ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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Chapter 2 2-12 ATP 4-90 June 18, 2020 Assess Status of Organic, Assigned, and Attached Units The BSB commander, company commanders, and leaders at all echelons assess the sustainment status of organic, assigned, and attached units. This includes but is not limited to status of personnel strength, equipment readiness, critical equipment on hand, critical supplies on hand by class, casualty status, organic medical capability if applicable, and battle losses. This information is used to determine support requirements by sustainment function. It identifies problem areas such as combat ineffective units and shortages of critical supplies. Assess Status of Supported Units The BSB commander and the SPO staff determine the sustainment status of the BCT units. SPO planners use this information to develop specific sustainment requirements to develop the support concept. Assess the Status of BSB Support Capacity The BSB commander and staff assess the status of support capability of the BSB companies. This is necessary to determine if the support assets available have the required capability to support the BCT. This assessment determines if the sustainment task organization is adequate to support the BCT mission and identify shortfalls in terms of sustainment functionality. The assessment also determines if the location of units in the BCT area of operations is suitable for responsive sustainment support. Assessing the adequacy of the task organization supports requests for forces to higher headquarters. Assessment also determines specific sustainment functional capability. It includes but is not limited to the following: Status of required supplies by class of supply including class VIII. This is in terms of quantities on hand to allow planners to balance on-hand quantities with required quantities. Planners also assess supply positioning to ensure supplies are positioned properly to support the defense and priority efforts. Status of field maintenance capacity to ensure it is adequate to repair damaged equipment to meet the BCT readiness requirements and timetables. The assessment includes status of recovery and critical maintenance test equipment. Status of transportation capacity to ensure it is adequate for the BSB distribution plan, BSB mobility and BCT mobility. Especially critical is status of petroleum transportation capability. Status of medical capacity and capability including treatment, holding, surgical, evacuation, and dental. Planners assess the positioning of medical units to ensure they support the BCT mission. Status of sustainment information systems including supporting CAISI and VSAT systems. Assess the Operational Environment BSB commanders assess the OE to identify aspects that will present problems or cause difficulty to the support concept execution. Commanders and staff estimate the extent each mission or operational variable will impact the operation and adjust the plan as necessary. Even when available preparation time may seem adequate, a rapid change in mission might drastically shorten the time available to plan and execute support. Difficult terrain, extreme distances, operating beyond the forward line of own troops, and severe weather may impact the support effort. Enemy threat assessment and understanding probable enemy courses of action are critical to planning and protection. Regional peer enemies present multiple, highly destructive threats such as long- range artillery, attack aircraft, and infiltrating small unit or special operations forces. The enemy considers sustainment units and the locations from which they operate as high-value targets and will engage them repeatedly or even constantly. These attacks, the resulting personnel and equipment losses, high levels of local security required, and the need to disperse represent constant challenges. COMMAND AND SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS Command and support relationships establish clear responsibilities and authorities between higher headquarters, subordinate, supported, and supporting units. Commanders advocate for the command and