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Sustainment Analysis

Decent Essays

To explain sustainment as a warfighting function ADP 4-0 uses a statement from ADP 3-0 that explains the sustainment warfighting function as related tasks and systems that provide support and services to ensure freedom of action, extend operational reach, and prolong endurance. Furthermore, endurance of Army forces is primarily a function of their sustainment and determines the depth and duration of Army operations. Sustainment is categorized into three elements: logistics, personnel services, and health service support. While all three a vital in sustainment operations I will focus on the logistics element. Logistics is planning and executing of the movement and support of forces. When examining logistics I have to draw from my most …show more content…

The logistics came into play when the Afghan Corps headquarters had to go forward into support of a clearing operation. This movement meant that Army advisors had to go forward with the headquarters anywhere from one week to a month. These movements were always to a FOB that was closed during the drawdown. To get supplies and equipment, the brigade aviation element had to coordinate extensively with the ground force commander and the aviation brigade. Getting the initial supplies and personnel to the forward FOB proved to be a challenge as we didn’t have direct support CH-47’s. This lack of direct support assets to move large pallets of food, water and large equipment, such as generators, required coordination with the aviation brigade planning cell. The challenge with coordinating with the planning cell was the competing requirements of the aviation brigade to support additional operations in east and central Afghanistan. Consequently, these competing requirements meant fully supplying and manning the forward FOB took two to three days. Once the forward FOB was up and operational direct support UH-60’s were used for day-to-day re-supply and movement of personnel. When a resupply mission arose that the UH-60’s could not

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