Military

CHAPTER 7

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT

The combat service support mission to sustain the combat power of the task force under dispersed and sometimes isolated conditions is increasingly critical to success on the battlefield. Combat service support is performed as far forward as the tactical situation permits. Weapons and systems are armed, fueled, fixed, and manned in forward positions to reduce the time required to return them to combat. The task force commander, mainly through his XO, S4, and S1, anticipates and plans requirements for CSS and employs his service support assets to ensure accomplishment of present and future missions. When possible, higher headquarters preconfigures and delivers materials before requests are generated ("push packages"), especially in the bulk resupply of Classes III, IV, and V.

Section I. CSS FUNCTIONS AND ORGANIZATION

The burden of CSS is removed from the company team commander, as much as possible, and placed under control of the task force. The company team commander concentrates on fighting his unit to accomplish the tactical mission. The CSS responsibility at company team level is mainly to report and request requirements, and to ensure that CSS is properly executed once it arrives in the team's area.

7-1. OVERVIEW

a. The task force commander ensures that CSS is provided, not only for his organic and attached elements, but the task force commander ensures such for any OPCON or supporting units. The task force provides mission-essential CSS to a supporting unit. The S4 coordinates other CSS for the supporting unit, and verifies who is to provide this CSS and how it is to be requested. When a large attachment joins the task force, the attachment should bring an appropriate slice of CS