FORCE DEVELOPMENT
The number of maintenance units required to support a combat force depends on the density of that force's combat equipment. To this information, planners add analysis of the combat area METT-T, transportation facilities, HNS, pre-positioned war reserve stocks, and anticipated combat length and intensity. These factors vary depending on the political situation and the geographic area to which forces are being deployed. For example, planners would structure a support force to sustain the land combat of a corps in Europe differently than they would a contingency corps deployed to the Middle East.
REPAIR PARTS
Each level of maintenance and the supply system (GS) at COSCOM stock and issue maintenance repair parts. All units maintain a PLL of parts designed to sustain the unit for a specified number of days. These parts are limited to essential quantities.
a. General. The DSU maintains a more extensive repair parts stockage designed to replenish the needs of its supported units and its own needs. The divisional DSU stockage is part of the division's ASL and is usually limited to about 3,000 line items. The heavy division's light maintenance company, part of the MSB, maintains a division ASL of 6,000 to 10,000 line items. COSCOM DSUs maintain approximately 5,000 line items in their ASL. The repair parts supply company (GS) is the source of repair parts for the DSUs. This unit stocks approximately 35,000 to 45,000 line items.
b. Requests. Supported units submit requests and pick up repair parts at their supporting DSM company. The DSM units' ASLs must support the combat PLLs of supported units in their area of support. The ASL should also include parts that DSM companies will need to perform authorized DS-level maintenance tasks. DSM units will fill deadlined and emergency requests immediately on receipt and by the most expeditious means.
c. Requisition. When DSM companies cannot fill the requests from their ASL, the DMMC transmits requisitions to the COSCOM MMC. The COSCOM MMC also receives requisitions from corps, their supported divisions, nondivisional units, and from DMMCs. Applicable MMC parts supply branches will process requisitions daily and initiate followup actions to determine each requisition's status. The MMC will screen, consolidate, and forward specified units' requisitions to appropriate CONUS NICPs to be delivered via air lines of communication (ALOCs). It will transmit all other routine requisitions, including requisitions for TA-controlled items, to the TAMMC.
d. Issue. The repair parts supply company (GS) supplies non-ALOC-designated class IX items. The COSCOM MMC controls the repair parts inventory maintained in the repair parts supply company.
e. Distribution. COSCOM and the TAACOM repair parts supply companies make up the GS base of supply for repair parts. Once surface-delivered repair parts arrive in theater, theater transportation assets will transport them to a TAACOM or COSCOM GS repair parts supply company. Repair parts will then be transported to DSM units. CONUS NICPs provide class IX and maintenance-related class II items to support ALOC units. Repair parts requisitioned from the NICP will be shipped by air to the aerial port nearest the ALOC-designated requesting unit.
AVIATION REPAIR PARTS
Aviation units (AVUM companies) submit class IX requests to their supporting division ASB. The division ASB's ground maintenance company maintains both ground and aviation repair parts for the aviation brigade. The division ASB's ASL includes repair parts that support the aviation brigade's PLLs. The ASL will also include repair parts required to provide AVIM-level authorized repairs. The division ASB will transmit consolidated requisitions for aircraft repair parts to the MMC. It will also requisition replenishment repair parts for its ASL. The DMMC processes the requisitions, arranges to cross-level spares, and initiates any required followup action.
SALVAGE
In contrast to scrap items, salvage items retain some value in excess of their basic materiel *******. A CSG should set up supply unit salvage points near MCPs. The MCPs will turn serviceable items over to the salvage point for return through supply channels. Salvage collecting points will turn over mechanical items to the MCP for classification, repair, and disposition.
EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
Another component of the fixing process is providing replacement equipment when damaged or inoperable equipment cannot be fixed and returned to the user within a reasonable time. To ensure the most effective use of end items, these items are normally command controlled. Issuing weapon systems follows the normal distribution route,EAC to the heavy materiel supply company (GS) and on to the issuing DS supply company.
The daily battle loss report serves as the requisition for selected major end items. The COSCOM MMC publishes and updates the list of corps- or theater-controlled items. The COSCOM HQ designates these items as "reportable items." Their inclusion in the logistics status report serves as their requisition. The COSCOM MMC will report the battle loss of critical, command-controlled weapon systems to the corps G3 and G4. The corps commander will approve their issue. The corps commander also directs their distribution to the units he regards as the most critical to the corps battle's success. Following command approval, the TAMMC or COSCOM MMC directs issue from a heavy materiel supply company to the supporting DS supply company. WSRO-controlled weapon systems need to link up with a replacement crew. Depending on METT-T, linkup could occur in the BSA, DSA, or heavy materiel supply company area.
WEAPON SYSTEM REPLACEMENT OPERATIONS
Efficient allocation of limited weapon system resources and crew members is best accomplished by managing weapon components separately. The corps commander will designate a WSM to intensively manage corps weapon system replacement. Due to the criticality of weapon system replacement to the corps battle, the corps commander could appoint the corps G3 as the WSM. The G3 would then coordinate the COSCOM's weapon system repair, replacement, and transportation resources with the personnel group's crew replacement resources. The work load associated with keeping track of all assigned crew-served weapon systems, their units of assignment, mechanical condition, and expected date of return from maintenance units may best be handled at the COSCOM level.
WSRO is a management tool used to supply the combat commander with fully operational major weapon systems, including required equipment and trained crews. Two terms that are often used to describe WSRO are "ready for issue" and "ready to fight." A ready-for-issue weapon system is mechanically operable, including additional equipment [radios, machineguns, fuel, and basic issue items (BII)]. A ready-to-fight system is a manned ready-for-issue weapon with ammunition stowed aboard and is boresighted. The WSM can also use critical HETs or available rail assets to push the weapon forward to the linkup point.
CLASS VII
Class VII stocks are maintained at corps level and higher. Division units submit their requests for class VII items to the DMMC property book class VII section. If stocks are available within the division, the section directs lateral transfer of stocks between units to satisfy the requirement. If stocks are not available within the division, the DMMC requisitions them from the COSCOM MMC. Physical distribution of incoming stocks is handled through the same channels as classes II, III (packaged), and IV.
OPERATIONAL READINESS FLOAT
Upon the outbreak of general hostilities, nondeployed MACOMs will use ORFs to improve the readiness posture and fill shortages per the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans' guidance. Deployed MACOMs will do the same and also use ORF to fill initial battle losses. Units deploying before the outbreak of hostilities will deploy with unit-allocated ORF equipment from the installation. Unit ORF authorization for peacetime deployment is based on a ratio of unit equipment density by line item number (LIN) supported by the installation ORF from which the unit is deploying.