Chapter 1
Force Provider Overview
SECTION I - INTRODUCTION TO THE FORCE PROVIDER CONCEPT
FORCE PROVIDER AND THE QM FORCE PROVIDER COMPANY
1-1. The Force Provider system represents the Army's premier life support base camp. The concept was born in 1991 as a result of the challenging living conditions experienced by our Soldiers during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. The Army therefore developed Force Provider, a containerized and highly deployable "tent city". Force Provider system modules consist of military and commercial equipment which produce climate-controlled billeting, quality food preparation and dining facilities, hygiene services, and morale, welfare and recreation facilities sufficient to support 55O tenant soldiers and the system operators. This field manual describes the system and the Quartermaster (QM) unit that operates it. The Force Provider QM Company (TOE 4242OLOOO) and the Force Provider module itself are separate entities which are linked up in the theater of operations or another specifically designated area. The QM Force Provider Company's organic assets can transport its unit personnel, maintain organic equipment, defend against a Level I threat, and maintain communications. The Force Provider modules are not currently organic to the QM Force Provider Company and until requisitioned, are maintained as part of the Army Materiel Command (AMC) owned Army pre-positioned stocks (APS). Using units request Force Provider support through command channels via memorandum to the Department of the Army staff. Future plans call for each Force Provider company to maintain one module on hand at the unit at all times for training purposes.
FORCE PROVIDER MISSIONS
1-2. Force Provider missions were originally designed to complement theater reception bases, intermediate staging bases (ISB), rest and refit, redeployment and base camps for stability operations such as humanitarian aid and disaster relief, peace keeping/enforcement, or other designated locations in support of an operation. The system is currently being deployed with forward operating bases (FOBs) and may also provide support to Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) contingency support teams and deployable distribution depot (DDX) teams. Force Provider was developed to improve the Soldier's combat readiness. It provides the front-line Soldier a brief rest from combat. The system enhances the areas of health, welfare, and morale of Soldiers. It provides feeding, showering, and laundry support. It also provides areas for sleep, rest, and relaxation. Also, Force Provider can be used with theater reception and staging bases when deployed to an underdeveloped or war-ravaged theater. It can also be used as a rest stop or base for staging Soldiers and vehicles passing through as they deploy or redeploy. Besides its military missions, the QM Force Provider Company and the Force Provider module may also be employed to support humanitarian aid and disaster relief, as well as noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO).
QM FORCE PROVIDER COMPANY EMPLOYMENT
1-3. The QM Force Provider Company may be employed to meet any of the missions stated above. When used for its primary mission, the company will normally be organized in accordance with its current TOE. The unit will be issued Force Provider modules from APS and normally assigned to an appropriate element of the Army service component command's (ASCC) theater sustainment command (TSC). In some instances, Force Provider modules, platoons or companies may be assigned to a joint task force (JTF), a sustainment brigade, a combat sustainment support battalion (CSSB), or for very limited operations the system may be assigned to a brigade support battalion (BSB).
1-4. QM Force Provider elements may be employed on an area basis, serving Soldiers in a geographical area; or may be employed in support of a brigade-sized unit. In any case, Force Provider will remain under the control of the major command to which it is assigned. Depending on mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available and civil considerations (METT-TC), a Force Provider module could be located as far forward as the brigade support battalion area. Theater command structure and the Force Provider mission for each deployment will determine exact assignment.
FORCE PROVIDER OPERATORS
1-5. Three scenarios under which the QM Force Provider Company may be manned and operated are:
• All Military. An all-military active Army or Reserve Component Force Provider manned company may operate the module, or modules, depending on the number in use for the operation.
• Combination of Military and Nonmilitary. The modules may be operated by any combination of military personnel and contractors (Logistics Civil Augmentation Program/LOGCAP contractors, for example), Department of Defense civilians or contractors, host nation support personnel and/or third country nationals. Contracted personnel will be supervised by the military command structure. The commander and the contracting officer's representative (COR) will work closely with the contractor to ensure that all items listed in the contract performance work statement (PWS) are fulfilled. A translator or interpreter may be required for this type of scenario. The contract may allow civilian augmentees to reside within and receive subsistence from the Force Provider support operations in use.
• All Contractor Personnel. Modules may be operated entirely by contractors independent of military command and control. The contractor will operate the Force Provider modules under the general control of the applicable army service component command (ASCC). All TOE equipment, with the exception of weapons, will be required for normal operation. If not supplied by the contractor, additional items must be provided as government-furnished equipment (GFE). The contractor must accept complete accountability for all GFE and perform operator and unit level maintenance IAW appropriate technical manuals (TMs). The contractor will require the same dependencies as a military unit, unless otherwise specified in the PWS, and defense against Level I threats will require augmentation.
AVAILABILITY OF FORCE PROVIDER MODULES
1-6. All Force Provider modules are available to support contingencies throughout the world. They are completely containerized or trailer mounted to facilitate movement by any combination of land, air, and sea transportation modes. Modules are maintained as Army pre-positioned stocks, and are stored in depots or aboard ships.
1-7. AMC maintains storage responsibility of the Force Provider modules. Requests for Force Provider modules follow command channels to HQDA. Once a module has been approved for deployment by HQDA, AMC arranges transportation for the module and maintains ownership until it is hand receipted to the Force Provider company commander or supervisory contractor at the approved operating site. The commander or supervisory contractor is then responsible for the module and is accountable for all of its equipment. System setup is accomplished by Force Provider company and/or contractor personnel depending on availability in theater.
SECTION II - CAPABILITIES, LIMITATIONS, AND DEPENDENCIES
CAPABILITIES
1-8. A QM Force Provider Company is capable of operating one to six independent Force Provider modules. Each module supports 550 Soldiers/customers, plus the company's operator staff. When six
Force Provider Overview
modules are employed with a QM Force Provider Company, it is capable of supporting a brigade size force of 3,300 Soldiers/customers plus the required operator staff. The basis of allocation is one Force Provider Company per 3,300 Soldiers, roughly equivalent to a combat brigade element. The modules within a company may be joined together or deployed near each other. However, the operation of each module will typically remain distinct. METT-TC will determine the number of Soldiers to be supported. Future plans call for the ability of the system to adapt to support independent 150 man support modules and to be packaged as such.
Support capabilities of a single 550-man module are:
• Climate-controlled billeting for 550 tenant personnel and 44 billets for Force Provider operators.
• Sanitary climate-controlled showers sufficient for one 10-minute shower per person/per day.
• Four sanitary, climate-controlled latrines with four urinals and 24 toilets.
• Food service, to include three cook-prepared meals daily (1,650 cook-prepared meals per day).
• Laundry services capable of laundering 200 pounds/per hour.
• MWR and administrative support facilities and equipment.
Lessons learned from current operations are leading to the development and production of 600-man modules (early model production is underway as of publication time for this manual). All new production and future reset modules will be packaged in 150-person support increments which will enable each increment to operate independently and to be deployed on a single C-17 aircraft. Specific characteristics of this enhanced capability include:
• Improved modularity and scale-ability to support any Joint land operation, large or small.
• Improved adaptability to support small forward operating bases for combat operations.
• Improved deployability through the increased use of triple container (TRICON) packaging.
• Reduced operational manpower and transportation requirements.
• Reduced set-up time (four hours with eight trained personnel and materiel handling equipment for one 150-person support increment) and tear-down time requirements.
• Improved billeting/shelters through the use of state-of-the-art air-beam support tents.
• Improved field feeding, hygiene and laundry sub-systems.
• Improved reliability of Environmental Control Units (ECU).
• Improved environmental stewardship through the adoption of water re-use technology.
LIMITATIONS
1-9. Employment of the Force Provider system demands a well thought-out, deliberate effort. While the system offers attractive amenities for the deployed Soldier, the following limitations of the module and QM Force Provider Company should be considered:
• Size. A single Force Provider module requires approximately 8-10 acres of land space and extensive site preparation. The packaged module is comprised of triple containers (TRICONs), 20-foot international organization for standardization (ISO) containers, skid-mounted generators, and other assorted self-storing items. Set-up time for each module is 10 to 12 days and requires 50 personnel.
• Mobility. Although not originally designed for redeployment within theater, future plans call for that capability to exist. Re-fit/rebuild operations are normally conducted in CONUS, or in some cases, at in-theater facilities.
• Defensibility. The QM Force Provider Company is able to defend itself against a Level I threat.
• Cost. The cost of the Force Provider system employed with Active and/or Reserve Components is based on the current per diem rate per Soldier/per day. This includes food, billeting, field services, supplies, and maintenance for module components. If used with the cold weather kit, the figure increases. The cost is subject to change as cost-saving improvements and modifications are made to the module. Refurbishment costs are normally dependent on length of deployment and the prevailing environmental conditions of the employment site.
DEPENDENCIES
1-10. Transportation. The Force Provider system is heavily dependent on strategic transportation assets for movement from the pre-positioned location to the area of operations. The QM Force Provider Company does not own the module, nor does it have the organic equipment required to transport it, but once on site, most of the system equipment and containers may be off-loaded using materiel handling equipment (MHE) that is organic to the company.
1-11. Real Estate Acquisition. The area of operations real estate staff must acquire the necessary land area required for Force Provider operations. The real estate contact may be from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), a real estate specialist from the contingency real estate support team (CREST), the ASCC engineer staff, or naval facility (NAVFAC) real estate personnel. The site may be acquired either through host nation support or via lease. In some cases, real estate acquisition may determine the site selection. Each system requires 8 to 10 acres for set up. This does not include areas for parking, remote fuel sites and additional MWR open spaces. In a favorable location, approximately 48 hours is required to prepare the site before setup can begin. Seventy-two hours should be allowed to prepare a site in a fair location (uneven terrain, excess brush/trees, partially stable soil, poor drainage). For a poor location (rough/hilly terrain, dense vegetation, unstable soil and poor drainage), approximately 96 hours should be allowed to prepare the site.
1-12. Engineering Assets. Appropriate engineering units will be required for site survey, layout, and site preparation. Once Force Provider is set up, engineering support will be required for real property maintenance activities (RPMA), which may include prime power, utilities maintenance, firefighting and dust abatement services. Actions of this nature should be coordinated with the TSC or ASCC. Disposal of solid waste, including medical and food waste, must be arranged. This may be accomplished through incineration or haul-away mode via military or contracted assets. A Force Provider module may generate
20,000 gallons of gray water and 3,000 gallons of black water per day. Solid waste disposal must be coordinated IAW the civil engineering support plan (CESP), or the ASCC operations plan (OPLAN).
1-13. Supply and Maintenance Support. Support for Force Provider above unit level will be required from a QM Support Company to provide Classes I, II, III, IV, VI, VII and IX supply support. The unit depends on local Quartermaster water production/purification units for potable water supply (approximately 25,000-gallons/day) if commercial sources are not available. A Modular Ammunition Ordnance Company provides Class V support and a Support Maintenance Company provides maintenance support.
1-14. Army Health System (AHS) Support. The unit depends on local medical units for Role 1 and 2 AHS and veterinary support.
1-15. Chaplain Support. The unit depends on a local unit ministry team for religious support.
1-16. Unit Defense. The unit depends on theater assets for defense against Level II/III threat.
1-17. MWR Support. MWR operations must be provided by personnel provided by the Community and Family Support Center (CFSC) or from the pool of volunteer MWR specialists.
1-18. AAFES Support. AAFES operations require external coordination and could include military clothing sales, food court, barber shop and other forms of support depending on availability in the area of operations.