FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Support Area Responsibilities 09 November 2021 FM 3-81 4-3 the enemy. Beyond the inherent responsibilities for adjacent unit coordination, the MEB commander deconflicts terrain coordination issues by collaborating with adjacent, passing, and supported units to reduce the likelihood of combat identification errors and trafficability problems and to enhance situational understanding, security, and defense. The MEB plans, coordinates, and monitors airspace throughout the support area. Fires integration and coordination is conducted by the designated land owner (support area) fire support element through the targeting process. The MEB also coordinates AMD for critical assets and activities through protection prioritization. Effects are assessed against the supporting mission requirements. 4-7. The S-3 functions as the overall terrain manager and assigns and reassigns AOs based on mission requirements to subordinate units throughout the support area. The MEB is responsible for any terrain in the support area not assigned to a subordinate unit. The S-3 is responsible for overall support area surveillance and reconnaissance plans and integrates subordinate unit and base camp plans. The S-3 will engage the entire staff, particularly the S-2, the engineer, military police, brigade surgeon, CBRN operations, fires, and AMD staff, when analyzing factors essential to assigning territory and locating base camps and facilities within the support area. These factors include— Coordinating with the supporting medical treatment facility and other medical assets to ensure proper site selection and accessibility for evacuation of patients. Locating base camps on the best defensible terrain. The S-2, S-3, terrain analysis team, engineer, and maneuver commander (if a TCF is assigned) collaborate on this effort. This will significantly reduce the resources needed to effectively defend them. Locating the sustainment brigade (if in the AO) with access to transportation infrastructure. Constructing a base camp defense, which can be viewed as constructing a strong point (360-degree defense). 4-8. These factors also include an assessment of— Drop zones or landing zone availability that is protected from the observation and fire of the enemy, which is a main consideration in selecting and organizing the location. Geographical boundaries. A concept of the operation. Theater basing plan. Mission requirements. The mission priority. Tactical maneuver plans. Likely enemy avenues of approach. Direct- and indirect-fire weapons capabilities. Deconfliction of fires (via scheme of fires and fire support coordination measures) and integration of airspace users (via the unit airspace plan and airspace coordinating measures). Airspace above the AO. Equipment density. Incident response. Accessibility for sustainment. Storage space for supply units. Indigenous civil considerations. Trafficability (ideally level, well-drained, firm ground). Access to the MSR, roads, and transportation infrastructure. Available facilities. Environmental threat and endemic disease considerations. Room for dispersion. Natural obstacles and canalized areas. Cover, concealment, and camouflage (natural or man-made structures). Security and mutual support. Ease of evacuation.