ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download

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Chapter 1 1-2 ATP 4-90 18 June 2020 CHARACTERISTICS AND CAPABILITIES The BSB is a multifunctional logistics battalion capable of operating at the tactical level to support a BCT. The BSB organic design and core competencies allow it to provide multi-class supply, field maintenance, and medical support. The BSB has a very broad span of control with ten subordinate companies, six of which operate in the other battalions’ areas. The BSB has organic medical support capability, medical logistics, and medical operations personnel in the support operations (SPO) staff. It is dependent on the division sustainment support battalion (DSSB) for non-mobile class III(B) storage, light infantry troop transportation, and water treatment. These capabilities, when required, must be coordinated with the division sustainment brigade (DSB). The BSB is organic to and is employed by the BCT. It operates in conjunction with other BCT battalions. The BSB commander executes command and control (C2) of BSB units based on mission orders issued by the BCT commander. BSB operations are based on and nested with the BCT concept of operations. Although the BSB collaborates closely with the DSB it does not receive mission orders from the DSB. The DSB may influence BSB activities in support of division priorities through the operations process but in all cases the BSB receives its orders from the BCT or other brigade it supports. The BSB commander maintains continuous dialog through command and staff channels with higher sustainment echelons (DSB, DSSB) in order to provide situational awareness and facilitate anticipation of future requirements. The BSB is an expeditionary formation and deploys with the BCT unless otherwise directed by higher headquarters. The BSB in IBCTs is designed to deploy forces on short notice to austere locations and perform sustainment operations immediately upon arrival. Airborne BSBs participate in parachute assault operations. The BSB integrates joint, inter-organizational, and multinational capabilities as needed. The battalion is capable of sustaining the BCT across the range of military operations. The BSB operates from a base or base cluster in the brigade support area (BSA). From this location the BSB executes C2 over its organic companies conducting sustainment support. The BSB distribution company, field maintenance company, and medical company operate in the BSA. These companies may be collocated with the BSB command post (CP), but during large-scale combat operations are tactically dispersed within the BSA in a way that facilitates sustainment operations, mutual support, and protection. The forward support companies (FSC) collocate with the combat trains command post and operate in close proximity with the supported battalions in the BCT close area. The FSC position capabilities in the BSA as part of field trains to expedite distribution support to the maneuver battalions. The BSB is responsible for protecting the BSA from level I and II threats using organic equipment. Additional details on BSB protection and area security are covered in chapter 4. The BSB provides area support to units, not organic to the BCT, when tasked by the brigade commander. Area support is a task assigned to a sustainment unit directing it to support units in or passing through a specified location. BSB OPERATIONS IN THE ARMY STRATEGIC ROLES The BSB has responsibilities and activities during all strategic roles: shape the OE, prevent conflict, prevail in large-scale ground combat, and consolidate gains. The BSB’s primary task is to support the BCT during large-scale combat operations. Large-scale combat operations are major operations and campaigns aimed at defeating an enemy's armed forces and military capabilities in support of national objectives. THE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT An OE is a composite of the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the employment of capabilities and bear on the decisions of the commander (JP 3-0). An OE encompasses physical areas of the air, land, maritime, and space. It also includes the cyberspace domain and the electromagnetic spectrum. Threats are an inherent part of the OE. Commanders and staffs must understand how current and potential threats organize, equip, train, employ, and control their forces. Understanding the OE is essential to effective decision making. Uncertainty and limited time preclude achieving complete understanding before deciding and acting. In addition to operational variables, there are