ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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Chapter 3 3-4 ATP 4-90 18 June 2020 Asset visibility provides materiel managers with the capability to determine location, movement, status, and identity of assets by class of supply, nomenclature, and unit enabling improved decision-making on sources of support and prioritization. Within the BSB, asset visibility is the responsibility of the SPO. Other sections that have GCSS-Army also have an asset visibility capability if necessary. Asset reporting is the vertical and horizontal reporting of asset status. It is a critical component of asset visibility, requirements determination, and requirements validation. Asset reporting occurs at all echelons, and the command determines the frequency and commodities to report. Retrograde of materiel is the returning of materiel from the owning or using unit back through the distribution system to the source of supply, directed ship-to location, or point of disposal. Materiel managers may use the retrograde process to redirect supplies and equipment to different locations to fill shortages and meet other operational requirements across the Army. The sustainment brigade is responsible for planning retrograde. Disposal is the systematic removal of materiel uneconomically repairable or obsolete. Units dispose of items through transferring, donating, selling, abandoning, or destroying materiel. Program management channels direct disposal of materiel, but it may also be a command decision if the OE dictates. Units accomplish disposal at the SSA. The SPO ensures units execute disposal in accordance with higher headquarters’ orders. Coordination with higher echelon supporting organizations is ensuring these organizations are aware of BSB support and resupply requirements. For the BSB this coordination is normally with the supporting DSSB SPO and DSB SPO. TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS Transportation is a logistics function that includes movement control and associated activities to incorporate military, commercial, and multinational motor, rail, air and water mode assets in the movement of units, personnel, equipment, and supplies in support of the concept of operations. Transportation operations are executed by the BSB SPO transportation personnel, distribution company distribution platoon, the medical company (class VIII only), and the FSC distribution platoon as shown in paragraph 3-28. Transportation allocates specific modes for specific commodities and coordinates distribution and routing to meet command priorities. The transportation operations functions are: BCT distribution (Distribution company, medical company, and FSC). Transportation planning (SPO). In-transit visibility (SPO). Movement of BCT units (Distribution company). Intermodal operations (SPO as required). Mode operations (Distribution company, medical company, and FSC). Movement control (SPO). Allocation of transportation assets (Distribution company, medical company, and FSC). Coordination (Distribution company, medical company, and FSC). Routing (SPO). Transportation planning ensures the proper allocation of transportation assets to fulfill mission requirements based on command priorities and mitigate shortfalls. When planning motor transportation operations, managers compare capabilities versus requirements, which will identify excesses or shortfalls. When excess or shortfalls exist, planners can mitigate these by changing vehicle types to effectively utilize carrying capacity. In-transit visibility is the ability to track the identity, status, and location of materiel, equipment, personnel, and forces from origin to either consignee or destination. This includes force tracking and visibility of convoys, unit cargo/equipment, containers/pallets, and transportation assets. In-transit visibility provides transportation planners and executors with the capability to anticipate and manage transportation flow over lines of communication.