Army Sustainment Function of a Sergeant Major

A very important function that I, as a Sergeant Major takes related to army sustainment which not only provides efficient distribution of personnel and logistics, but also provides health services support to sustain and prolong the operations to ensure that the army is fully prepared through proper theater distribution, pre-positioning and other ways (Transportation Resources, 2017). This makes sure that the resources are utilized efficiently and used in a proper way which can be in terms of manpower, skill enhancement, materiel supplies and other resourcing which accomplishes the mission of the organization.
It is extremely important that we know what is required by each unit and prepare the organization for missions since it will strengthen their persisting capacity for achieving future goals. If unequal and improper or no distribution and provisions of such sustainment plan occurs, it is quite possible that the organization wouldn’t be fulfilling its core mission of keeping it up breast and helping them sustain their resources for future missions. Being ill-equipped will cause turmoil at combats while overuse of resources would only waste it rather than utilize it as per the need. Optimization is the key in sustainment function of the seargent Major which connects sustainment to operations. It is important that we advise the CCDR and provide to it a fully equipped army, ready for a combat, as part of the joint force (Headquarters, 2012).
Sustainment of war fighting equipment is done to make sure that the equipment can be used over a long period of time while increasing the endurance during combats and other missions. It is basically divided into three fundamentals; logistics, personnel and health related services. We ensure that it also fortifies the army in terms of freedom of action where they have adequate resources to conduct operations, missions and combats. For immense benefits of the sustainment, we should develop sustainment to maximize the benefits and increasing the potential strength of the army combatants.
We should plan Logistics include all kinds of functions relating to the materiel; its maintenance, transportation, design and development, storage, movement etc. These functions are very crucial since it safeguards the life of the materiel while also making sure everything related to it is conducted efficiently, not harming the life, function and properties of the equipment. So, there are field services and other support that enable us to ensure that before allocation, everything is well-planned. If the logistics aren’t carried out efficiently it will disrupt the design and allocation of those materiel which will deteriorate the very process of sustainment in the first place. It’s necessary that it is carried out efficiently.
It’s our duty to make sure that the army receives all the elements at the right time through proper allocation and distribution process. Theater distribution is not just constricted to distributing the materiel but also deals with its warehousing, inventory control, handling of the materials, transportation, maintenance, packaging etc. which involves the support of different services like defense agencies to make critical decisions (Army Theater Distribution, 2014). It is done through inter-related physical, financial, information and communication networks which have both manual and automated systems to assist the theater distribution process (Army Theater Distribution, 2014). They have their logistics whereby they ensure the delivery of materiel through a safe channel by linking those networks with the logisticians. It is very necessary to manage the distribution since it is our foremost priority to equip the army with all kinds of resources that are required and when they are required for which proper networks and distribution systems are kept in place because the main goal of the theater distribution is to ensure that the army is supplied with the necessary materiel.
Since there is a Defense Transportation System in place consisting of sea, land, air and pipeline transportation system using military, commercial and host nation (Transportation Resources, 2017). We’d utilize it through PREPO programs (Pre-Positioned) to equip the force for emergency combats or contingencies. These are logistics-based where all the necessary materiel and other resources will be reserved for such unprecedented events like hostile situations or sudden attack or military action by the hostiles (Headquarters, 2012). Its distribution, transportation and operational strategies will be made separately to devise sustainment. These kind of Department of Defense programs are usually land and sea based (Transportation Resources, 2017). If these programs wouldn’t be in place, the force will suffer in times of desperation. It’s imperative that the force has all the necessary preparations to deploy the army without disruptions and interruptions due to these resources. It’s our core duty to make sure we extend and retain the combat power through our operational capabilities.
The distribution of logistics is not the only important aspect for army sustainment, their beliefs, moral and ethical values, their motivation and inspiration towards their duty, legal services, religious services etc. is all very important in sustaining an army. We are supposed to provide them with the services that help them prolong their internal strength and strong-headedness which will drive them towards success and increase their capacity for endurance. Since it will improve their standard of living and their way of thinking, the whole organization will flourish because of the positive vibes and energy. Low morale, less energy and negative beliefs cause the depletion of strength and endurance thus reducing the quality of the entire force, we need to make sure with the effective provision of operations and logistics of the war fighting materiel, internal satisfaction also go hand in hand bringing about the sustenance that is required within the force. We should make sure as Sergeant major who advises the commander and has duties towards the forces, these personnel services are aligned with the goals and mission to ensure consistency in the actions and well-directed energy. Secondly, we should be timely in our actions. We’re supposed to ensure that the decision makers have the timely, accurate and precise financial and other information so they can make informed decisions, showcasing good stewardship (Headquarters, 2012). Consistency is the key to ensure that throughout all the levels, consistent guidance and support is given to boost army morale, which again comes under sustaining their abilities.
Heath service support is important as the force needs to be healthier physically to increase their strength and use the joint logistics efficiently. This will improve the quality of their life, giving the organization with the manpower that is fully fit and taken care of. It includes all kinds of medical services like casualty care, hospitalization, clinical labs and other treatments which serve to preserve, stimulate and improve the physical and mental well-being. Proper AHS (Army Health System) in place is very important to deliver the right services efficiently. We should ensure the services have mobility since the patients would require to be transported or shifted, and flexibility to treat and be responsive of the stages and movements while continuity is also very important to ensure that the patient is moving towards a progressive pathway of treatment (Headquarters, 2012).
There are some key principles of sustainment that are followed by us. It is very important that we integrate the operations with the sustainment of the army through connecting and coordinating all the fundamentals of sustainment to ensure uniformity of actions at all levels. If there won’t be integration, different levels of planning and processes of each element will overlap or collapse because of failing to connect it with each other. It is also very important that we correctly anticipate what will be the future requirements of the resources to plan the sustainment accordingly. If the anticipation is not done properly, the sustainment won’t work since there would be hassle in coordinating with the operations at the time of immediate response. So, it is important that we understand the future prospects and devise sustainment to equip the army at the right time with the right resources. It’s also imperative that the sustainment is simpler and not complicated while being highly responsive of the sudden changes and army combats. We should make the sustainment survivable to strengthen the army in times of hostile situations, not leaving their grounds. Also, we should keep some room for improvising through contingency planning and adaptable strategies due to uncertain circumstances arising out of our knowledge capacity.
All the elements of sustainment requires precise planning, understanding, integrating and providing the resources through accurate allocation and distribution. As a sergeant major it comes under my duty to not just advice, but overlook operations, keep the personnel satisfied and motivated while assisting in critical events. Since sustainment is the procedure that joins with the operations at all levels, it is important that as a SCM, I ensure that the force is not limited due to operational incapability for which each level is well-integrated and fully equipped within its capacity to deal with the future, fulfilling the mission of the organization.
References
(2014). In Army Theater Distribution. Washington DC: Headquarters Department of the Army.
Headquarters. (2012). Fundamentals of Sustainment. In Sustainment. Washington DC: Army Doctrine Reference Publication.
Transportation Resources. (2017). In The Defense Transportation System (pp. 14-18).