Military

As the Army shifts its logistical emphasis from stockpiled supplies to a seamless throughput transportation intensive system, we place a greater responsibility on junior combat service support leaders. The convoy commander is the throughput link between theater, corps, division, and brigade combat teams in the current logistics infrastructure. One of the most important, yet overlooked, logistical training opportunities at the National Training Center is that of synchronized convoy operations between main and corps support battalions and the BCT. How critical is this support? During an average rotation, main support battalions (MSBs)/corps support battalion (CSBs) push over 60 convoys providing more than 250,000 gallons of Class III, 60,000 gallons of water, and multiple deliveries of Classes II, IV, V, and IX. Without this support, brigade combat teams (BCTs) could not train at the NTC. MSBs and CSBs face multiple challenges providing transportation support to the BCT. This article will focus on the reoccurring challenges in the areas of building convoys, convoy defense, and pre-combat checks (PCC)/pre-combat inspections (PCIs) and provide doctrinally based recommendations for future success.

Building a Convoy

Making start point (SP) time is the most important aspect of any movement. An alarming trend at the NTC is the amount of MSB/CSB convoys that fail to cross the SP on time -- 81 percent! The primary cause is a lack of effective management in the build of the convoy. How does the battalion build convoys?

Receiving and determining requirements

Building a convoy starts with the battalion support operations office. Specifically, the support operations officer (SPO) receives logistics requirements from one of three sources: the forward support battalion, a battalion liaison officer/NCO (LNO) detailed to the FSB, or the division material management center (DMMC). Regardless of how the SPO receives the requirements, commodities must be broken down and tasked to the appropriate company.

Tasking Companies

Once the SPO has determined the commodity requirements, he tasks the companies. Each tasking consists of two parts. First, companies are tasked to retrieve commodities from bulk storage areas. Units use internal assets to bulk storage areas to pick up the required commodities. At times, this may require cross coordination with the transportation motor truck (TMT) to pick up break bulk cargo such as Class IV. Second is mission tasking that specifies how the convoy moves from the division support area (DSA) to the brigade support area (BSA).

Company Responsibilities

Since the convoy is not the sole responsibility of one company within the battalion, each company must ensure its part contributes effectively to the whole of the mission. As stated, each company must draw commodities from bulk storage facilities. Once the commodities are brought back to the DSA, the convoy staging process begins. Each company must ensure their soldiers and equipment report to the staging area fully capable of executing the convoy. This means that companies must ensure that soldiers use thorough PCC/PCI checklists. Soldiers must have the necessary equipment and supplies sufficient to sustain them while on the mission. Nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) equipment, weapons, and uniforms (including inclimate weather uniforms) must be serviceable. Vehicles must be staged fully capable of completing the mission -- PMCS performed, fueled, and secondary loads properly secured. Crew-served weapons must be clean, functional, and possess ammunition.

Convoy Commander

Convoy commanders are either junior officers or non-commissioned officers who may have little experience leading troops. Unlike combat arms leaders who train and operate in a single function platoon, CSS junior leaders must combine the efforts of many soldiers with many military occupational specialties (MOSs) from different companies. The most difficult aspect of leading a convoy is integration of soldiers and equipment in a timely and efficient manner to accomplish the mission. Upon being assigned the mission, the convoy commander must quickly understand the requirements of the mission, translate these requirements into a convoy order, assemble the convoy, and issue the order. NCOs must be able to put the convoy together, conduct PCC/PCIs, and ensure rehearsals are completed. By having the NCOs conduct these tasks, the convoy commander can take the required time to write his order, prepare a terrain model, and ensure he is ready to issue his order. Convoy orders must be issued using a terrain model and walking the soldiers through the convoy mission from start to finish. Once the order is issued, the convoy commander conducts his own PCC/PCIs. These PCC/PCIs focus on weapon systems and the security of secondary loads. The convoy commander is responsible for protecting both his soldiers and the commodities being delivered, and he carries out this responsibility by setting and enforcing standards.

Convoy Defense

The convoy commander must ensure his troops are trained in convoy defense techniques. The damage a convoy incurs when attacked can be mitigated by convoy defense techniques and a good convoy brief. The key is to establish battle drills and train on them vigorously at home station, stressing both active and passive defense measures. Active measures such as returning fire, requesting indirect fires, and using convoy escorts are are taken by a unit to deliberately defend against an attack in progress . Passive measures such as dispersion, camouflage, and good operations security (OPSEC) are taken prior to enemy activities . This section will outline techniques used to defend against air, artillery, sniper, and ambushes.

Air Attacks

Air threat varies from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to helicopters and high-performance aircraft. Convoys face the greatest danger of an air attack while moving along open roads or during halts. The convoy commander must react to these attacks swiftly and deliberately to ensure a successful defense. The commander must:

• Prescribe alarm signals
• Give instructions for actions to take while under attack
• Prescribe actions to take in the absence of orders (battle drills)
• Ensure that defense procedures are rehearsed
• Review the procedures with convoy personnel before the convoy moves out.

Active Air Defense: The only active defense measure against an air attack is to return small arms fire. The key to effective small arms fire is volume. The following tips should be used against attacking aircraft:

• Fire at the nose of the aircraft
• Fire at the fuselage of a hovering helicopter or slightly above the nose of a moving helicopter
• Fire in volume - every soldier shoots
• Lead aircraft crossing your position
• Aim crew-served weapons slightly above the aircraft nose for head-on targets

Passive Defense: Convoys normally operate without significant air defense support. Therefore, passive measures are the most effective. The key is to prevent being attacked by enemy aircraft. Certain techniques will greatly increase the ability to avoid being attacked:

Dispersion: The distance between vehicles must vary from time to time during the march.

Open Column: Convoys generally maintain an 80- to 100- meter distance between vehicles. This formation offers an advantage of fewer vehicles damaged by air-to-ground rockets, cannons, or cluster bombs. However, this technique may be more susceptible to attack. It is exposed for longer periods and, if attacked, its defense is less effective since its small arms fire is less concentrated.

Close Column: With this technique the convoy maintains a distance of less than 80 meters between vehicles. This convoy has none of the disadvantages noted in the open column. However, presenting a bunched up target could be an overriding disadvantage. It is best to use the close column only at night.

Camouflage and concealment: This technique can make it more difficult for the enemy to spot the convoy.

Air guard: Designate specific individuals throughout the convoy as air guards and assign specific search areas to each.

Artillery or Indirect Fire

Artillery fires are used to destroy or harass convoys moving supplies and personnel forward. A forward observer usually observes artillery fires on convoys. Since convoys operate in the corps, division, or brigade rear areas, it is unlikely that convoys will be attacked by artillery. Like any other battle drill there are two types of defense: active and passive.

Active defense

• Directing counter-battery fire if the direction and approximate distance to the enemy artillery can be estimated
• Directing small fire or artillery fires against the enemy forward observer (FO) if he can be located
• Coordinating air strikes against the enemy artillery

Passive defense

• The primary consideration is the immediate departure from the impact area
• Use the open column formation for movement
• Wear protective equipment
• Use the vehicle as cover

Sniper Fire

Defense against sniper fire is mainly passive. Ensure all soldiers are wearing their personnel equipment, such as helmet and body armor. If they come under fire, vehicles must continue to move without stopping. If the convoy commander orders the convoy to return fire, only selected individuals should fire. This reinforces the importance of good PCC/PCI on communications gear. Most sniper attacks will occur in built-up areas where the sniper has superior cover and concealment. Therefore, it is important not to use a large volume of fire since non-combatants may mistakenly be wounded or killed.

Ambush

The ambush is the greatest threat to the convoy disruption and or destruction. The ambush provides the best advantage for the attacker because he chooses when and where the attack will occur. The effectiveness of counter ambush measures is directly related to the state of training of troops and the leadership on the ground. The best defense is to avoid being ambushed. Convoy commanders can take the following actions to avoid an ambush:

• Select the best route for your convoy
• Make a map reconnaissance
• Make a ground reconnaissance
• Obtain current intelligence information
• Use OPSEC to deny the enemy foreknowledge of the convoy
• Do not present a profitable target
• Never schedule routine times or routes

Take the following actions to reduce the effectiveness of ambushes:

• Harden vehicles
• Cover loads
• Space prime targets throughout the convoy
• Wear protective clothing
• Use assistant drivers
• Use escort vehicles
• Thoroughly brief all convoy personnel on immediate action drills
• Rehearse immediate action drills
• Maintain the interval between vehicles
• Move through the kill zone, if possible
• Stop short of the ambush
• Do not block the road
• Aggressively return fire
• Counterattack with escort vehicles
• Call for artillery support
• Call for the reserve force

PCC/PCI

The start point for readiness is pre-combat checks (PCC) and pre-combat inspections (PCI). PCC/PCIs must be integrated into the convoy building process. PCC/PCIs can be conducted in one of three ways. First by the soldier’s squad leader; secondly, by the convoy’s leadership; lastly, a subject matter expert from each one of the battalion’s functional companies can conduct the PCC/PCIs.

Having the soldiers’ squad leader conduct the PCC/PCIs reinforces the soldier’s trust in his squad leader and ensures the soldier reports to the convoy ready to execute the mission. Having the convoy leadership execute the PCC/PCIs ensures the convoy leadership is comfortable with the soldier, and his equipment is ready to execute the mission. Finally, a functional area expert conducting the PCC/PCI, such as a mechanic checking preventive maintenance checks and services (PMCS), a medic inspecting the combat lifesaver bags, or a fuel handler checking the fuel tankers for readiness enhances the chances of a successful mission.

Vehicles: Each vehicle must be inspected for serviceability. Start with the PMCS on both the tractor and trailer. Check all fluid levels, personal equipment storage, and secondary loads.

Weapons: Weapons must be inspected for cleanliness and serviceability. Ensure soldiers can perform proper maintenance and function checks on their assigned weapons. Each weapon requires a test fire. Ensure this is done in a secure area and coordinated through the battalion. Check each soldier’s qualification record to make sure the soldier is qualified on the weapon he is using. Finally, check the ammunition to ensure cleanliness and serviceability.

Soldiers: Leaders must ensure that their soldiers’ personal equipment is serviceable, which includes uniforms, TA-50, personal hygiene items, food, and water.

Communications: All convoy communications equipment must be serviceable. Ensure each radio has the proper frequencies programmed, which includes convoy frequencies, company, battalion, and the supported unit command frequency. Make sure spare hand mikes, batteries, and at least one extra radio are on hand.

NBC: Check serviceability of chemical detection equipment and ensure that it is positioned on the vehicle where the crew can easily see it. Make sure sufficient spare batteries are present.

Convoy Commander: Three people must check the convoy commander himself--the support operations transportation officer, the S2/3, and the parent company commander. The support operation section (SPO) must check that the convoy has the correct commodities in the correct amounts. The SPO also ensures the convoy commander knows who the supported unit is and where, when, and the amount of each commodity that must be delivered to each supported element. The S2/3 makes sure the convoy commander has the proper routes and route clearances, is briefed on probable courses of enemy action (both guerrilla and main enemy concentrations), and where the convoy can retain support in case of an emergency (mechanical or medical). The convoy commander’s company commander must ensure that the convoy commander has completed his order, conducted PCC/PCIs, and is ready to execute the convoy.

Conclusion

As Army transformation moves forward, the shrinking CSS footprint places greater emphasis on the logistical link between the supporter and the fighter. In the future, the Army will rely more and more on the capabilities of its distributions system. To enable the CSS soldiers to accomplish their mission given emerging doctrine, we need to shift back to the basics. Main and corps support battalions must have the capability to quickly assess support requirements, use basic building blocks to construct convoys, use PCC/PCI to ensure our soldiers are capable of executing convoys, and train our soldiers to defend themselves and the commodities that are critical to the maneuver element’s success.