ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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Chapter 7 7-4 ATP 4-90 18 June 2020 Brigade planners should specify in orders and unit standard operating procedures criteria for evacuating equipment to a maintenance surge team, sustainment-level maintenance, cannibalization, and temporarily abandoning equipment on the battlefield. MAINTENANCE DURING DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS During the preparation of the defense, priority of maintenance goes to those units preparing positions and obstacles. Once the positions are prepared, priority shifts to support to the reserve, BSA, trains, and command post locations. Maintenance considerations for defensive operations include— Maintenance support to friendly forces in the security area. Maintenance support to friendly forces in the main battle area. Operational readiness rates of low density engineer systems, many of which are provided by division or higher echelons and require class IX and mechanics not organic to the BSB. MCPs in defensive operations are normally positioned behind the main battle area as far as possible to protect against detection by enemy reconnaissance and fires. Dispersal in the MCP is even more important than in offensive operations as the location is static and in operation a longer time, which makes it easier for enemy forces to locate it. The same considerations for collocating with the trains apply during the defense. Collocating the MCP and other maintenance assets with the trains eases the burden for defensive tasks enabling more maintainers to concentrate on repair operations. Consideration must be given to moving equipment to an MCP for repair. Moving equipment rearward exposes it and mechanics to enemy fire, so should be done during periods of low visibility in a methodical manner. This requires a plan that encompasses guides, routes, and timings. If conditions warrant, consider field maintenance team repair of support vehicle and equipment within the MBA and unit battle positions. Maintainers are prepared to transition from the defense to offensive operations with little or no notice. MAINTENANCE SURGE TEAM The maintenance surge team is a maintenance reinforcement capability. It is normally attached to a support maintenance company in a DSSB or combat sustainment support battalion (CSSB). Once attached to the DSSB or CSSB, the gaining headquarters includes the maintenance surge team in its planning and operations process. The maintenance surge team assumes the support relationship of the support maintenance company to which it is attached. The DSSB or CSSB will designate a different maintenance surge team support relationship based on priorities directed by higher headquarters if required. A direct, general, or reinforcing support relationship may be designated by order. Based on the corps or division commander's priorities, the maintenance surge team may be attached to a field maintenance company in the BSB. In this configuration, the maintenance surge team operates in the BCT support or close area. The maintenance surge team’s role is to provide a field-level maintenance surge capacity to reinforce maintenance units supporting critical missions at any location in an area of operations. The maintenance surge team generally augments unit/battalion maintenance capability. The maintenance surge team provides a surge maintenance capability that can be task organized to reinforce maintenance support to M1, M2/3, and Stryker weapon systems. When attached to the DSSB or the BSB, the maintenance surge team enhances the division’s ability to increase combat power by providing maintenance depth and flexibility at critical points of need. The maintenance surge team represents a temporary capability to accelerate repairs. Note: The maintenance surge team is not a third level or echelon of maintenance. The maintenance surge team serves as a reinforcement element for two-level maintenance. The maintenance surge team functions include field maintenance support for the M1, M2/3, and Stryker weapon systems. The platoon headquarters and section NCOICs provide C2 and maintenance management for the surge teams.