ASC Support for CTC Rotations

Winter-Spring 2024 ASC Support for CTC Rotations by COL Larry R. Dean and MAJ Jerad

N. Hoffmann As the executing arm of the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s (AMC) equipping mission, the U.S. Army Sustainment Command (ASC) brings together all of AMC’s capabilities to make sure Sol diers have what they need, when they need it, based on the Army’s priorities. ASC’s logistics support elements (LSE) serve to better connect combat forma tions with the materiel enterprise. The LSE, supported by Life Cycle Man agement Command (LCMC) logistics assistance representatives (LARs) and field service representatives (FSRs), plays a crucial role ensuring high equipment readiness in brigade com bat teams (BCTs) during their training at combat training centers (CTCs) by in tegrating and synchronizing key ele ments of the sustainment enterprise. The effective integration of LSE and LAR support to the brigade sustain ment team significantly enhances the training effectiveness and operational readiness of these units. This support is essential throughout the entire training cycle, from pre-deployment preparations through CTC reception, staging, onward movement, and inte gration (RSOI) operations, and post FoF REGEN activities, as demonstrated by LSE Stewart’s LAR/FSR integration dur ing the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), National Training Center (NTC) rotation 23-05 at Fort Irwin, CA. Army BCTs use CTCs to conduct realis tic, intensive, and demanding training exercises in a simulated combat envi ronment to validate and improve com bat readiness and brigade proficiency in critical tasks such as maneuvering, fire support and logistics operations. As stated by Army Regulation 350-50, Combat Training Center Program, para graph 1-5, “The Army’s CTC Program remains the cornerstone of an inte grated strategy that builds trained and proficient, combat-ready units and leaders to conduct operations as part of the joint force-ready to win in a complex world.”1 LSEs enable high equipment readiness for the CTC training brigades by provid ing essential advice, assistance, and training on assigned equipment. Para mount for success is LAR integration during the home station pre-deploy ment preparation phase that carries on to CTC RSOI operations and post-FoF REGEN activities. Additionally, the LSE is staffed with highly skilled Army lo gistic management specialists (LMS) who play a crucial role. These LMS pro fessionals closely monitor and analyze supply trends, ensuring equipment readiness is continuously optimized. Moreover, they establish a vital com munication channel with the AMC enterprise, enabling seamless collabo ration to leverage the full potential of supply capabilities in maintaining topnotch equipment readiness levels. Pre-deployment prep The LCMC LARs provide significant val ue by seamlessly integrating home sta tion Army Field Support Battalion (AFS Bn) LAR support with unit training con cepts of operation and support. This integration proves crucial during CTC preparation training and extends into rotational exercises, equipping opera tors and maintainers with essential readiness tools that greatly enhance CTC training effectiveness. During Phase Zero, before every CTC rotation, BCT gunneries, mission Figure 1. CECOM Logistics Information Technology (LOG-IT) LAR assists with trouble shooting an inoperable modem with the units VSAT during the NTC Tactical Enterprise Logistics Systems (TELS) validation during the rotation’s RSOI. (U.S. Army photo)

Winter-Spring 2024 command system rodeos, and brigade command post exercises are conduct ed to validate crews and to ensure equipment is operational before de ployment loadouts. Home station AFS Bn LARs can be valuable in supporting unit training by ensuring that equip ment is maintained and operational, providing technical expertise as need ed. During 2nd ABCT preparation train ing, AFSBn-Stewart LAR support was integrated early with their brigade and brigade support battalion partners. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Ar maments Command (TACOM) LARs conducted training on maintenance procedures and best practices that helped to ensure the Spartans were equipped with the skills they needed to keep their equipment at the highest levels of readiness. One such example is how TACOM Ground Combat System LARs assisted the brigade engineer battalion with equipment troubleshooting proce dures and maintenance training on their XM1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) fleet. The LARs and unit personnel identified more than ten non-mission capable faults, ultimately leading to accurate parts requisitions and repairs. This focused training as sisted the battalion to reach 100 per cent operational readiness for their ABV fleet by the sixth day of REGEN. Another example was during division and brigade maintenance meeting, the 3ID enterprise identified low readiness rates for the 120mm mortar tube. AFS Bn-Stewart partnered with the brigade sustainers to surge U.S. Tank-automo tive and Armament Command (TA COM) assistance that ultimately brought back the battalion’s mortar tube operational readiness percentage to nearly 100 percent. By combining the expertise and re sources of the LARs with unit training operations, personnel are empowered with the necessary skills to navigate and excel in realistic combat scenarios successfully. This collaborative ap proach ensures that operators and maintainers are fully prepared and equipped to meet the challenges they may encounter during CTC exercises, thereby maximizing training outcomes and operational readiness. LSE support during

CTC RSOI

The RSOI period for a typical CTC rota tion is approximately five days. It is the last opportunity for units to leverage the LSE LCMC LARs before FoF starts. RSOI is the LSE’s decisive point to en able readiness, often where units struggle to establish communications. Critical for LSE success was having a nonrestrictive moment in the training box allowing the units to coordinate di rectly with the LSE for LAR support. During rotation 23-05, Communica tions-Electronics Command (CECOM) LARs were far more employed than any other LCMC on the LSE team. During rotation 23-05, the preponder ance of CECOM LAR support was trou bleshooting battalion and brigade’s Joint Network Node Satellite Trans portable Terminal (STT) system con nections, which enabled upper tactical internet for in-theater communications allowing the brigade and battalions to exchange information. Also, the LARs provided technical assistance in help ing the units isolate and resolve the is sue that would inevitably impact 2nd ABCT’s ability to communicate inter nally and with the division. TACOM and U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) LARs also leveraged the advantage of units con solidating equipment during RSOI to capitalize on maintenance training with equipment operators and me chanics. During 23-05, LARs conducted training on maintenance procedures and best practices, helping to ensure that units were correctly maintaining their mod ernized equipment and providing read iness assessments to the brigade lead ership through the LSE team. 2nd ABCT successfully integrated TA COM and AMCOM LARs during their pre-combat checks/pre-combat inspec tions before occupying their tactical assembly areas to help isolate faults and order the correct parts, minimiz ing ground and air equipment down time throughout FoF. LAR integration during RSOI proved valuable, assisting Figure 2. CECOM Long Haul Transmission LAR assist with software updates on an STT. (U.S. Army photo)

Winter-Spring 2024 the brigade to stay within 82 percent operational readiness during FoF. LSE support during

CTC REGEN

During 2nd ABCT’s 12-day REGEN sched ule, Spartan Brigade’s pacing fleet achieved a higher operational readi ness rate (ORR) by REGEN + 6 than any other heavy training Brigade in the last two years. For tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and Paladins, 2nd ABCT’s ORR ranged 20-25 percent higher than the average of the last eight rotations. The LSE has a critical role in providing support during CTC REGEN operations, helping the supported brigade’s main tenance trouble shooting, material re sources, and technical guidance need ed to rebuild combat power. LSE Stewart and assigned LCMC LARs and FSRs worked closely with brigade and battalion maintenance personnel to provide additional technical exper tise and support, ensuring that all pac ing equipment was fully operational and ready for redeployment. Also, re maining engaged with maintainers and understanding the maintenance prior ity ensured the LARs provided the proper assistance for equipment fault verification and accuracy for long lead part requisition across the enterprise. Relationships important Additionally, essential to LSE support is the close relationship with the 916th Support Brigade (SBDE) located on Fort Irwin to synchronize the national level and the local enterprise for materiel solutions and economy of support. The 916th SBDE ensured that the available parts were delivered from the depots, arsenal, and installation supply sup port activities (SSAs) to each unit main tainer through the Fort Irwin installa tion SSA. As explained in Field Manual 4-0, Sus tainment Operations, paragraph 2-52, ASC coordinates the delivery of critical classes of supply from the strategic lev el down to the tactical level.2 ASC’s for ward capability, the LSE, works closely with the 916th SBDE on Fort Irwin to ensure that essential materiel reach tactical formations. The 916th SBDE not only plays a vital role in setting up the operational the ater at NTC but also manages the divi sion distribution and sustainment to keep our units ready. Through strong partnerships and coordinated efforts, the LSE and 916th SBDE ensure that parts are efficiently delivered from de pots, arsenals, and installation SSAs to each unit’s maintenance teams through phases of the CTC rotation. Take away Understanding and leveraging the ca pabilities of the LSE and the support ing LCMC LARs will vastly increase equipment readiness and material sup port before and during combat training rotations. The division supporting AFS Bn/division logistics support element providing the LSE is the training bri gade’s operational link to the AMC en terprise, enabling division and brigade combat lethality anywhere – anytime. COL Larry R. Dean is the commander, 406th Army Field Support Brigade (AFSB), Fort Liberty, NC. He establishes and executes resource strategies and delivers national level material solutions to increase readiness to XVIII Airborne Corps, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and U.S. Army Forces Command’s east coast organization. Under COL Dean’s leadership, the 406th AFSB responsively projects power from east coast installations to the forward tactical edge to deliver globally dominant land force capabilities to Total Joint Force. COL Dean’s previous assignments include commander, 626th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); director, Subsistence Supply Chain, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support; chief of sustainment, G-4, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); system synchronization officer for a CAT I program at the Headquarters, Department of the Army Focus Logistics Division (HQDA G8); and commander, Joint Security Support Detachment – Kuwait, Special Operations Command Central, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in manufacturing engineering from Grambling State University, a master’s of science degree in national resource strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, and a master’s of arts degree in leadership from Central Michigan University. COL Dean is certified in Advanced Program in Logistics and Technology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He also earned a certificate in data-driven leadership from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Program Management Professional. MAJ Jerad Nolan Hoffmann is the bri gade large-scale mobilization planner, 188th Infantry Brigade (Combined Arms Training Brigade), Fort Stewart, GA. His previous assignments include battalion executive officer, Army Field Support Battalion – Fort Stewart (AFSBn-Stew art), under the 406th Army Field Sup port Brigade, Fort Stewart; battalion support operations officer (SPO), AFS Bn-Stewart, under the 406th Army Field Support Brigade; brigade deputy SPO, 404th Army Field Support Brigade (404 AFSB), Joint Base Lewis-McChord; and forward support company observer/ coach/trainer (O/C/T), Joint Multina tional Readiness Center (JMRC), Ho henfels, Germany. MAJ Hoffmann’s mil itary schools include Command and General Staff College; Theater Sustain ment Planner Course; Support Opera tions Course; Joint Firepower Course; Operational Contracting Support Course; O/C/T Teir II Certification (JMRC); First Army O/C/T Academy; Air Assault School and Ordnance Basic Of ficer Leader Course. He has a bache lor’s of science degree in sociology (with a minor in criminal justice) from Southern Illinois University Edwards ville. MAJ Hoffmann’s awards and badges include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Assault Badge. Notes 1 Army, U. S. Army Regulation (AR) 350- 50, Combat Training Center Program, para 1-5; May 2, 2018. https://armypubs. army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ AR.aspx. 2 Army, U. S. Field Manual (FM) 4-0, Sus tainment Operations, para 2-52; July 31,

2019. Army Publishing Directorate.

• See ACRONYM QUICK-SCAN, Page 25

Winter-Spring 2024

• Continued from Page 24 ABCT – armored brigade combat team ABV – assault breacher vehicle AFSB – Army Field Support Brigade AFSBn – Army Field Support Battalion AMC – U.S. Army Materiel Command Acronym Quick-Scan AMCOM – U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command ASC – U.S. Army Sustainment Command BCT – brigade combat team CECOM – Communications-Electronics Command CTC – combat training center FoF – force-on-force FSR – field service representative LAR – logistics assistance representative LCMC – Life Cycle Management Command LMS – logistic management specialists LSE – logistics support element NTC – National Training Center ORR – operational readiness rate RSOI – reception, staging, onward movement, and integration SBDE – support brigade SPO – support operations officer SSA – supply support activities STT – Satellite Transportable Terminal TACOM – U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command