CPT Kent S. Marquardt
On 31 Aug 95, the 142d Corps Support Battalion (CSB) deployed to Alexandria, Republic of Cortina, to establish and operate an intermediate staging base (ISB) in support of Task Force 1/6 Infantry Division (Light) at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, LA. As a part of Joint Task Force Cortina and the 21st Infantry Division (Light), Task Force 1/6 had the mission of defeating enemy forces in Cortina, protecting US interests and demonstrating support for the Cortinian government’s internal defense and development. The 142d CSB operated the ISB for the Alaskan task force from 31 August to 12 September and assisted with getting soldiers used to the climate, with preparations for combat, and with deployment into the combat area of operations by providing life support, supply and services, fuel, maintenance, transportation and medical support.
Because force projection is a main focus of today’s military operations, a key aspect of force projection logistics is ISB operations. This is especially true for the Army’s special operations, light, airborne and air assault forces. An ISB is necessary to accept strategic airlift and debarking forces and equipment within tactical striking distance of the combat area and to assist these forces with preparation for combat operations. Other ISB missions may include holding these forces or accepting them back until the proper time for insertion, transloading these forces to tactical airlift assets or moving these forces by ground into the combat operations area.
After the insertion of combat forces, an ISB can be used as a jumping-off point for follow-on forces, as a supply base or as a place to transload supplies for delivery forward by Containerized Delivery System, combat offload, slingload or ground transport. Proper operation of an ISB should be a critical Mission Essential Task List (METL) task for most CSBs, especially CSBs targeted to support light units. Depending upon the size of the striking force, whether a battalion, brigade, division or corps, almost any CSB could be task-organized and assigned the mission of running an ISB. Therefore, it is important that CSBs recognize and train the tasks required with ISB operations.
The operation of the Alexandria ISB at the JRTC enables CSBs, in support of brigade-sized task forces, to train today’s logistics requirements with realistic demands and distances. The most important part of the ISB’s mission for a CSB is to relieve the combat commander of most life support and logistics tasks while in the ISB. This enables the commander, his staff and soldiers to focus fully on the upcoming combat operation. Essential to this key element of the ISB’s mission are several CSB METL tasks: Alert/Marshal/Deploy, Establish CSB Area of Operations, Relocate CSB, Plan Logistics Operations, and Provide Logistics Support (not in the CSB’s Mission Training Plan).
The JRTC ISB’s operations offer unique opportunities to CSBs that are not often available, except in real-world contingency operations. The scenario, the role players and the support mission at the JRTC’s ISB are all as realistic as Army missions today.
The 142d CSB’s training objectives for JRTC Rotation 95-10 included the following:
- Perform combat service support planning.
- Alert/marshal/deploy.
- Provide ISB life support functions enabling the task force to concentrate on combat operations.
- Provide shower, laundry, clothing renovation.
- Provide limited maintenance support (maintenance support team) (direct support backup).
- Provide transportation support at the ISB, backup support to the main support battalion (MSB) (exercise support group).
- Work with a CSG (917th CSG, US Army Reserve).
- Validate the battalion tactical standing operating procedure.
- Provide transportation support to the task force, in the form of a light truck platoon attached to the forward support battalion (FSB).
- Task-organize in accordance with support mission requirements.
NOTE: For task organization, several Reserve Component units are listed by the US Army Forces Command with each JRTC rotation. The author indicated these units in each of his diagrams.
The weather was a significant factor for the Arctic Light Task Force because of the extremely hot weather at Fort Polk. Temperatures were in the high 90s, with 90 per cent humidity and evening rain showers (not the usual weather for the soldiers from Alaska). The task force deployed earlier than usual (about D-8) to conduct acclimation operations at nearby training areas.
The threat to the ISB was limited to Level I, but the only play was a car bomb at the front gate. Roving security around the perimeter of the Warrior Compound was sufficient to deter any threat from outside.
In brief, the 142d CSB’s mission: deploy from the tactical assembly area, NET 310800S(LOCAL) AUG 95, attach to the 917th CSB, establish operations at the ISB, Alexandria, Republic of Cortina, no later than 311200S(LOCAL) AUG 95, to provide logistics support to Task Force 1/6 Infantry Division (Arctic Light) on an area basis. On order, relocate from ISB to corps support areas (CSAs) and establish base cluster operations. Be prepared to defend against Level I Threat while continuing to support the task force.
The operation was divided into five phases:
Phase I - Alert/marshal/deploy to the ISB.
Phase II - Establish the ISB.
Phase III - Provide logistics support at the ISB and backup to the light task force (917th CSG (-))
Phase IV - Relocate to CSA.
Phase V - Redeploy/reconstitute.
NOTE: For the rest of this article, the author will focus on Phases II and III in the form of an after action review with lessons learned by the 142d CSB at the JRTC.
The 142d CSB deployed to Alexandria, Republic of Cortina, established and operated the ISB. Due to the battalion commander’s departure on emergency leave, the battalion executive officer’s appointment as rear detachment officer in charge and the support operations officer on leave until after the exercise, I was the acting battalion commander for the operation. Our headquarters element provided command and control of attached units, established a liaison with the supported unit (Task Force 1/6), tracked the enemy/operational situation, and provided commodity management within the ISB and for backup support to the 917th Logistics Task Force at North Fort Polk. The support battalion assigned a liaison officer (LNO) to the task force headquarters. The LNO proved invaluable by staying abreast of late-breaking requirements. An aggressive captain armed with a PRC-127 radio and stationed in the task force headquarters was very effective in ensuring that crises were averted and the task force’s desires were quickly fulfilled.
The 142d CSB operated a field feeding site for hot meals two times a day, serving more than 27,000 hot meals in eight days. The operation required 26 cooks, 20 soldiers assigned to food service duty (provided by the task force), 6 Mobile Kitchen Trailers (MKTs) and 4 Kitchens, Company-Level Field Feeding (KCLFFs) to provide a ration cycle of T-M-T (T-Rations; Meals, Ready to Eat; T-Rations).
The ration cycle drawn from Fort Polk’s Troop Support Subsistence Activity was 2-4-1-2-2-3. The four-day cycle draw for Labor Day weekend was a big challenge because that draw required four stake and platform trailers and two 6,000-pound variable reach forklifts to upload/download for 24 hours. This was significant because of a shortage of operators and no preparation to conduct 24-hour materials handling equipment support. Also, the food service sergeant was able to respond to the task force’s request for continuous availability of beverages, soup and sandwiches because of ongoing training at Camps Livingston and Beauregard.
For recreation, the task force had a big screen television in a corner of the dining tent. This television showed nightly movies and opening season football games. Soldiers were provided popcorn and other snacks to make their stay at the ISB as comfortable as possible. We coordinated for a post exchange van onsite to provide limited Class VI (personal demand items) support. Because temperatures were extremely hot for the soldiers from Alaska, we provided generous amounts of cold drinking water from four water trailers filled with ice. Also, a flavored beverage was prepared and on hand at the dining facility to keep the soldiers hydrated 24 hours a day.
Class II (general supplies) support was minimal. The 142d CSB provided emergency hazardous waste spill kits. Other Class II support was management of the hand receipt of more than 3,000 cots to subordinate units in the task force. Significant challenges were hand receipts, accountability and damages, especially when trying to turn in cots during a deployment sequence. Units began to turn in cots on D-1, with intense management by the task force’s command sergeant major and the 142d CSB’s S4. All equipment was accounted for. This was only the second time a JRTC task force reported zero cost in damages and full accountability, primarily because of these factors:
- The commitment of the task force’s chain of command, beginning with the task force commander, to 100 percent accountability.
- An echeloned plan, organized by the task force’s command sergeant major, where units turned in all equipment issued by the ISB before reporting to the ready line for deployment.
- A dedicated supply element from our unit that maintained excellent relations with our Cortinian hosts.
- A rear detachment element from the task force that ensured all hand receipts were cleared. This element did not deploy out of the ISB until after D+2.
Vehicles Must Convoy
Retail Class III (petroleum, oils and lubricants) support for ground vehicles and food service (M2 burners) included diesel fuel (DF2) and motor gasoline (MOGAS). Since the task force draws prepositioned vehicles from North Fort Polk and brings equipment by rail from home station to Fort Polk, vehicles must convoy from Fort Polk to occupy the ISB and administratively move 50 miles to the ISB. Therefore, there is a requirement for the ISB to top off the vehicles again before deploying into combat. This left us with the dilemma of topping off more than 700 vehicles with three tank and pump units (TPUs) as our only retail fuel capability. We put together a fuel support team headed by a sergeant first class with the military occupational specialty 77F (Petroleum Supply Specialist). His team conducted 24-hour fueling operations for 3 straight days. The 917th CSG provided bulk refueling of the TPUs with 5,000-gallon tankers.
Soldiers appreciated our 229th Field Service Company for the more than 15,000 showers and the 24,000 pieces of clothing washed. Their effort greatly improved the morale of the hot, sweaty soldiers preparing for combat operations.
The 546th Maintenance Company (Nondivisional, Direct Support) stationed a contact team at the ISB that provided everything from emergency backup maintenance and forklift support to repair of more than 60 assault packs for the 4/9 Infantry Battalion’s air assault operation. The service and recovery section completed several recovery missions along the main supply route (MSR).
The 603d Transportation Company (Light/Medium) provided transportation support throughout the exercise for more than 7,000 soldiers and repeatedly responded to unforeseen requirements. From hauling soldiers and equipment to providing transportation support in the combat area as a part of the task force, the company was able to train on most of its METL tasks. The 603d Transportation Company completed more than 100 truck missions with more than 18,000 accident-free miles.
Several other units were attached to the 142d CSB during the operations of the ISB. The 139th Medical Detachment (US Army Reserve) and the 565th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) provided medical support for the task force while in the ISB by operating an aid station. They treated more than 200 soldiers for various ailments, and the ambulances evacuated several personnel. The 1860th Medical Detachment (Combat Stress) (US Army Reserve) provided mental health support to the task force. This unit coordinated with the task force surgeon, counseled more than 20 soldiers and taught task force leaders how to recognize and deal with combat stress and battle fatigue. The 423d Military Police Company (US Army Reserve) provided a platoon under operational control of the task force to assist in security of the main entrance to the ISB and to establish traffic control points along the MSR for the tactical road movement. The Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group was also under operational control of the task force and assisted the task force in its joint inspection with the US Air Force. After the joint inspection, the task force inserted 27 sorties (each sortie representing one C-130 aircraft load) into the forward landing zone (dirt airstrip) by C-130 aircraft. The remainder of the task force deployed into the combat zone by tactical ground convoy.
Although this was the sixth rotation in the last two years for elements of the 142d CSB, it was by far the most realistic and productive. Most of the unit’s go-to-war METL tasks were exercised. Operating as a rear CSB, it is very likely that the battalion would have to operate an ISB as part of a combat contingency. The 142d CSB’s 95-10 rotation at the JRTC validates that the battalion is ready to conduct this important combat support mission.
CPT Kent S. Marquardt was acting Battalion Commander of the 142d Corps Support Battalion during support of Task Force 1/6 Infantry Division (Light) for Rotation 95-10 at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, Louisiana. Formerly the Logistics Operations Officer for the Operations Group, JRTC, he is currently the S4 for the Warrior Brigade, JRTC and Fort Polk.