3-42. The movement of supplies and equipment by dismounted units requires careful planning and execution. For example, the Infantry battalion forward support company has limited organic transportation for the movement of supplies and equipment, often resulting in trade-offs. The battalion commander must ensure assets are being employed correctly to accomplish the mission. Time is critical and the battalion must reduce on station time so all movement requirements can be met. The commander must be creative in maximizing usage of available transportation assets to lighten Soldier loads.
Resupply Operations
3-43. During dismounted movement, resupply operations often involve Class I (water specifically) and possibly Class V (ammunition) when reinitiating the march after contact. Resupply operations under these conditions may require immediate resupply (also known as emergency or urgent resupply). Routine resupply through logistics package operations is planned to occur on a regular basis per the movement order or operation order (OPORD) and when possible, schedule during limited visibility.
3-44. Without hampering safety and hydration of dismounted Soldiers, means or methods must be developed to permit off-loading of water from Soldiers’ backs. Soldiers should never have to carry more than one 100-ounce hydration bag. Water resupply packages may be staged for resupply to units by ground or aerial delivery.
3-45. Prepositioning of supplies or cache sites along the route must be carefully planned and executed at every level. All leaders must know the exact locations of prepositioned or cache sites, which they verify during reconnaissance. Unit leaders take measures to ensure the survivability of these sites. Measures may include digging in prepositioned or cache supplies and selecting covered and concealed positions. The commander must also have a plan to remove or destroy these resupply sites, if required. Security risk always exists when returning to a resupply site. Site should be observed for signs of enemy presence and secured before being used; it may have been booby trapped and may be under enemy observation.
3-46. Within an acceptable level of risk established by the commander, Soldier combat loads may be significantly reduced by redesigning resupply practices. Rethinking frequency of their unit’s resupply operations and deciding how to maintain immediate or contingency resupply packages by ground or aerial delivery goes a long way toward reducing combat loads. Such changes to logistics practices are essential in maintaining combat power throughout the march. (See ATP 3-21.20 for additional information on resupply operation.)
3-47. When ground delivery is unavailable or limited, march units must be prepared to receive resupply through aerial delivery and manned aircraft. An understanding of pickup zone and landing zone selection, sling loading, bundle drops, and allowable cargo loads can be critical to sustain a unit during the march. (See FM 3-99 and ATP 4-48 for additional information on aerial delivery.) The use of manned aircraft as a delivery platform is extremely common on today’s battlefields. Rugged terrain and limited ground access points push units to use manned aircraft to carry supplies or equipment internally or externally to the unit in need. For most dismounted units, the use of manned aircraft (primarily rotary-wing) must be coordinated before the mission, unless designated for an emergency resupply mission by a higher headquarters. If the aircraft is tasked to support the ground unit, the responsiveness of the aircraft can be quite rapid; however, weather conditions and higher priority missions can often divert manned aircraft to other missions. The accuracy of a manned aircraft is extremely high. A well-coordinated landing zone (either preplanned or hasty) can allow an aircraft to deliver supplies and equipment to the exact point of need. While manned aircraft, like helicopters, can be responsive and accurate, their audio and visual signatures often draw attention and can compromise a unit’s ability to limit enemy or civilian detection.
Soldier Load Transfer
3-48. Loads transferred from the Soldier to combat load handling equipment reduces the Soldier’s fighting load. This reorganization of the Soldier’s load entails resourcing combat load handling equipment and sustainment load handling equipment. Provision of combat load handling equipment at company level and sustainment load handling equipment at battalion level is the responsibility of the command having control of transportation resources for ongoing operations. At the start of any operation, Soldiers should identify the types of platforms and equipment they have available to them or begin to plan the most efficient and effective way to carry the load required for success. The type of platform a leader designates to carry the load should be based on the amount and type of supplies or equipment to be carried; its importance to the mission; and the platform’s capabilities with respect to responsiveness, accuracy, and method and other aspects of METT-TC (I). Leaders tier and prioritize platforms and plan movements for their use during mission execution.
Load Carriage Using Wheeled Carts
3-49. Load carriage using wheeled carts is often an option to the commander to transport loads in certain situations. Generally durable, they are able to carry or exceed their rated loads (91 kilograms or 201 pounds to 181 kilograms or 399 pounds); and can be used effectively on flat terrain, in barrier construction, and in resupply. On the negative side, carts create problems on rugged terrain. They are noisy in brush or rocky areas, thus reducing tactical surprise; and equipment can get caught in the wheels of some carts.
3-50. Combat load carts appropriate for military operations should have a low center of gravity, wide wheelbase, and large wheel size. Compared with body carriage, energy expenditure is reduced by 88 percent when 50 kilograms or 110-pound load is pushed in a cart on smooth surfaces. Pulled carts, rather than pushed, seem to be easier to control on uneven terrain and result in considerable energy expenditure-savings.
Load Carriage Using Motor Vehicles
3-51. Besides carts, removing much of the load burden from Soldiers requires use of a wide variety of motor vehicles. Systems that have carried Soldier equipment in rugged areas in Afghanistan have included a two seat, six-wheeled squad vehicle that carries up to 550 kilograms or 1,213 pound-load and runs on aviation turbine fuel. Units also used a four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle that carries one Soldier and loads up to 204 kilograms or 450 pounds. Of course, there still may be terrain unsuitable for carts or motor vehicles of any type, where Soldiers must personally bear the load.
Contract, Host-Nation, and Local National Support
3-52. Contract, host nation, and local nationals play an increasing role in sustaining deployed U.S. Forces. Depending on the situation, march units may have these assets to assist in the movement of nonessential supplies and equipment. (See ATP 4-10 for additional information.)
Contract Support
3-53. Though contracting support involves many risks, units may use contractors to bridge gaps between required capabilities and available forces in their AO. Contractors may be employed, subject to METT-TC (I), throughout the AO and under virtually all conditions. Protecting contractors on the battlefield is the unit’s responsibility. When contractors are expected to perform in potentially hostile areas, supported military forces must ensure protection of their operations and personnel.
3-54. Units must understand contractors are subject to the same threat as Soldiers and plan accordingly. Contractor personnel must not perform protection functions and cannot take an active role in hostilities, retaining the inherent right to self-defense. The Defense Logistics Agency provides bulk fuel, water, and food to contractor personnel either through prepositioned stocks or host-nation contracts.
Host-Nation Support
3-55. Host-nation support may be provided to the march force located in or transiting through host-nation territory and includes civil and military assistance. Support may include assistance in almost every aspect required to sustain the march. Planners must consider host-nation support meets local, not necessarily U.S. standards. Host-nation support can be a significant resource to the march force provided it is available and appropriate agreements are in place.
Local National Support (Pack Animal Transport)
3-56. Local national pack animal support, such as donkeys, mules, horses, llamas, and alpacas, are commonly found in mountainous areas with indigenous populations who control them. Local nationals understand these animals’ abilities, limitations, and most of all, how to control them. Local nationals understand how to load these animals and properly secure loads.
3-57. Local nationals are skilled at providing proper motivation to make animals perform required tasks. Although these animals may be able to carry significant amounts of equipment, they do have limitations. Their carrying capacity decreases with higher elevations. Table 3-6 lists advantages and disadvantages to consider before using pack animals. Several planning elements to consider before deciding to use pack animals include the following:
- Is terrain conducive to pack animal operations?
- Does extreme altitude prohibit or restrict pack animal operations?
- Does seasonal bad weather prohibit or restrict pack animal operations?
- Do units have experience with these animals in day and night conditions?
- Do units have enough experience to execute pack animal operations?
Next Page : Appendix A – March Procedures