FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Chapter 5 5-4 FM 3-81 09 November 2021 5-11. When a sustainment shortfall is identified, the sustainment planners take every available action to eliminate or reduce its effect. They must understand its potential impact on the force, the risk it presents to mission accomplishment, its duration, and which requirement exceeded the unit capabilities. They analyze the shortfall to determine its cause, such as battle losses, supply availability, resource availability (equipment, man-hours), or distribution shortfall. They consider the following actions to resolve a shortfall: Shifting supplies or assets by phase of the operation. Requesting support or additional assets from higher headquarters. Using alternative distribution methods. Considering the use of host-nation support. Considering pre-positioning supplies or attaching additional sustainment capabilities to subordinate forces. Modifying the COA or plan. 5-12. Based on the logistics estimate, the sustainment planners develop support plans. The overall sustainment plan is briefly described in the concept of support. The concept of support provides all commanders and staffs a general understanding of the commander’s priorities and how the operation will be logistically supported. Detailed sustainment plans are outlined in Annex F (Sustainment) to the MEB OPORD or as part of a fragmentary order. The S-4 and executive officer closely monitor the implementation of the sustainment plan. They adjust sustainment operations or shift resources to account for changing situations or changes in priorities (such as shifting the main effort) or to replace lost sustainment capabilities. 5-13. The MEB staff plans for the sustainment of a frequently changing task organization with augmentation from other unified action partners. Attachments to the MEB should arrive with their appropriate sustainment capability. When a company, team, or detachment is attached to the MEB, the S-4 integrates their sustainment into the MEB support system. The attachment orders must clearly state who will provide medical, maintenance, and recovery services and provide support for Class III, V, and IX supplies. When receiving attachments, sustainment planners require some basic information from the sending unit S-4 to anticipate how to develop a synchronized concept of support. When the unit is detached, the MEB assists forwarding any on-hand supplies or equipment to the gaining unit. Some considerations include the following: The number and type of vehicles, personnel by specialty, and weapons systems and their current status. Organic medical and maintenance capabilities. When the attachment is effective and for how long. What support assets are coming with each attachment to the MEB. When and where linkup will occur, and who is responsible for linkup. LOGISTICS ELEMENTS 5-14. Logistics is primarily the responsibility of the MEB S-4 and is provided primarily by the MEB organic HSC or requested through the support battalion providing sustainment to the support area. Logistics elements include maintenance, transportation, supply, field services, distribution, operational contract support, and general engineering. General engineering is primarily planned by the S-3 staff and is not discussed in this chapter. Field services will be discussed further and include mortuary affairs, shower and laundry capabilities, field feeding, and water purification. Operational contract support is discussed in greater detail because much of this information is new or emerging doctrine. Maintenance 5-15. How maintenance is accomplished in the MEB is dependent on the individual unit capabilities. Most units, either organic or attached to the MEB, have some organic field maintenance capabilities. The HSC maintenance support platoon provides field maintenance for organic MEB units and supplemental field maintenance support to other units attached as required. If the echelon of maintenance required is outside the MEB capability, the MEB S-4 section will coordinate with the echelon sustainment brigade for support.