ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download

Mission Command 18 June 2020 2-9 Planners should assume sustainment is a center of gravity during large-scale combat operations. They identify critical components of the sustainment support structure (such as supply storage and distribution) that could cause failure if destroyed and apportion protection to the sustainment assets as required. Additionally, planners analyze the effects of sustainment in allowing a commander to reach decisive points. An example might consist of analyzing the class III (bulk), class V status to include controlled supply rates for critical munitions, or maintenance status in determining if the status is adequate to reach the decisive point. Commanders and staffs determine how sustainment affects both lines of operation and lines of effort. Will sustainment affect the ability to reach and control a geographic objective? Planners use these considerations for all lines of effort. Commanders analyze how sustainment affects fires, protection, and movement and maneuver. Furthermore, commanders determine if sustainment support is a line of effort required to establish the desired end state. Sustainment always influences physical lines of operation in terms of operational tempo and operational reach. Commanders analyze how sustainment will affect the desired tempo of the operation and if sustainment will allow maneuver forces to maintain a higher tempo than the enemy. Understanding the status of class III (B) is critical to controlling the tempo since fuel directly impacts movement and maneuver, especially for ABCT and SBCT formations. Commanders also ensure that maneuver tempo does not outpace the sustainment support. Planners analyze the effect sustainment has on completing the current phase of an operation and transitioning to the next phase. The commander and staff use sustainment estimates to determine if the concept of support is achieving the desired results in terms of the operational objectives. They also use sustainment estimates to identify the changes to the plan and the specific support required to complete the phase. Commanders must know the point at which the operation will culminate due to sustainment limitations or inadequate sustainment support. Lack of class III(B), as an example, might cause the operation to culminate sooner than planned and be unable to complete the assigned mission. Sustainment commanders and staffs determine the culmination point during planning and subsequent updates and communicate it to the maneuver commander for consideration. Maneuver planners can use this information to plan a deliberate transition from offense to defense. Operational reach is closely tied to culmination since the culmination point is normally the limit of a unit’s operational reach. Supply, maintenance, personnel replacements, and medical support directly affect endurance and the ability to employ combat power for extended periods. Commanders consider what types of basing (such as an intermediate staging base or temporary base camps) are required to execute sustainment support. Basing can also include proper positioning, dispersion, protection, and C2 required to oversee the bases. Both maneuver and sustainment commanders determine the amount of risk to accept when committing sustainment forces during planning. Commanders balance the risk with the potential favorable outcome. As an example, a commander might commit all available tactical fuel vehicles to reach a decisive point in the operation but must accept the fact that doing so jeopardizes future operations if the fuel assets are destroyed by enemy action. Prepare Preparation includes those activities performed by units to improve their ability to execute an operation. The MDMP drives preparation. Preparation usually begins upon receipt of a warning order from the higher headquarters. The battalion staff performs a timely analysis early in the planning process that helps them determine what actions they need to take and when to begin those actions to ensure forces are ready and in position before execution. The plan may require the commander to direct subordinates to start necessary movements, make task-organization changes, and execute other preparation activities before completing the plan. Parallel planning for BSB staffs is critical to ensure timely planning and execution of sustainment operations in conjunction with maneuver forces. Parallel planning is multiple echelons planning for the same ATP 4-90