ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
Page 106 of 154
Chapter 7 7-2 ATP 4-90 18 June 2020 is no repair capability outside of the BCT for the main battle tank, infantry fighting vehicles, or Stryker systems. LEVELS OF MAINTENANCE The Army utilizes a two-level maintenance system comprised of field and sustainment-level maintenance. The goal of the maintenance system is to reduce repair times by repairing or replacing components, modules, and assemblies as far forward as possible. FIELD-LEVEL MAINTENANCE Field-level maintenance is on or near system maintenance focusing on the repair and return to the user. It includes maintenance actions performed by operators, crews, and maintainers. All maintenance units in the BSB perform field-level maintenance. It is executed as far forward as possible utilizing line replaceable units or modules and component replacement or repair. The owning or support unit performs field-level maintenance by using tools and test equipment found in the unit. Field-level maintenance is not limited to simply removing and replacing parts. Field-level maintenance allows for repair of components or end items when the maintainers possess the requisite skills, proper tools, proper repair parts, references, and adequate time. Field maintenance includes preventive maintenance checks and services, adjustment, alignment, service, applying approved field-level modification work orders, fault and failure diagnosis, battle damage assessment and repair, and recovery. Field-level maintenance is always repair and return to the user. The maneuver unit equipment operators and vehicle crews have the responsibility to perform maintenance on their assigned equipment. Equipment operators and vehicle crews receive formal training from their proponent branch through advanced individual training and new equipment training on a specific piece of equipment or weapon system. Operators and crew tasks consist of preventive maintenance checks and services, lubricating, adjusting, and replacing minor components or assemblies using basic issue items and onboard spares in accordance with the equipment technical manual. After operators have exhausted their maintenance capabilities, they rely on BSB maintainers to complete the repair of on the item. SUSTAINMENT-LEVEL MAINTENANCE Sustainment-level maintenance is not conducted by the BSB or within the BCT AO. Sustainment-level maintenance is conducted by U.S. Army Materiel Command personnel to return equipment to a national standard, providing a consistent and measureable level of reliability. The repaired equipment is returned to the national supply system. Only in rare exceptions will sustainment-level maintenance personnel return an item back to the owning unit. One example is during reset. If a BCT weapon system is damaged to the extent it requires sustainment-level maintenance it is evacuated out of the BCT AO based on instruction from the division G-4. MAINTENANCE IN LARGE-SCALE COMBAT OPERATIONS Planning BSB maintenance support for large-scale combat operations requires thorough mission analysis, careful identification of the force supported, and a thorough understanding of the commander’s intent. MAINTENANCE DURING OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS BCTs and subordinate maneuver battalions conduct, or participate in offensive operations that include movements to contact, attacks, exploitations, and pursuits. Offensive operations involve greater movement and maneuver than other operations, which puts greater mechanical stress on vehicles and increases their exposure to enemy action, both of which lead to greater numbers of non-mission capable systems. Maintenance becomes more challenging as unit areas of operation extend forward, creating distance between where a vehicle or piece of equipment becomes inoperable and where it is required to contribute to the fight. Moving NMC vehicles or equipment forward into the fight encumbers the maneuver commander and further reduces combat power. Maintenance planning should anticipate that requirements would be echeloned by the