commodities.
SUPPLY PLANNING
Army regulations and other doctrinal publications prescribe recommended supply planning methods and procedures for the Army in general. The TAACOM supply planner should be guided by those documents. The TAACOM planner, however, has unusual considerations to contend with. Whereas the corps planner has reasonably reliable strength figures and end item density, the TAACOM planner is not always as fortunate. All corps units belong to the corps and are supported by the COSCOM. Many of the units supported by the TAACOM are not organic or assigned to the TAACOM. Their strengths and end item densities are not directly reportable through TAACOM channels. In its area support mission, the TAACOM must ultimately depend on accumulated demand history as a basis for stockage. Until such history develops, estimates based on strength figures from PERSCOM must be used. These estimates must be tempered by other obtainable information and by professional judgment.
Supplies used to support units located in or passing through the TAACOM area of operations are TAACOM-controlled. They are stocked in TAACOM-oriented GSUs in the TASGs. Supplies used to support the theater (corps and TAACOM-oriented GS units) are TA-controlled and are stored in TA-oriented GSUs, also assigned to the TASGs. It is a theater army responsibility to conduct supply planning for all Army forces in the theater plus other services and allies the Army must support. Army forces include the corps and the TAACOMs' areas of responsibility. It is a TAACOM responsibility to conduct supply planning and management for units located within their geographic areas of responsibility. TAACOMs are also responsible for the supply planning of their assigned portion of the theater supply mission. This means that they must plan for receipt, storage, and distribution of TA-controlled stocks destined for the corps and other users.
TAACOM supply planners, although handicapped by less than exact information regarding supported troop strengths, must be as precise as possible in making estimates. The supply estimate is the quantitative require-mentor work load for the supply system. It is thus the driver for the supply force structure. The supply estimate also drives the transportation force structure and, in part, the engineer construction and facilities force structure.
STOCK CONTROL SYSTEM
Stock control functions performed at the TAACOM MMC provide centralized control of GS supply within the TASG and enhance the response to demands of supported troops. Centralized control gives TAACOM commanders control over their assets as well as their operating units.
The system is basically a combination of manual or automated stock control operations at the DS level and centralized automated stock control at the GS level. Formal stock control at the TAACOM MMC is not maintained for supplies at the DS level. For stock control purposes, supplies issued to TAACOM DS units are dropped from MMC stock record accountability and are not included in TAACOM assets. As an exception, items included in the selected item management system-expanded are managed by the TAACOM MMC. Formal stock control for supplies at DS level is maintained by the DSU.
The TAACOM commander, through the TAACOM MMC, manages and provides stock control over GS stocks that are TAACOM-controlled and intended for use by TAACOM units and those units receiving TAACOM direct support. The TAACOM may or may not perform stock control for TA-controlled supplies which are stored in TAACOM GS units. The TAMMC may control these stocks directly, issuing MROs to the GS units. The TAMMC may also issue MROs indirectly to those same GSUs through the TAACOM MMC. In the latter case the TAMMC still performs stock control because it needs theaterwide visibility of GS stocks. The TAACOM might also maintain stock records on this materiel if such information is necessary for operational purposes. The TAACOM, however, could not issue MROs on that stock of its own volition.
DIRECT SUPPORT SYSTEM
The direct support system is the standard Army distribution system for supply classes II, III (packaged), IV, V (missile components only), VII, and IX. ALOC is an extension of the DSS. ALOC is a system which provides air shipments, regardless of priority, for all eligible class IX repair parts and selected maintenance-related class II items to specific overseas units.
REQUISITION AND MATERIEL FLOW
In those areas of the world in which we have large forward-deployed forces, the supply system in effect must conform to peacetime constraints. On the other hand, it must be able to shift rapidly from a peace to a war footing. Peacetime constraints include a supply force structure of considerably fewer units than would be required during a war. Another peacetime condition is the availability of air delivery assets. Still another is a lessened requirement for supplies. Some items of supply have a very low peacetime consumption and a very high wartime usage. For these and other reasons, peacetime requisition and materiel flows are different for peace and war in those areas of the world. Yet those forward-deployed forces must be able to fight with very little advance warning.
All systems relevant to the Army must either be the same in peace as in war or the systems must be flexible enough to shift quickly. The supply force structure can make the shift quickly through the rapid deployment of active Army or RC supply units to the theater. The requisition and materiel flow procedures make the shift through a change in the general support supply base from CONUS to the theater. For a period of time the Army force in theater must fight with the supplies already in theater (those in the hands of troops and in PWRMS). They will initially receive only very critical items by air. As in-theater stocks are drawn down, supplies begin arriving in ever-increasing quantities from CONUS via surface lines of communication. Those supplies are received at TA-oriented GS units or are throughput to TAACOM-oriented or corps GSUs and DSUs.
Corps and TAACOM MMCs cease to place requisitions directly on CONUS NICPs for items in support of non-ALOC units. Instead they requisition them from the TAMMC. The TAMMC then directs issue from TA-controlled stocks or passes requisitions to CONUS NICPs. Figure 4-1 depicts wartime requisition and materiel flow through surface lines of communication.
The requisition and materiel flows for items in support of ALOC units do not change. TAACOM and corps MMCs continue to place requisitions on CONUS NICPs. An exception occurs in the case of items which the TA commander deems critical. Requisitions for those items go from corps and TAACOM MMCs to the TAMMC where issue is directed from in-theater stocks, or the requisitions are passed to CONUS. The materiel flow goes from CONUS to the APOD nearest the original requisitioner. Customer units then pick up the items, or the items are delivered to the units. Figure 4-2 depicts requisition and materiel flow for supplies in support of ALOC units.
In those areas where we have forward-deployed forces, there are normally PWRMS or other reserve stocks stored in the theater. Upon the outbreak of war, they are the stocks which sustain the force until sufficient supplies are being received by surface and air LOCs. These are normally TA-controlled during peacetime, although in some areas portions of the PWRMS may be corps-owned. At or near the start of hostilities, they are released to the corps and TAACOMs.
TAACOM units play a large part in the issue of these stocks. Those units are normally the peacetime custodians of the supplies and are charged with getting them into the hands of troops in the warning time available. In the case of COMMZ units, requisition flow is from supply units to TAACOM MMC. Materiel flow is from TAACOM-oriented GSUs to COMMZ DSUs to the user. The corps normally maintains 10 days of PWRMS (other than ALOC supported items) within their areas. After this is exhausted, the corps requisitions from the TAMMC which directs the TAACOM to issue from its TA-oriented GSUs.
FIGURE 4-1. SURFACE SUPPLY REQUISITION AND MATERIEL FLOW.
FIGURE 4-2. REQUISITION AND MATERIEL FLOWS IN SPT OF ALOC UNITS.
As sufficient supplies begin to arrive from CONUS, the requisition and materiel flow continues as described above. The COMMZ becomes the GS base for surface-delivered supplies.
The ALOC system does not change during war. Corps and TAACOM MMCs continue to requisition from CONUS, and materiel is delivered to the requesting unit. ALOC delivered items are restricted to maintenance-related class II and class IX. The TAACOM intermediate maintenance units requisition ALOC-delivered class IX (except tonnage items) and selected maintenance-related class II from the TAACOM MMC. The MMC either directs the issue from TAACOM repair parts supply companies or passes the requisition directly to a CONUS NICP. An exception is TA-controlled items which are passed to the TAMMC for fill out of TA-oriented repair parts companies or pass to CONUS.
Stockage policy authorizes maintenance companies and repair parts units to store AI, OC-delivered class IX items of ASL. The intermediate (DS) maintenance unit ASL consists of 45 days of supply, and it covers the PLL of the units it supports. Repair parts company ASLs consist of 30 days of supply and cover the ASLs of the units it supports. Peacetime ASL stockage is based on expected wartime usage rate and shifts to a demand-based system during war. The range of the GS unit's ASL will be controlled initially by wartime expected usage and thereafter by suitable wartime demand criteria. A level of 45 DOFS of class IX ASLs at combat rates in the DSUs and 30 DOFS of class IX ASLs at combat rates in the GSUs may be considered as a part of theater PWRMS.
WARTIME SUSTAINING
SUPPLY LEVELS
As the air and surface LOCs from CONUS begin to meet wartime requirements and planned reinforcements are received, supply support for the theater of operations must be sustained from CONUS. The TA continues to be the principal manager of all classes of supply of combat critical classes I, II, III, IV, V, VII, and IX items which are supplied through a surface LOC from CONUS (fig 4-1). Class II and IX items in support of ALOC units continue to be requisitioned by TAACOM MMC from CONUS NICPs.
PWRMS and class IX combat ASL and PLL items are consumed in the initial stage of war, the results of which create a requirement for supply and corresponding sustaining levels by surface LOC and ALOC. The supply by surface LOC for class I, II, III bulk and III packaged, IV, VII, and tonnage type items is designed to maintain 30 days of supply in the COMMZ in support of total theater requirements. These stocks, like the PWRMS, are managed by the TAMMC and are normally stored and maintained by the TA-oriented GS units assigned to the TAACOM. The TA GS units are the source of supply for the TAACOM DS and GS units and the corps GS units. During wartime, the levels of supply which should be sustained in TAACOM and the corps are shown in table 4-1.
TABLE 4-1. THEATER WARTIME-SUSTAINING SUPPLY LEVELS(Classes II and IX ALOC-delivered items are not normally stocked by the TAACOM GSU. However, the TA commander may select critical items for stockage at a sustaining level of up to 30 days.)DSUs AT ALL ECHELONS DAYS OF SUPPLY (DIVISION, CORPS. AND TAACOM)
All classes except II and IX in support of ALOC units . As prescribed by TA commander
Classes II and IX in support of ALOC units............. 45
CORPS AND TAACOM GSUs
Class I ............................................... 5-7
Class II non-ALOC ..................................... 4-7
Class III bulk ........................................ 3-4
Class III packaged..................................... 7-10
Class IV............................................... 4-7
Class V ............................................... 5-10
Class VI............................................... 5-7 Class VII ............................................. 10 % of authorized end items in the corps/ TAACOM
Class IX non-ALOC ..................................... 7
Classes II and IX in support of ALOC units ..... ..... 30
TA GSUs
All classes except II and IX in support of ALOC units . 30
THROUGHPUT DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPLIES
Where feasible, supplies are shipped directly to the consignee. Intermediate supply points are bypassed. This reduces storage, terminal transfer, and transportation requirements. It also normally gets supplies to the user quickly. Throughput should be used whenever conditions permit it. Supply and transportation managers should weigh all considerations carefully. For example, the consignee may not be able to physically handle or store the materiel.
COMBAT CRITICAL COMMODITIES
During combat, several commodities become more significant because they are the resources that determine whether battles are won or lost. Specifically, bulk petroleum fuels (class III), ammunition (class V), and major end items (class VII) become critical in wartime and are normally centrally controlled, managed, and allocated. Water can also become a combat critical item, especially in underdeveloped and arid regions.
BULK PETROLEUM
The TA petroleum group operates as a theater-level functional command with the interzonal petroleum pipeline battalions as subordinate units. This group is responsible for theaterwide petroleum distribution planning, to include command of petroleum pipeline units, as required, and to interface with host nation and alliance petroleum operations. With its subordinate petroleum pipeline and terminal operating units, the petroleum group operates the US bulk petroleum distribution system extending from ports of debarkation through the COMMZ and as far forward into the combat zone as practicable.
The TAACOM petroleum supply battalion has GS responsibility for petroleum storage and distribution operations in the TAACOM geographic area (figure 4-3). DS responsibility for petroleum support in the TAACOM is a mission assigned to the petroleum platoon of supply and service companies. Close coordination is required between the TAACOM MMC and the petroleum supply battalion to effectively manage bulk petroleum in the TAACOM.
FIGURE 4-3. TAACOM ORG FOR PETROLEUM GS STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION
Petroleum fuel requirements originate with the user. Long range requirements flow to the TAACOM MMC and are used for planning purposes. Short range requirements flow from customers to supporting DS units. DS unit requirements flow to supporting GSUs and are used to meet the requirements for GS replenishment actions (figure 4-4).
Petroleum supply companies operate collapsible hoselines, rail tank cars, barges, and tank trucks to deliver bulk petroleum to points as close to the users as practicable. Transportation medium truck companies (POL) deliver bulk petroleum to supply points operated by TAACOM DS units. In those instances in which fuel is not critically short and an allocation system is not in effect, available storage space is the basis for the automatic resupply of fuel. Petroleum supply units advise their supporting supply unit of the quantity of fuel that can be received (ullage) and are automatically resupplied on that basis. For example, an S&S company telephonically advises its supporting petroleum supply company that it has capacity to receive 70,000 gallons of MOGAS. The petroleum supply company automatically ships the 70,000 gallons without waiting for formal allocation instructions from its parent battalion headquarters.
AMMUNITION
The TAMMC has the mission of managing and controlling ammunition supply for !he theater of operations. It is also the requisitioning authority for ammunition supply. The ammunition operators of the system are TAACOM units. The munitions stored in the TAACOM are managed according to the plans and policies of the TA. A TAACOM ammunition group or a battalion structure maintains facilities for receiving, storing, maintaining, and issuing conventional and chemical stocks located in the COMMZ. Predominantly GS operating units provide GS support to the corps and DS support to units located in and passing through the COMMZ. The COMMZ structure must include appropriate personnel and equipment to receive, store, and issue large quantities of ammunition in support of the corps.
Flow of Conventional Ammunition
The initial intratheater flow of ammunition stocks involves highway, rail, and possibly barge traffic. It is desirable to have direct shipment from ports receiving ammunition to preselected ammunition supply point sites and corps storage areas. A throughput goal of 20 percent of the tonnage should be achieved. However, planning must include transshipment at the transportation mode terminals which are required to transfer ammunition from one mode to another. Figure 4-5 shows the normal flow of conventional ammunition.
Ammunition Staging Areas, Storage Areas, and Supply Points
An ammunition staging area operated by the TAACOM ammunition group is established near each port that receives ammunition. The staging area allows for port clearance when the TAACOM or corps storage areas or the ASPs cannot receive ammunition. The TAMMC in conjunction with the TAMCA directs the movement of ammunition from the staging area by surface LOC.
Generally, the corps storage area and the ASPs maintain a total sustaining level of from 5 to 7 days of supply. The TAACOM the source of resupply for the corps, an maintains a 30-day sustaining level in the theater storage areas. Usually, the resupply stocks are held as long as practicable in the ammunition staging area to keep from double handling in the TAACOM. However, TAACOM storage areas must be established to insure efficient port clearance and, at the same time, maintain corps sustaining levels.
FIGURE 4-4. BULK PETROLEUM REQUIREMENTS AND PRODUCT FLOW
FIGURE 4-5. CONVENTIONAL AMMUNITION SUPPLY IN THE THEATER
MAJOR END ITEMS
In the TAACOM, the heavy materiel supply company, S&S battalion, TASG, is the principal unit that receives, stores, prepares, and issues major end items (except for aircraft, missile, watercraft, rail, aerial delivery items, and COMSEC equipment).
During peacetime, the heavy materiel supply company stores and maintains the major end items in the PWRMS located in the TAACOM and within the corps. The principal mission of the heavy materiel supply company in the TAACOM is to support the corps. Established criteria for the storage, preservation, and configuration of maj or end items in the PWRMS must provide for their issue within advance warning times. The overseas TA commander, in coordination with DARCOM, establishes the criteria.
During transition to war and in wartime, the heavy materiel supply company prepares and issues PWRMS and receives, stores, prepares, and issues major end items (except for aircraft, missile, watercraft, rail, aerial delivery items, and COMSEC, which are supplied from CONUS). Figure 4-1 shows the supply system for major end items. The corps normally provides the crew, ammunition, and fuel for major weapons. However, the TAACOM in conjunction with PERSCOM elements can perform this function when directed by the TA commander.
WATER
The soldier's water supply affects health and general welfare, combat efficiency, and morale. Without water, the soldier is out of action in a few days. Since water must be potable and palatable, as well as available, the Army's water purification equipment must be highly efficient and, at the same time, highly mobile.
DS water supply to units in the COMMZ is provided by TAACOM nondivisional supply and service units. Where circumstances permit, units operating in fixed facilities will be supplied with water utilities by S&S units or the host nation. Requirements are developed to meet the needs of individuals; vehicle utilization; dining facility operations; bakery, laundry, and bath functions; decontamination; and maintenance, construction, and hospital operations. Many, but not all, requirements are for potable water. Requirements may vary depending on type of activity and location.
Care must be used in establishing total requirements for mobile operations in a desert environment, especially with regard to source of supply and means of distribution. Quartermaster units have adequate capabilities for water treatment on temperate, conventional battlefields. However, additional water purification capacity is required to provide for greatly increased requirements in hot, arid theaters and arctic regions. Augmentation by water supply units produces a significant increase in transportation support resources for distribution.
Water supply points are established in the COMMZ, as required. The water supply point may be either a water purification or a water distribution point or both, depending on the location of an adequate source. Whenever possible, the area water supply point is collocated with the class I supply point. The water supply team of the S&S unit positions its equipment, purifies the water, and dispenses it directly to supported units from the water purification site. If there is no adequate water source within the selected area, the water team sets up its equipment at the nearest water source. Water is then drawn from the purification site and transported in bulk water containers to the water distribution site. Water is dispensed to ground storage tanks from mobile containers. Transportation requirements to meet water resupply operations are processed through the TAMCA. Engineers, when necessary, may be required to locate water sources and perform well-drilling operations.
06-03-1996; 09:17:27
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