UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

The dynamics of global affairs places a requirement on the U.S. Army to be able to conduct short-notice deployments to the far reaches of the globe, and then to rapidly build up combat power on the ground.

As the U.S. military transitions from a forward deployed force to a CONUS-based, power-projection force, a shift in the logistical characteristics of today's Army has evolved:

    FORWARD DEPLOYED ARMY vs FORCE PROJECTION ARMY
  • Component-tailored logistics
  • CINC (Joint)-tailored logistics
  • Theater-oriented logistics
  • Force-oriented logistics
  • OPLAN-based logistics (allocation rules)
  • Capability-based logistics (tailored)
  • Established theater logistics infrastructure
  • Potential for bare-base logistics operations
  • Logistics forces forward-deployed
  • Logistics deployed earlier than, or concurrent with, combat forces/maritime prepositioning/POMCUS (DCSOPS)
  • Support to known coalitions
  • Support to ad-hoc coalitions
  • Well-established logistics C2and automation
  • Deployable logistics C2and automation in theater
  • Host Nation support agreements in place
  • Contingency contracting/coalition support
  • Threat identified
  • Threat less defined
  • Robust commo - commercially oriented
  • Commo austere - must be assured
  • Theater logistics base - risk early
  • Logistics buildup - higher risk
  • Operational/tactical logistics primarily "green suiters"
  • Increased use of DOD/DA and private sector civilians
  • Well-established lines between strategic, operational, and tactical levels of logistics
  • Blurring and mixing of logistics levels
  • Logistics is a national responsibility
  • Multinational logistics
  • Requirements based (pull)
  • Distribution based (push)
  • Service logistic systems
  • Joint logistic systems

    • These new characteristics of the force projection Army have generated increased emphasis on the deployment and entry operations stages of force projection. Entry operations are generally categorized as either

    forced entry
    or as
    unopposed entry

    Whenever possible, U.S. forces seek unopposed entry, entering the theater peacefully with the assistance of the host nation. Early-deploying units may flow through airports or seaports into a lodgment/marshalling area. From this area, they will prepare to assist forward-presence or host-nation forces, protect the force, reconfigure, build combat capability, train, and acclimate to the environment.

    The requirement of unopposed entry operations are being explored, trained and committed to doctrine under a series of efforts entitled Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration (RSO&I). The term RSO&I is a new name for an old problem. The Army has long been concerned with the process of receiving forces in a theater and molding them into ready and sustainable combat capable forces. We no longer have the luxury of focusing and planning for one major contingency with forward-based forces and an established infrastructure making RSO&I a simple process. The U.S. military of today is focusing on two simultaneous major regional contingency force projection scenarios with the ability to respond to a variety of Stability and Support Operations (SASOs) that may arise worldwide.

    RSO&I is an operation employing logistical assets to meet the commander's requirement for forces. The commander's operational dilemma is balancing the combat force requirement.

    RSO& is the critical link between strategic deployment and tactical maneuver.


    The Army's RSO&I tasks:

    1) join the soldiers arriving in the theater of operations with their equipment.

    2) re-integrate the unit as a combat capable force.

    This publication provides tactics, techniques, procedures, (TTPs) and lessons for reception into the theater, staging of equipment and soldiers, onward movement to the tactical assembly area, and integration of a combat-ready unit to the tactical commander. The intent is to explain and define the RSO&I process at the tactical level, and provide a method of tracking combat power throughout the RSO&I process. Also incorporated in this publication are pertinent RSO&I Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) and lessons learned gathered by CALL's Combined Arms Assessment Teams (CAATs) deployed to Bosnia's "Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR," and Kuwait's "Exercise INTRINSIC ACTION."

    Bottom Line Up Front!

    The RSO& process works best when:

    • Commanders have effectively planned and prioritized the Time Phase Force Deployment Document (TPFDD) so that soldiers and equipment can be expeditiously united to form a combat-ready unit. Most important, commanders and staff must identify critical personnel to the RSO& process and deploy them early in the deployment sequence to ensure success. This should be a by-name, by-duty/responsibility, and by-seat on the aircraft roster.

    • Comprehensive, but flexible plans are made for the advance party (ADVON), reporting procedures and movement control.

    • Composition of the ADVON consists of, but is not limited to: representatives from each staff element and subordinate unit, class A agent/contracting agent, lawyer, communication team, and a security element.

    • RSO& priorities and timelines are reflected in an Appendix to the Operations Order (OPORD). Sample RSO& Appendixes are provided at Appendix C of this Newsletter.

    • Command and Control (C2) chains are established, clear, and known throughout the RSO& process.

    • Reliable and compatible communications are established, particularly between the staging base and the ports of debarkation to synchronize the flow and union of troops and equipment, as well as for the management of life support assets.

    • Deploying units plan for a 15+ soldier detail (per plane-load of soldiers) at the Aerial Port Of Debarkation (APOD) to download A& bags from the plane. This detail should be identified in advance and positioned on the plane to be the first soldiers off to begin the off-load process.

    • Soldiers are thoroughly briefed on enemy and friendly situations, and the current timeline.
    btn_tabl.gif 1.2 K
    btn_prev.gif 1.2 KForeword
    btn_next.gif 1.2 KChapter 2: The RSO& Process



    NEWSLETTER
    Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list