Military

2. The reports of problems with managing supplies at task force and company/team levels, difficulty tracking repair parts, and improper completion of supply and maintenance forms suggest that supply and maintenance personnel are performing unsatisfactorily, which in turn points to inadequate Home Station training.

3. The Compendium includes TTPs for developing logistics estimates and completing supply management, materiel readiness, CASEVAC, religious support and medical support tasks that are not currently in doctrinal publications. These TTPs should be incorporated in unit SOPs and should also be considered by Logistics Center (LOGCEN) training and doctrine writers for inclusion in schoolhouse curriculum and publication in applicable FMs.

III. INDIVIDUAL TRENDS ANALYSES

Positive Performance

1. Unit Ministry Team (UMT)/religious support (Compendium, pg. P-4,5 / PT-2,3)

Reports of improved communication, planning, asset management, and personal ministry skills are prevalent. There seems to be a boost of enthusiasm in the Chaplains branch. Efforts to sustain this enthusiasm should continue, using the techniques described in the Compendium.

O/Cs report improvement in UMT individual readiness due to improvements in physical fitness and common soldier skills. A common thread among CSS units, which is also addressed in the O/Cs recommended techniques, is the need to emphasize physical fitness and common soldier skill proficiency. These are soldier combat essentials that sometimes get put aside when the training focus is on CSS skills. CSS commanders and leaders must ensure Home Station training includes drills that promote individual soldier readiness.

NTC O/Cs report that UMTs equipped with radios/SINCGARS improve communication and ministry to casualties on the battlefield. The technique of equipping UMTs with radios/ SINCGARS constitutes a potential TOE change to reflect this requirement.

O/Cs also report negative performance by Chaplains and UMTs.

2. MICLIC maintenance and operation (Compendium, pg. P-5 / PT-3)

This improved performance was recorded in 2nd Qtr FY95 and again in 3rd-4th Qtrs FY95. There are no documented reports of substandard performance, so the degree to which these improvements have been made cannot be ascertained. O/Cs give credit for what they document as improved performance to leader emphasis on proper maintenance, operation and compliance with the Technical Manual (TM). To sustain this positive performance, recommend continued emphasis by leaders at Home Station on faithful use of TMs and proper maintenance and operation of the MICLIC system.

Needs Emphasis

1. Logistics estimates/CSS planning & integration (Compendium, pg. N-26-29 / NT-14-16)

No battles can be won without sufficient ammunition for the guns, fuel and repair parts for the vehicles and weapons systems, and water and food for the soldiers. Even a well-integrated, highly-synchronized maneuver plan, without adequate supplies, will yield quick and certain failure. According to O/Cs, the difficulties that CSS units are having with making logistics estimates is a training problem. The recommended techniques on pg. NT-14-16 of the Compendium should prove helpful to logistics planners from battalion through brigade in forecasting requirements. Recommend commanders at all levels, company/team through brigade, incorporate these techniques in unit SOPs and conduct logistics estimate training, recovery plan training, and practice these tasks during their military decision-making process (MDMP) exercises at Home Station. Combined arms exercises that apply realistic pressure to our logistics system are essential for effective integration and synchronization of CSS.

Based on the numerous O/C reports, effectively integrating plans and requirements into the decision-making process is a widespread dilemma at the tactical level, and penetrates throughout all BOS, including CSS. CSS integration problems will be resolved when commanders ensure that CSS and all other BOS are fully integrated into the planning process. Specifically, unit staffs must make a concerted effort to integrate CSS planners into the MDMP before an improvement in CSS integration can be realized.

2. Supply management (Compendium, pg. N-29-32 / NT-16,17)

The problems regarding accounting for ammunition (FA units) and tracking supplies (task force and company/team) take place in the execution phase of the battle. In the execution phase, all personnel are expected to carry out assigned tasks to the high standards of proficiency to which they have been trained. O/Cs attribute the apparently substandard performance of supply personnel and leaders alike to inadequate Home Station training. The techniques and procedures for ammunition accounting, tracking supplies, and supply operations described at pg. NT-16,17 of the Compendium should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station.

These TTPs should also be considered by Logistics Center (LOGCEN) training and doctrine writers for inclusion in schoolhouse curriculum and publication in applicable FMs.

3. Materiel readiness (Compendium, pg. N-32-35 / NT-17,18)

As with the supply management problems addressed above, the materiel readiness problems that units are experiencing are evidence of inadequate Home Station training. The TTPs described at pg. NT-17,18 of the Compendium for use of both automated and manual CSS systems, priority parts tracking systems, completion of readiness, maintenance and requisition reports, and UMCP operations, should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station.

These TTPs should also be considered by Logistics Center (LOGCEN) training and doctrine writers for inclusion in schoolhouse curriculum and publication in applicable FMs.

4. Casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) (Compendium, pg. N-35,36 / NT-18,19)

The O/C states in the CASEVAC techniques (Compendium, pg. NT-18), "CASEVAC must be considered as part of the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) by the integrated battle staff." This is a true and important statement. However, we have established in the Command and Control BOS that the battle staff cannot conduct an integrated MDMP (TA.4 Negative Trend 4: Military Decision Making Process (MDMP)). CASEVAC planners will continue to experience integration problems as long as commanders fail to integrate them into the planning process.

CASEVAC starts at company/team level through FSB at the brigade level. At each level, medical planners and soldiers who execute the evacuation plan must be assertive in articulating their expertise during the MDMP. Battalion/task force S-1s must push medical assets forward and articulate CASEVAC requirements. Evacuation of STINGER teams, scout platoons and signal units are identified as serious problems that need to be addressed during planning.

O/Cs report that engineer companies are incorrectly evacuating wounded soldiers to the C/MED in the FSB because "that is what is trained at Home Station." The DOW rates go up in correlation with the extended distances. Home Station training must emphasize correct and efficient evacuation procedures and routes.

O/Cs report that leaders are not checking certified aid bags and/or multiple first aid kits as part of Pre-Combat Inspection (PCI).

Agree with the O/C's recommendation to qualify as many soldiers as possible at Home Station as combat lifesavers. (Compendium, pg. NT-19, para 5).

5. Religious support / UMT deficiencies (Compendium, pg. N-36-38 / NT-20)

The report that "chaplains are not functioning adequately as staff officers in the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP)" is further evidence of the staff integration problems during the decision-making process. Chaplains must be included in Home Station training of the MDMP to gain understanding of the process and an ability to formulate proactive plans.

Although chaplians' physical fitness and common soldier skills were reported as improving O/Cs are still reporting that chaplians tend to have poor basic solder skills. Unit training must emphasize physical fitness and common soldier skill proficiency. These are soldier combat essentials that sometimes get put aside when the training focus is on CSS skills. CSS commanders and leaders must ensure Home Station training includes drills that promote individual soldier readiness.

The TTPs on pg. NT-20 of the Compendium for religious support should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station. These TTPs should also be considered by Logistics Center (LOGCEN) and Chaplain School training and doctrine writers for inclusion in schoolhouse curriculum and publication in expanded FMs.

6. Medical support planning and execution (Compendium, pg. N-38-40 / NT-20,21)

"Combat Health Support (CHS) planning is not integrated into the brigade planning process". Staffs do not effectively integrate during the MDMP, and as a result, soldier essentials such as medical support are not properly integrated into plans/OPORDS. All BOS experience difficulties with staff integration during the MDMP, and will continue to have problems until commanders and staffs at brigade and battalion/task force level routinely integrate all staff sections in Home Station MDMP training.

The Forward Support Battalion (FSB) medical company commander must be included in Home Station training of the MDMP to gain understanding of the process and an ability to formulate proactive plans.

The TTPs for medical support at pg. NT-20,21 of the Compendium should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station. Proper completion of DA Form 1156 is stressed by the O/Cs as particularly important; and should be a topic for focused training at Home Station.

These TTPs should also be considered by LOGCEN and USAMEDDAC training and doctrine writers for inclusion in schoolhouse curriculum and publication in applicable FMs.

IV. SPECIFIC DTLOMS IMPLICATIONS

DOCTRINE:

1. CSS planning and integration. Units cannot effectively integrate CSS plans and requirements into the military decision-making process (MDMP). This is a widespread dilemma, and penetrates throughout all BOS, not just CSS. The difficulties with the MDMP is a doctrinal issue, and is further discussed at TA.4 Command and Control.

2. Supply management. The TTPs on pg. NT-16,17 of the Compendium should be considered by LOGCEN doctrine writers for publication in applicable FMs.

3. Materiel readiness. The TTPs on pg. NT-17,18 of the Compendium should be considered by LOGCEN doctrine writers for inclusion in publication in applicable FMs.

4. Religious support. The religious support TTPs on pg. NT-20 of the Compendium should be considered by LOGCEN and Chaplain School doctrine writers for publication in expanded FMs.

5. Medical support. The TTPs for medical support at pg. NT-20,21 of the Compendium should be considered by LOGCEN and USAMEDDAC doctrine writers for publication in applicable FMs.

HOME STATION TRAINING:

1. Logistics estimates. The difficulties that CSS units are having making logistics estimates is a Home Station training problem. Using the techniques recommended at pg. NT-14-16 of the Compendium, recommend CSS commanders conduct logistics estimate training, recovery plan training, and practice the MDMP at Home Station.

2. Supply management. Supply management problems are evidence of inadequate Home Station training. The TTPs on pg. NT-16,17 of the Compendium for ammunition accounting, tracking supplies, and supply operations should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station.

3. Materiel readiness. Materiel readiness problems are evidence of inadequate Home Station training. The TTPs on pg. NT-17,18 of the Compendium for use of both automated and manual CSS systems, priority parts tracking systems, completion of readiness, maintenance and requisition reports, and UMCP operations, should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station.

4. CASEVAC. Improve the ability of the S-1 to do an accurate casualty estimate, including where the casualties will occur and in what numbers, with practice at Home Station. Unit training at Home station must include self/buddy aid drills, and specialty training to qualify soldiers as combat lifesavers. The TTPs on pg. NT-18,19 of the Compendium for CASEVAC planning, training, and operations should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station.

5. Religious support. The TTPs on pg. NT-20 of the Compendium for religious support should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station.

6. Medical support. The TTPs on pg. NT-20,21 of the Compendium for medical support should be incorporated into unit SOPs and practiced to proficiency at Home Station.

7. MICLIC maintenance and operation. Leaders need to continue emphasis on proper maintenance, operation and compliance with the Technical Manual (TM) at Home Station.

LEADER DEVELOPMENT:

PCCs/PCIs. Leaders must understand their roles and responsibilities in regards to checking certified aid bags and/or multiple first aid kits as part of pre-combat inspection (PCI).

ORGANIZATION:

Requirement for radios in UMTs. NTC O/Cs report improved communication and ministry to casualties on the battlefield in UMTs that are equipped with radios/SINCGARS. The technique of equipping UMTs with radios/SINCGARS constitutes a potential TOE change to reflect this new requirement.

SOLDIER:

Soldier skills. O/Cs repeatedly address the need in CSS units to emphasize physical fitness and common soldier skill proficiency. These are soldier combat essentials that sometimes get put aside when the training focus is on CSS skills. CSS commanders and leaders must ensure Home Station training includes drills that promote individual soldier readiness.

Table of Contents

TA.6 Mobility/Survivability/NBC Operations

Appendix A: OPD Training Program...