ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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Chapter 3 3-2 ATP 4-90 18 June 2020 echelon. Distribution management is a process that includes materiel management and transportation management functions. The process begins with identifying tactical unit requirements and ends when the requirements are met. Materiel managers determine and validate materiel requirements for distribution to supported units, obtain materiel to be distributed by appropriate commodity and quantity, and coordinate its distribution according to command priorities. Distribution integrators use the information provided by the materiel managers to coordinate with the transportation managers to allocate transportation by commodity, quantity, priority, and recommended mode. Transportation managers identify units with adequate modes to meet distribution requirements. Transportation managers pass this information to the distribution integrators who in turn develop a distribution plan based on materiel to be distributed and available transportation. This information is communicated to the unit S-3 for inclusion in the operation order concept of operations. The distribution management plan must be synchronized with the supported headquarters operation and across all warfighting functions. Failure by commanders and planners to achieve this synchronization may result in an un-executable distribution plan that is not realized until the operation begins. The process described in this ATP provides fundamental materiel management, distribution integration, and transportation operations functions executable at the BSB level. The process may be supported by any automated sustainment information system but is not system dependent; it may be executed in absence of automation. This is advantageous during periods of degraded communications. Distribution management synchronizes transportation, its networks, and materiel management with the warfighting functions to move personnel and materiel from origins to point of need accordance with the supported commander’s priorities as efficiently as possible. The distribution management process is critical to execute BSB support operations. Distribution management integrates the management of materiel and its transportation. It requires that distribution managers understand the supported commander’s priorities and requirements to plan, prepare, integrate, and distribute within the OE. The effectiveness of the overall distribution system is diminished by inefficiency in any of the BSB companies. The BSB SPO is responsible for the overall BSB distribution management process. The SPO staff has personnel responsible for management of transportation and materiel. These personnel must also perform the distribution integration function. The number of these personnel is quite limited and they must coordinate and collaborate constantly for successful support operations. The BSB distribution company, medical company, and forward support companies have distribution management responsibilities as well. The distribution company and the FSCs manage and distribute general supplies, class III(B) and class V. The medical company manages and distributes class VIII. The company commanders, company XOs, and platoon leaders have roles in the distribution management process. MATERIEL MANAGEMENT Materiel management is the continuous situational understanding, planning, and execution of supply and maintenance capabilities to anticipate, synchronize, and direct all classes of supply to maximize combat power and enable freedom of action in accordance with the supported commander's priorities. Materiel management determines the materiel requirements of the BCT by class of supply, determines availability of the materiel from either on-hand or higher source-of-supply stocks, obtains the materiel, and coordinates the movement of the distribution of the materiel with distribution integration personnel. It identifies the commodity to be distributed, the quantity of that commodity to be distributed, and priority of distribution by unit. Material management addresses all internal and external logistical processes, information, and functions necessary to satisfy an operational supply requirement. Effective materiel management enables the commander greater situational awareness informing decision making and enhancing control and flexibility. The BSB SPO, distribution company supply platoon, medical company (class VIII only) and the FSC distribution platoons execute materiel management functions as indicated in paragraph 3-12. They perform materiel management simultaneously and continuously, with or without automation, during all decisive action tasks. The BSB can also integrate supply capability provided by joint services, allied partners, and host nations to the fullest extent possible within mission and operational variables.