FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Appendix E E-2 FM 3-81 09 November 2021 Space for dispersion. Cover from direct fire. Good drainage and soil conditions that can sustain unit vehicles and individual Soldier movements. Terrain masking electromagnetic signatures. Sanctuary from enemy artillery fires. Sufficient space for basecamp specific purposes. E-6. Base camps may have a specific purpose, or they may be multifunctional. While base camps are not permanent bases or installations, the longer they exist, the more they exhibit many of the same characteristics in terms of the support and services that are provided and the types of facilities that are developed E-7. A base camp can contain one or more units from one or more Services and typically support U.S. and multinational forces and other unified action partners operating anywhere along the range of military operations. (See JP 3-10.) A base camp has a defined perimeter and established access controls. The perimeter encircles the base camp site and employs crew served-weapons, fighting positions, and observation posts. E-8. Base camps provide a protected location from which to project and sustain combat power. Commanders apply operational art to decide when, where, and for what purpose to operate from base camps. The arrangement and location of base camps (often in austere, rapidly-emplaced configurations) throughout the support area complement the ability of U.S. forces to conduct sustained, continuous operations, enabling commanders to apply combat power in support of large-scale combat operations. E-9. Base camps throughout the support area may be developed for specific purposes. A base camp can serve as an AA or a sustainment base; support onward movement, integration, or detention operations; or perform multiple functions. The designated purpose and operational requirements of tenant units serve as the primary guides for designing a base camp. E-10. The support area commander designates an area or facility as a base camp and designates the senior officer as the base camp commander responsible for protection, terrain management, and day-to-day operations of the base camp. This allows other units in the base camp to focus on their primary functions. Units located within the base camp are under the TACON of the base camp commander for security and defense. E-11. Construction standards for a base camp in support of large-scale combat operations normally fall within the initial construction standards. An initial construction standard is characterized by facilities with minimum capabilities, requiring minimal engineer effort and simplifying material transport and availability. Organic construction is a subset of the initial construction standard. It is intended for immediate use by units upon arrival in theater for up to 90 days; however, it may be used for up to 6 months. Units use their organic/table of organization and equipment capabilities to the fullest extent possible to construct base camps. Organic capabilities may vary based on the type of unit, training, experience, and equipment available. They typically provide for initial force presence and maneuver activities until force flow supports the arrival of engineer resources. See ATP 3-37.10 for additional information on base camp construction standards. E-12. Base camps may be grouped together into a cluster. Within the support area, the support area commander may designate base clusters for the mutual protection and accomplishment of mission objectives. A base cluster has no defined perimeter. However, each base camp within the base cluster does. The senior commander within the base cluster is the base cluster commander. The base cluster commander operates the BCOC and is responsible for the base cluster defense plan. E-13. A number of base clusters may exist within the echelon support area, but there will only be limited assets to assist in their defense. The support area commander will determine which base camps or base clusters have protection priority and submit the unit protection prioritization list to the appropriate echelon for consideration of additional protection assets. See appendix A for additional information on developing a protection prioritization list.