LOGISTICS/MAINTENANCE

The Logistics’ Advisor the relationships that need to be built to ensure mission success are relations with assigned Brigade and Battalion S-4 and S-8. These relationships are vital to ensure the partner force and Military Advisor Team can sustain. This should be done prior to movement and creating the conditions as well as giving the RTU an idea of the capabilities of your partner force. This will aid the PF and MAT to sustain themselves for prolonged operations. Building a relationship with the S-8 officer will aid the MAT and PF to determine funding for equipment shipping FUVA and personnel movement. This is an important step to ensure how much equipment you will be able to bring due to the weight and cost of shipping container and vehicles. For reporting to higher headquarters’ (S-4), a LOGSTAT request will be needed daily utilizing a JBPCP or ATAK if the RTU has the capabilities. The format will depend on the BDE or BN so it is crucial to obtain the format prior to execution. This is the best way of reporting to due to the ability to access these reports mobile and throughout different vehicles. GCSSA capabilities will be at a minimal due to MAT team not being allocated to the RTU’s DODAAC. This means you will have to lean heavy on you RTU’s S-4 maintenance tech and food service tech when it comes to submitting requests. During the initial link-up with the PF command, it’s great to receive a list of what the PF intends to bring to the CTC rotation. However, request a list of what they have available (MTOE) to prevent them from bringing equipment that may not be compatible with US blank ammunition/miles. Also, ensure the PF has the appropriate amount of BFA’s for their weapons systems. Any requests to the PF’s equipment through their military channels needs to be made as soon as possible with an understanding that their processes might be significantly slower than ours. Also, I would look at RTU’s MTOE to understand their capabilities and where MAT and PF would best fit and be attached to make the most impact. Sustainment equipment that will help ensure success are the MBK to give yourself internet capabilities if the MIFI devices do not provide the signal needed in the environment. Generators that can provide power to 4-6 hours a day. Enough water and fuel cans for 72 DOS with fuel spout. EUD’s that mission capable with updated software to support communication to your MAT and RTU. Portable printer to print documents such as dispatches and memorandums.

JRTC rotation 22-10, TM 2312 initially was attached to 326 BEB for the duration of the rotation for maintenance support. During RSOI, I linked in with CW2 Ruther the maintenance tech for 326 BEB for coordination on wrecker support, dispatching process, spare parts. Being the only Maintenance Advisor for prepo draw was a major challenge for 20 level PMCS on 18x M1097 HMMVs that were drawn. During this process myself and SFC Eleccion, conducted the PMCS on all vehicles. Future recommendation for preposition vehicle draw, would be to have a support element from the FSC of mechanics to help conduct the 20 level PMCS. Dispatching process for JRTC is every 48 hours a DD Form 1970 (Motor Equipment Utilization Record) with a release signature from supervisor or FSC clerks. Recommendation for this process is to have multiple copies of DD form 1970 inside dispatch book. Major setbacks that TM 2312 came across was maintenance support from 326 BEB, initial movement to the box our M1151A1 blew the fan clutch. 326 BEB did have wrecker support at the time, I did have a sit down with CW2 Ruther on ordering the part and to see if any SSA on Fort Polk obtained the part, at the time 326 BEB did not have any spare parts on hand. A recommendation for spare parts for any SFAB team, would be to get with civilian contractor maintenance or FSC within SFAB, to get common parts that usually break on any tactical vehicle. This process failed at JRTC; the initial ordering of the part was not available at any SSA at FT. Polk the part never came in during the rotation, leaving a M1151A1 out of the fight. To recover this vehicle, we did utilize 326 BEB wrecker support for movement to the box, it was dropped off at Eastgate, upon PMCS on the vehicle it was noticed that it had more faults Class lll trans. leak, no coolant, broken headlight this happened, during the recovery process of 326 BEB Hotel 8 Team. To get the HMMV to the CTCP with the rest of the team we had to flat tow the vehicle with another M1151A1 that TM2312 brought from home station. This was also a downfall; due to the fact we did not have a tow bar for flat tow recovery. Recommendation for this would have a minimum of four tow bars in the event one or more vehicles becomes NMC. Self-Recovery operations, during JRTC rotation TM 2312 utilized the SAFE-XTRACT recovery kit, this kit comes with many different recovery elements, this was a huge success during the rotation highly recommend any SFAB team to bring one to any field training event.