FIXING THE FORCE
INTRODUCTION
Maintenance is the logistics function that keeps materiel operational, restores it to an operational condition, and upgrades its usefulness through design modification. Maintenance management has assumed greater importance due to its critical role in sustaining and increasing combat power. The primary focus of maintenance resources in the combat zone (CZ) is directed toward weapon systems. Maintenance work is performed as far forward as practical within the limitations of the commander's priorities, resources and time available, the tactical situation, and other factors. To maintain weapon systems forward in the battle area, a variety of events must be preplanned and vigorously executed. This is accomplished by trained mechanics who are skilled in proper diagnostic techniques, equipped with the appropriate tools, and have the proper repair parts on hand. If any of these conditions are missing, the weapon systems will not become operational, thereby reducing the unit's combat power. When does the Army maintain?
When a certain time elapses.
When a failure occurs.
When it sustains combat damage.
ARMY MAINTENANCE SYSTEM
The levels of maintenance (less aircraft) are unit maintenance, DSM, GSM, and depot maintenance (see table 7-1). These levels, together with innovations focusing on equipment design, represent an effort to reduce personnel requirements and simplify the maintenance effort. These efforts will provide responsive maintenance; improve operational mobility, flexibility, and readiness; and thereby increase battlefield efficiency.
a. A crew, the equipment operator, or unit maintenance personnel perform unit maintenance. Unit maintenance is characterized by quick turnaround based on service and replacement. Maintenance operations normally assigned to the unit level include lubrication, diagnosis, replacing easily accessible unserviceable parts, and recovering equipment to and from a supporting maintenance activity. Unit personnel also recover unserviceable but repairable equipment that is beyond their capability to repair at DS level.
The BMO controls the maintenance within the battalion. As the battalion is task organized, the BMO releases maintenance assets for those companies that are detached and accepts maintenance assets from attached companies. It is imperative that he ensures that adequate personnel, tools, maintenance and recovery vehicles, test equipment, and manuals are on hand so he can task organize the maintenance platoon to support the task force combat requirements.
b. DSM is characterized by highly mobile, forward-oriented repair. Equipment is usually repaired by replacing unserviceable modules and returning it to the user. Divisional DSM units will support division maneuver elements. Nondivisional DSM units will provide dedicated DSM to nondivisional units on an area support basis within the corps rear area or the division area. Nondivisional maintenance also provides reinforcing/backup DSM to the division.
Other operations normally assigned to the DSM level include diagnosing and repairing unserviceable materiel and returning it to the user. DSM units also provide ASL repair parts, perform light body repairs, provide technical assistance, and stock and issue authorized ORF equipment.
c. GSM includes those maintenance actions selected maintenance activities authorize and perform to support a major Army command (MACOM) or other force as a whole rather than supporting specific users. Materiel managers at EAC schedule GSM programs (such as repair, modification, or upgrade) to respond to the theater supply system's needs. Scheduling is accomplished according to the availability of repair parts and other maintenance resources. GSM of the theater supply system generally will be performed outside a deployed corps. Operations normally assigned to the GSM level include supporting the lower maintenance levels; performing heavy body, hull, turret, and frame repair; performing area maintenance support, including technical assistance, onsite maintenance, and MSTs as required or requested; and collecting and classifying unserviceable or abandoned class VII materiel. Equipment is repaired and returned to the supply system. GSM companies are authorized at EAC (theater) and are assigned to an area support group maintenance battalion.
d. Depot maintenance supports both the combat forces and the overall DA Inventory Management Program. In support of the combat forces, depot maintenance operations can back up DSM and GSM units and provide assistance in technical training to the forces during mobilization and peacetime. In support of the overall DA Inventory Management Program, depot maintenance operations serve as a source of combat-ready materiel.
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
The organization for Army aircraft maintenance consists of three levels of maintenance:
a. Aviation unit maintenance (AVUM). Units perform AVUM on their assigned aircraft. Company-sized aviation units perform primarily preventive maintenance tasks and maintenance repair and replacement functions associated with sustaining a high level of aircraft operational readiness.
b. AVIM. AVIM units support AVUM units. This support includes all maintenance functions authorized at the AVUM level plus repairing selected items that cannot be accomplished at the AVUM level.
c. Depot. Depot-level maintenance for aircraft is not designed for field applications. It supports the "repair and return to the supply system" concept and includes maintenance that is above the AVIM level. Most depot-level aviation maintenance is performed in CONUS.
Doctrinal passback maintenance is the percent of the divisional AVIM work load that is "passed back" to the supporting corps AVIM battalion. All divisional TOEs are decremented to compensate for doctrinal maintenance passback, and the corps AVIM battalions are designed to accommodate it.
FORWARD SUPPORT MAINTENANCE
Forward support maintenance is designed to support combat units' weapon systems as far forward as possible. When division equipment requires repair, maintenance personnel organic to the unit (unit level) or the forward battalion's MSTs (DSM level) conduct repair at the UMCP or the breakdown site. Corps (COSCOM) maintenance companies, as required, provide MSTs to work with the FSB (DSM reinforcing). These COSCOM MSTs are tailored from the mobile maintenance team and normally from DSM units with a backup/reinforcing maintenance mission, but they may be from any DSM unit with available support capacity. MSTs provide technical assistance, higher-level maintenance support, and special tools far forward on the battlefield, usually at a UMCP. Corps (COSCOM) MSTs return to their organic HQ when no longer needed in the forward location. The FSB MST remains at the unit level (combat trains) to provide continuous support forward.
The MMC centrally manages maintenance within the division or corps. The MMC determines what, where, when, how, and by whom equipment will be repaired. The DSM units evacuate equipment to the DSM backup units or they can request assistance from reinforcing MSTs. This support is based on preplanned directives the MMC issues (automatic evacuation instructions) or by direct communications with the MMC. The MMC shifts repair priority within the division or corps to various units and/or weapon systems to ensure maximum combat power.
Another important aspect of forward support maintenance is battlefield damage assessment and repair (BDAR). Operator, crew, and unit maintenance teams may perform BDAR on disabled equipment. This repair could significantly impact the outcome of a specific combat mission. The objective is to rapidly return the item to combat. However, personnel will only perform BDAR when standard maintenance procedures are impractical.
The "reinforcing" maintenance intent is to support the repair and return to the user as rapidly and as far forward as possible. It involves DSM units providing maintenance support to other DSM units. This concept ensures that maintenance assets are fully committed based on requirements. The reinforcing DSM unit will send MSTs forward to repair equipment onsite or in forward maintenance collection points (MCPs). The reinforcing unit may supply the repair parts required to repair equipment DSM units evacuate. Automatic evacuation instructions and repair-time limitations are fundamental components of the maintenance reinforcing concept.