TA. 7 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT: Section N - Needs Emphasis (cont): NTC

SECTION N

NEEDS EMPHASIS (cont)

TA.7 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT (cont)

Techniques

1. This paragraph addresses ammunition accounting in field artillery units.

Ammo management is a battery commander function. Platoon leaders will not manage ammo beyond platoon level. Command emphasis will place responsibility on leaders to verify the ammunition on hand will meet their critical fire support tasks for the upcoming mission. Commanders must translate battalion resupply ammo triggers into number of rounds based on ammo on hand at the start of the mission.
When the S3, S4, and FDO receive confirmation about the ammunition, by type and lots, that the battery ammunition officer (BAO) will draw, they should immediately develop an initial issue plan. This plan segregates the ammo to be calibrated from the unit basic loads (UBL) that batteries will receive in their initial upload. The (BAO) and the battalion XO confirm when the ammo has been configured to meet this initial requirement. Batteries confirm these counts when they report completion of upload. Develop a simple FM report for transmission to the S3 and the battle staff providing a status of ammo expended, received, and on-hand.
Battery commanders should bring ammo counts to every OPORD and/or rehearsal and report their status to the FSCOORD or S3. Require periodic physical inventories, by component, to confirm on-hand figures.
Tracking ammo should be delegated to POCs, but the battery commander should keep the POCs focused on ammo during the battle so the commander can relate that to resupply triggers. Keep platoon leaders involved in ammo management during mission execution; the FDO is usually too busy to manage ammo resupply.
Commanders must work with the battalion to know how much ammo they will receive before it arrives. Sections should know how much ammo they will pick up before their ammo carriers come to the ammo truck. Platoon sergeants should make an effort to supervise each section's draw. Commanders must stress the necessity of combat configured loads to the battalion XO and ammo officer.
Have platoon leaders issue a timeline to sections to get their ammo properly configured. Section chiefs can then report to the POC that the ammo is properly configured IAW the platoon leader's guidance. Then platoon leaders and platoon sergeants can follow up ammo guidance with pre-combat inspections at section level prior to battle to ensure compliance.
Do not waste time managing ammo by "eaches." Train TOC personnel to track ammunition expenditure based on their unit's execution of the scheme of fires. When cross-leveling ammo as part of a reorganization/reconstitution, manage munitions according to standard packaging; i.e., pallets of eight for 155mm rounds. Leave ammunition banded until it is time to prepare it for firing.
In the planning phase, the battalion S3 and fire direction officer (FDO) must determine anticipated ammunition requirements and resupply triggers based upon critical fire support tasks (CFSTs) and enemy courses of action.
1. Once translated into critical field artillery tasks (CFATs), they coordinate with the battalion S4 and ammunition platoon leader to deliver the ammunition to the firing batteries in the preparation phase.
2. Doctrine requires emergency Class V resupply be available in the combat trains. The amount of ammunition here is based upon other possible enemy courses of action and expected expenditure rates. If a firing battery cannot carry all of the ammunition it will fire, the difference may be placed in the combat trains for resupply during the battle. (Another method is to position this ammunition with the firing battery on PLSs, but this increases their exposure to enemy action.)
3. Ammunition expected for future operations, from the controlled supply rate (CSR) at the ammo transfer point (ATP), is positioned at the field trains, using the emptied flat racks generated during the current battle. This ammunition is then delivered during post-battle resupply.
During the preparation phase, the ammunition platoon configures the flat racks for delivery to the batteries, either directly or through a rapid refuel rearm point (R3P) site.
1. Ammunition platoon drivers and leaders should recon routes to and from the combat and field trains and the ATP.
2. The ammunition platoon leader should coordinate the resupply with the batteries and battalion staff to ensure any necessary refinements to the resupply have been made.
3. If an R3P will be used, the ammunition platoon leader should recon the site and plan for the positioning of vehicles and flat racks as necessary.
When using the double loop system, it creates two loops of travel for ammunition platoon vehicles: one between the combat trains and the firing batteries, and one between the combat and field trains.
1. The two loops allow ammunition platoon drivers to drive the same route and keep soft-skinned PLSs from being forward with the firing batteries unnecessarily.
2. When a battery requests resupply, or resupplies from pre-positioned flat racks near the battery, the flat rack should be emptied. This is the key to the double-loop system.
3. A trigger, expressed in volleys, is determined that will allow a battery to empty a flat rack.
4. "Pure" flat racks (all DPICM or smoke, etc.) work best.
5. When the battery empties a flat rack, it is picked up and returned to the combat trains by a PLS from the combat trains.
6. A PLS from the field trains will pick up that flat rack at the combat trains when it comes forward to resupply emergency Class V stocks.
Ammunition resupply and the double-loop system are complex operations. They require constant staff supervision by the S3, S4, and XO. The staff must develop and monitor checkpoints, timed status reporting, and triggers before, during, and after the battle to ensure positive command and control of the battalion's ammunition assets. These must be rehearsed and well understood by everyone involved in their execution.

2. This paragraph addresses task forces having difficulty reaching capacity from resupply operations and tracking supplies.

The Brigade Combat Team (BCT) must train to become more flexible in the development of Class III resupply windows. These windows should be flexible enough to support maneuver operations while at the same time maintaining the maximum capacity possible within storage/transportation assets.
During the maneuver and CSS rehearsals, task forces must discuss their plans to conduct refueling and rearming. If additional assets are needed to reposition forward on the battlefield, the brigade S4 must know early enough to make the necessary arrangements. Task force S4s and XOs need to provide the brigade a more accurate assessment of the support they need and the support they are receiving. If additional support is required, the brigade XO and/or S4 can coordinate with the FSB and MSB to provide assets.
Do not force the S4 to guess what Class III/III(P) and Class V supplies are on hand. Train to ensure Orange reports are submitted to the S4 and that they contain complete information.
Ammunition tracking and storage.
1. Ammunition shipped from the FASP should be processed using a TCMD (DA Form 1348-1).
2. Ammunition Transfer Point (ATP) personnel should use the DA Form 581 to issue the ammunition to the requesting unit.
3. Make this part of the unit's SOP and train it at Home Station.
4. Convoy commanders must be clear on their exact destination and who to contact when there is a link-up problem.
5. All personnel involved in the operation, to include the Forward Support Battalion (FSB) Support Operations Officer (SPO) and ATP personnel, must know when to expect the convoy to arrive.
6. Ammunition storage plans, as with all plans, must be disseminated to the lowest level responsible for its execution. Storage operations should be a part of the unit's SOP and must be familiar to all members of the unit.
FA battalion rearm, refuel, resupply, and survey points (R3SPs).
1. R3SP mission: The R3SP's principle mission is rearm and refuel the battalion with secondary missions of providing survey update for the M109A6 and linking up LOGPAC vehicles (if possible) or required unit supplies.
2. The S4 integrates and synchronizes the execution of the R3SP with the battalion's tactical plan.
  - The S4 should position the R3SP site central to the Paladin position areas to facilitate rapid execution.
  - It must be tactically positioned with good concealment, as survivability is a primary consideration for site selection.
  - Maximize terrain for cover and concealment and ensure good dispersion of assets.
3. The S3 provides guidance (ammunition types and powders) to the S4 with sufficient time for the battalion logisticians to execute the plan.
  - The S4, considering battery ammunition status, remaining mission requirements (estimate), and the battalion's on-hand ammunition, gives guidance to the battalion ammunition officer (BAO) who in turn begins configuring ammunition.
  - The BAO should focus on configuring pure PLS loads of killer ammunition with the correct powders. Special munitions (i.e., FASCAM or smoke) can be linked up with the appropriate unit at the R3SP or in the unit location.
  - The BAO notifies the S3 and units what is available at the R3SP to include ammunition types.
4. The ammunition platoon sergeant configures the R3SP in the field trains and possibly stages it in a forward location.
  - Crisis Action Team (CAT) assets are for emergency resupply during the battle and should not be used, but if they are used they must be resupplied, reconfigured, or replaced immediately.
  - Ensure all assets are assembled early enough to conduct a rehearsal.
5. The R3SP site layout should facilitate rapid execution.
  - Establish an entry point, track plan, multiple ammunition upload lanes, by-pass lanes for vehicles not requiring ammunition, refuel points with survey control points, and a LOGPAC/supply linkup point at the exit.
  - Each element within the R3SP should maintain tactical dispersion.
  - The R3SP site should be set up to maximize the use of the multiple assets and be able to conduct multiple operations simultaneously.
6. The S4, CAT commander, or BAO should be the R3SP site OIC and be responsible for site reconnaissance, conduct communications check, and establishing the R3SP prior to units arriving.
  - The R3SP OIC ensures the site layout facilitates rapid execution of R3SP.
  - Batteries should upload howitzers from battery ammunition vehicles prior to arrival, thus minimizing vehicles that rearm at the R3SP.
  - Batteries should transload ammunition from battery ammunition resupply vehicles (PLS) to section FAASVs, again minimizing R3SP execution time. This also will reduce the ammunition burden on the R3SP assets.
7. The R3SP site OIC positions the refuel point after the rearm point allowing simultaneous operations: refueling howitzers while rearming ammunition vehicles.
  - The recon survey officer establishes the survey control points at the refuel sites to facilitate simultaneous operations.
  - The S4 should position LOGPAC vehicles (if available) near the R3SP exit to linkup with their unit as they depart the R3SP site.
8. Include the R3SP in the battalion TACSOP. The TACSOP must establish responsibilities, timelines, pre-R3SP advance party linkup checklist, security responsibilities, and a site layout diagram.
9. The R3SP is not the only resupply technique. It is, however, the most efficient method to rearm, refuel, and resupply a battalion conducting a deliberate movement. A properly planned, prepared, and executed R3SP is the combat multiplier necessary to allow the battalion to continue the fight uninterrupted.
Topping off maneuver tankers.
1. Establish post-LOGPAC windows that are rigidly enforced by the FSB SPO. Maneuver units must top off after LOGPAC operations and not at their convenience the next morning.
2. Main Support Battalions (MSBs) must push fuel at night, normally after units LOGPACs have returned and topped off (2200-0200 hours).
3. FSB SPOs must establish a disciplined reporting procedure with Company A to constantly report maneuver unit top-off times to the SPO. At least one hour prior to LD, Company A should report to the support operations the current on-hand in bulk fuelers. This information should be briefed to the battalion commander at the pre-battle update.
Chemical defense equipment (CDE) tracking.
1. Chemical officers/NCOs at all levels must visit their NBC rooms regularly.
2. Establish a program of quarterly inspections and reward the best NBC NCOs.
3. Have units submit their CDE reports with their unit status report (USR) and include:
  - MTOE
  - CTA 50-970 items
  - Roll-ups of scheduled services
  - Distinction between training and contingency stocks
  - Identification of shelf-life issues
  - Roll-ups of NBC PLL on hand in the NBC rooms
4. Make CDE a part of the Logistics Review (LR) process. Identify:
  - Deadlined items
  - Due-in status
  - Funds issues
  - Maintenance advisory messages
  - New equipment fielding
5. Before operations, issue specific guidance in the deployment order on with exactly what the units are to deploy.
6. Consider the threat with respect to all three aspects of NBC.
7. During operations, include CDE in logistics reports or create a separate report for Chemical NCOs. Bottom line -- the chemical NCO must actively track the CDE at all levels, ensure equipment is on order, and track the status through unit S4s.

3. This paragraph addresses resupply of electronic warfare (EW) teams.

Push LOGPAC forward to a location EW teams can quickly reach to resupply and then return. If the situation has CSS elements displacing, then at least put the LOGPAC where the EW teams can pass through LOGPAC enroute to their next site.
Try to coordinate LOGPAC to be conducted in conjunction with OPORD issuance or unit rehearsals in forward locations.

4. This paragraph addresses management of Class IV and V barrier material.

Use the already adequate SOP in order to effectively manage Class IV/V supplies.
Per FM 20-32, mines are received by a "centralized through-put operation by Corps and Division that stops at the Battalion level . . . at some point the maneuver battalion turns over the control of the mines to engineers." The flow of obstacle material within the task force sector is a maneuver responsibility but is effectively a shared responsibility between maneuver and engineer forces in order to ensure the effective planning and execution.
Units must be able to accurately account for Class IV and V barrier material from when it enters the brigade sector through its emplacement in an obstacle.
The maneuver brigade should take responsibility of the Class IV and V delivery as it enters the brigade sector on echelon above brigade (EAB) transportation assets as stated in FM 71-3. Engineers have a vested interest in this event and should monitor the planning and execution closely.
The brigade should plan and coordinate for a logistics release point (LRP) vicinity of brigade rear area where EAB trucks are broken down into task force (TF) convoys.
1. No materials are downloaded/ transloaded at this point.
2. The engineer battalion should have a representative there who knows the brigade obstacle resourcing plan and priorities so he can quickly break the vehicles down.
3. TF representatives link up at this point to escort the EAB transportation assets forward to the TF Class IV/V point.
From the LRP area forward, the TF is responsible for escorting the transport assets.
1. Once the trucks are guided to the TF IV/V point, they are quickly downloaded and returned to their LRP for release.
2. Based on METT-T, the materials are either unbanded and uncrated at the TF Class IV/V point or transloaded onto TF or FSB assets be placed to mine dumps supporting individual obstacle groups.
Engineer/TF cooperation is the key. The TF owns the Class IV/V point but the engineers must have a representative there to ensure the following:
1. Materials are used IAW TF commander countermobility priorities.
2. Materials are accurately tracked and status forwarded to the engineer company TOC.
3. TF soldiers used as labor augmentees understand the mine handling/preparation tasks.
The Palletized Loading System (PLS) offers units the advantage of moving flat racks directly to the mine dumps supporting obstacle groups. If this method is used, the TF uncrating/prep details are needed there. Transportation and life support issues must be planned in advance to maximize the output of this labor force. The TF labor details have four functions at the Class IV/V point/mine dump:
1. Uncrate
2. Inspect/prep mines
3. Organize into minefield (MF) or strip feeder packs
4. Palletize/band excess materials for retrograde
At the obstacle group mine dumps, engineer platoons must accurately track and forward quantities used and remaining when they leave that area. This information must be reported to the company TOC and forwarded to the TF S4 so he can arrange for assets to pick up unused materials and flat racks if the PLS system is used.

5. This paragraph addresses the lack of logistical support to MI companies when they deploy to NTC.

Follow doctrine.
Use MI battalion logistic slices to support MI companies.

TA.7 Combat Service Support, Part I

TA.7, Part III

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SECTION N

NEEDS EMPHASIS (cont)