ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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09 November 2021 ATP 4-90, C1 5-1 Chapter 5 Echeloned Sustainment Supporting the BCT is a carefully planned and executed process. The BSB must plan for and synchronize echelon support. Echeloned sustainment is an array of capabilities placed at critical locations to link and facilitate support between echelons in an area of operation. At the lowest level, echeloned sustainment is executed at the company and battalion level. This chapter provides an overview of how the BSB arrays forces and echelons sustainment across the battlefield to support the brigade through the use of field, combat, and unit trains. BRIGADE ECHELON BSB unit positioning, including those integrated into maneuver battalions, is critical to timely sustainment support. Using echeloned sustainment is a technique to ensure sustainment support is executed effectively. The purpose is to ensure a clear line of communication between echelons and that adequate support is positioned to allow timely support. Sustainment planners echelon assets to weight the effort supporting mission requirements. Echeloned sustainment provides relatively seamless support, extends operational reach, and allows commanders to maintain momentum. Echeloned sustainment is a deliberate, collaborative effort of the BCT headquarters and its battalions based upon thorough mission analysis. The leadership and staffs at the brigade, battalion, and company levels determine how to echelon the forces. It is not a unilateral decision by a single commander since the decision will affect the effectiveness of support across the entire brigade operation. Leaders at all levels thoroughly understand the capabilities of each support organization and element. This is necessary to ensure utilization and placement of each. Commanders of all brigade organizations understand the manner in which support is echeloned will vary widely based upon mission variables. It may even vary for each battalion during a single operation based on the commander’s priority and mission variables. The BSB is organized to facilitate echeloned support with the FSCs serving as a key element. The FSC is specifically designed and dedicated to link the BSB support to the maneuver battalion and have the requisite capability to execute the support. The FSC eliminates the need for the BSB to develop ad hoc support elements or arrangements. The FSCs are an integral part of the BCT trains. + TRAINS The BCT uses the trains approach to establish an echeloned sustainment support structure; field trains, combat trains, and company/troop trains. Trains are a grouping of personnel, vehicles, and equipment that provide sustainment to the battalions and subordinate companies of the BCT. The trains are arrayed across the area of operations and link supported units to the BSB and EAB units for support. The BCT S-4, BSB and maneuver battalion commanders and staff, FSC and maneuver company commanders and XOs collaborate to determine the best method of trains employment appropriate for the BCT’s sustainment concept of support and to meet the brigade commander’s intent. The commanders and staffs allocate personnel to each train and command posts within the trains. Echeloning of support can include elements of the battalion or squadron aid station, S-1 section, S-4 section, and the FSC. Field trains are positioned and controlled by the BCT, combat trains are positioned and controlled by the battalion or squadron, and company/troop trains are positioned and controlled by the company/troop. The field and combat trains normally establish a command post that controls the sustainment activities at their respective echelon and that act as an alternate battalion and/or BCT command post if required. Each command post should have a commander responsible for it.