3-11. Concerned with maximizing the effectiveness of distribution-based logistics operations, the ESC
commander/deputy TSC commander has the authority and control necessary to effectively employ TSC
resources while synchronizing the execution of TSC plans and directives with ARFOR/JTF operational requirements. For example, the ESC commander/deputy TSC commander may organize and employ forces, assign tasks, designate objectives, and provide authoritative direction necessary to accomplish the mission.
3-12. The TSC commander employs either detailed or mission command, or a combination of the two C2
methods, depending on the complexity of the action or task to be performed and other METT-TC
considerations. Mission command provides subordinate commanders with the greatest degree of flexibility to exploit opportunities and respond to threats by exercising disciplined initiative within TSC commander intent to accomplish the mission. Conversely, detailed command centralizes information and decision-making authority.
Plans and orders are detailed and explicit, and successful execution depends on strict obedience by subordinates, with minimal decision-making and initiative on their part. Because of these disadvantages, mission command is preferred in almost all cases. See FM 6-0 for more information on detailed and mission command.
3-13. Essential to the seamless flow of supplies, materiel, and personnel throughout the theater is the parallel and collaborative planning that occurs between the TSC and ESC. Parallel and collaborative planning promotes situational understanding, enables unity of effort, and is essential for the successful execution of mission command. TSC plans officers work within several different planning horizons simultaneously – from a theater-wide perspective; anticipating requirements before they occur rather than responding to events as they unfold.
Mission orders, that provide the “what” and “why” but leave the “how” for subordinate commanders to develop, provide the basis for ESC planning efforts.
3-14. The ESC may also engage in parallel planning with its supported ARFOR in its specified AO/JOA. This planning is then coordinated with TSC headquarters planners in order to ensure synchronized support to the maneuver commander.
3-15. This parallel and collaborative planning effort provides ESC plans officers enough time to adequately develop regionally-focused supporting and/or contingency plans for their AO/JOA; and permits the TSC
commander to focus decision making on broader theater-wide issues.
TSC COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM
3-16. The TSC commander executes centralized C2 through a C2 system that enables effective synchronization of the actions of subordinate units located throughout the theater with those of supported forces to achieve unity of effort and accomplish GCC/ASCC objectives.
3-17. The TSC C2 system is comprised of personnel, procedures, information management, and equipment and facilities that are essential to planning, preparing for, executing, and assessing support operations. The TSC
C2 system consisting of the ABCS that includes the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below System (FBCB2) and the Battle Command Sustainment Support System (BCS3); provides commanders and staffs with 12 February 2010
FM 4-94
3-3
Chapter 3
a common operational picture (COP) of the GCC or ASCC operational environment. The means to visualize a COP come from BCS3, in-transit visibility (ITV) data, logistics status reports (LOGSTAT), and the various STAMIS employed by the TSC. A brief description of each element of the TSC C2 system follows.
PERSONNEL
3-18. The most important element of the C2 system is people—Soldiers who assist the commander and exercise control on his behalf. TSC personnel comprising the C2 system include the staff and deputy commander(s). The staff provides relevant information and analysis, makes running estimates and recommendations, prepares plans and orders, and monitors execution. Other C2-system elements exist to serve the personnel and the commander.
3-19. The staff operates the commander’s C2 system; establishing and maintaining a high degree of coordination and cooperation with staffs of higher, lower, supporting, supported, and adjacent units. This relationship is based on mutual respect, developed through a conscientious, determined, and helpful approach focused on solving problems. Anything less undermines the confidence and trust required for mission command at all levels.
PROCEDURES
3-20. The TSC staff develops standardized procedures to govern actions within the C2 system in order to prioritize, direct, redirect, integrate, and coordinate sustainment functions effectively and efficiently. The use of standardized procedures and reporting processes reduces decision action cycle time; and enables the efficient use of constrained resources in support of rapidly changing operational requirements.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
3-21. Information management is the process of providing relevant information to the right person at the right time in a usable form to facilitate situational understanding and decision making. It uses procedures and information systems to collect, process, store, display, and disseminate information. It consists of relevant information and information systems. The computers (hardware and software) and communications directly involved in C2 constitute the information system.
EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
3-22. The equipment and facilities element of the TSC C2 system provides sustainment and a work environment for the other elements of the C2 system. Equipment and facilities include all C2-support equipment other than information systems. They must meet Soldiers’ physiological needs—shelter, rest, sanitation, food, and water.
ARMY BATTLE COMMAND SYSTEM (ABCS)
3-23. The ABCS integrates Army warfighting functions to link strategic, operational, and tactical headquarters. It provides commanders and staffs at theater and below a COP through improved situational awareness and battlefield digitization.
3-24. The ABCS is comprised of the following subsystems: Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, Air and Missile Defense Planning and Control System, Battle Command Sustainment Support System, Combat Terrain Information System, Distributed Common Ground System–Army, Command Post of the Future, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below System, Joint Network Node, Maneuver Control System, and the Tactical Airspace Integration System.
3-25. Of the ABCS subsystems identified above, the TSC relies upon the Battle Command Sustainment Support System (BCS3), Command Post of the Future (CPOF), Distributed Common Ground System–Army (DCGS-A), and Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) to synchronize and integrate operations throughout the theater in accordance with ASCC priorities and intent. These ABCS subsystems 3-4
FM 4-94
12 February 2010
Command, Control, Automation and Communications
provide the TSC commander and staff with the primary means to maintain situational awareness through a COP. A description of TSC ABCS subsystems is provided below.
BATTLE COMMAND SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT SYSTEM
3-26. BCS3 is the Army’s logistics C2 system—the fusion center, from theater to brigade. As the sustainment element of ABCS, it is a windows-based, lightweight, portable system that is highly platform independent.
BCS3 provides battle command services including commodity tracking, convoy operations and tracking, and management of reception, staging, onward movement, and integration (RSOI). BCS3 also provides a sustainment COP.
3-27. BCS3 aligns sustainment, in-transit, and force data to provide actionable information that aids the commander in making critical decisions. BCS3 also gives logisticians and other personnel access to the latest available information on a map-centric view with logistics common data, in-transit visibility alert features, and input to combat power computations.
3-28. BCS3 enables commanders and logisticians to plan, rehearse, integrate, and sustain missions utilizing the same system. The following is a list of current BCS3 functional capabilities:
• Operates on classified as well as unclassified networks.
• Provides near-real time maneuver sustainment C2 on a map-based display.
• Provides flexible situational assessment products in response to queries from sustainment brigades and combat sustainment support battalions which are made available via secret internet protocol router network (SIPRNET).
• Provides reports and input forms for units, supply points, echelon status, and combat power.
• Enables dynamic unit task organization to reflect changing organizational relationships and full color mapping.
• Provides RSOI visibility and status.
• Accommodates electronic messaging and data exchange with ABCS.
• Provides access to critical items roster and command selected items roster (unit-selected items flagged for monitoring).
• Enables distribution management.
• Provides combat power data to maneuver control system.
COMMAND POST OF THE FUTURE
3-29. First introduced as a transformational technology in support of OIF, CPOF is a software capability hosted on a computer system that currently provides collaboration and visualization for Army division and brigade commanders and staff. The CPOF software provides a collaborative operating environment, voice over internet protocol, a highly intuitive, graphical user interface and enhanced briefing capabilities. CPOF allows commanders from battalion level and higher to feed real-time situational awareness into the system and have that information available in text and graphic representation immediately by fellow commanders and staffs at all levels. Inside the CPOF system network, operators can visualize the commander’s intent and COP as well as manipulate tactical data in a collaborative manner alone or with other operators. The system is a valuable planning and management tool that allows commanders to access real-time situational intelligence. It eliminates the need for a physical tactical operations center (TOC) by providing a rich enough virtual TOC through collaboration in a distributed operating environment.
3-30. CPOF provides new capabilities for improving decision making by operational commanders by providing dynamic tailored visualization and collaboration tools for improved situation awareness and course-of-action (COA) development and dissemination. CPOF also enables a new concept for future command 12 February 2010
FM 4-94
3-5
Chapter 3
environments, namely, the elimination of the fixed command post that will be replaced by battle command on the move.
DISTRIBUTED COMMON GROUND SYSTEM–ARMY
3-31. DCGS-A is a single integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) ground processing system that serves as the primary Army system for tasking, processing, correlating, exploiting, and disseminating ISR assets and information. DCGS-A provides operational commanders with access to data, information, and intelligence collected by national, joint, other Services, multinational, and Army intelligence as well as non-intelligence sensors and systems.
3-32. DCGS-A facilitates the development of situational understanding by allowing operational commanders to visualize, analyze, and understand the threat and other conditions of their operational environment, predict threat intentions, execute targeting, conduct ISR integration, and support information operations.
FORCE XXI BATTLE COMMAND, BRIGADE-AND-BELOW
3-33. FBCB2 provides situational awareness and C2 from brigade to Soldier/platform level. Functional capabilities include:
• Real-time situational awareness.
• Shared COP of the specific operational environment.
• Graphical displays, with friendly and enemy unit locations.
• Communications/electronics interfaces with host platforms.
SECTION II: STAMIS AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS
ARMY HUMAN RESOURCE WORKSTATION
3-34. The Army Human Resource Workstation (AHRW) is a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) laptop which, when linked to the global information grid (GIG)/non-secure internet protocol router network (NIPRNET), provides an automation capability that supports Army human resource functions across the theater. AHRW
provides commanders at each echelon with visibility of personnel accounting and strength reporting/personnel readiness management/personnel information management (PASR/PRM/PIM) data. This visibility is vital for determining unit readiness and planning future operations.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TACTICAL PLATFORM
3-35. The Financial Management Tactical Platform (FMTP) is a deployable, modular local area network configured hardware platform that supports finance and resource management (RM) operations and functions across the spectrum of conflict. FMTP functionality includes vendor services, disbursing, accounting, travel, and RM software packages. FMTP improves internal control, reducing loss of funds and accountability risk, and complies with congressional/Department of Defense (DOD) mandated financial management reporting requirements.
MEDICAL COMMUNICATION FOR COMBAT CASUALTY CARE
3-36. Medical Communication for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) is the single information management/information technology system for automation and digitization efforts for Army medical forces.
MC4 seamlessly links medical care throughout the theater; streamlining the collection, processing, storage, and transmission of medical information in the theater.
3-37. The MC4 system, using the theater medical information program, will automatically provide commanders medical situational awareness at all echelons within the AO.
3-6
FM 4-94
12 February 2010
Command, Control, Automation and Communications
PROPERTY BOOK UNIT SUPPLY ENHANCED
3-38. Property Book Unit Supply-Enhanced (PBUSE) accomplishes the functions of property accountability required by Army regulations (AR) 710-2 and 735-5 and Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA PAM) 710-2-1. PBUSE processes sensitive but unclassified information in the system’s high-level mode, which uses permission control to manage who has access to what data. The system is accessed through user identifications and passwords; operates over the NIPRNET and internet connections.
3-39. PBUSE processes include formal property accountability (to include sub-hand receipts and component listings); requests for supplies, including an interactive catalog; document register maintenance; unit load management; financial capabilities; and asset visibility.
3-40. PBUSE uses the combat service support automated information system interface (CAISI) to interface with supply support activities, standard Army retail supply system (SARSS), two levels of standard Army maintenance system-enhanced (SAM-E), and the federal logistics record (FEDLOG). PBUSE also provides property book related data to the logistics information warehouse (LIW).
STANDARD ARMY RETAIL SUPPLY SYSTEM
3-41. SARSS provides stock control and supply management to the Army retail level. SARSS also provides supply-related data to the LIW. SARSS supports the accountability, requisition, storage, issue, and management of supply Classes II, III (P), IV, VII, and IX. SARSS supports split-based operations that provide supply management functions to all elements within a sustainment domain. Within the modular force, SARSS is comprised of three subsystems: SARSS-1, SARSS-2AC/B, and SARSS gateway.
3-42. SARSS-1 operates at the brigade support battalion and combat sustainment support battalion (CSSB) levels. SARSS-1 maintains accountable records and performs supply functions such as receipt, storage, and issue of supplies. Major functions executed in SARSS-1 include processing of customer requests for issue, cancellation, or modification; replenishment; excess identification; inventory; and location survey.
3-43. SARSS-2AC/B supports materiel management functions performed by the TSC and can also be found in ESCs and sustainment brigades. SARSS-2AC/B also maintains a custodial availability balance file that is updated by SARSS-1. This function provides the TSC with visibility of assets in all SARSS-1 activities throughout the theater. SARSS-2AC/B processes include management support, financial adjustment, Department of Defense activity address code (DODAAC) parameter maintenance, general system administration, and supports Army war reserves, materiel rebuild programs, and major item acquisitions.
SARSS-2AC/B capabilities also include non time-sensitive functions such as catalog, document history, and demand history.
3-44. SARSS-Gateway provides a near real time mechanism to process unfilled requirements directly to Army wholesale level supply systems.
3-45. SARSS interfaces with several systems for data transfer. It supports the exchange of information using local area networks, modems, wireless CAISI, and very small aperture terminal capabilities.
STANDARD ARMY AMMUNITION SYSTEM-MODERNIZATION
3-46. The Standard Army Ammunition System-Modernization (SAAS-MOD) is an automated logistics information system designed to provide centralized information management to support TSC ammunition management functions throughout the theater. A multi-level automated ammunition management, reporting, and accounting system, SAAS-MOD automates all retail Class V management life-cycle functions.
3-47. SAAS-MOD automates the receiving, storing, and issuing processes at ammunition supply activities located throughout the theater (theater storage areas, ammunition supply points, and ammunition transfer holding points). It also enables the TSC to maintain ITV by incorporating the latest automated information technology to read and write radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID tags provide the means for the ITV system to report munitions movements throughout the intratheater distribution system.
3-48. SAAS-MOD provides the TSC distribution management center with the capability to: 12 February 2010
FM 4-94
3-7
Chapter 3
• Maintain the current status of all ammunition storage sites.
• Requisition from the national inventory control point (NICP).
• Support ad hoc query, including data imported and exported to other systems.
• Maintain and calculate the status of controlled supply rate.
• Recommend redistribution of assets.
• Support quality assurance and stockpile management.
• Forecast future requirements.
3-49. SAAS-MOD interfaces with the following automation systems: commodity command standard system, worldwide ammunition reporting system (WARS), and total ammunition management information system.
TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR’S AUTOMATED
INFORMATION FOR MOVEMENT SYSTEM II
3-50. The Transportation Coordinator’s Automated Information for Movement System II (TC-AIMS II) is a joint automated information system for unit move and installation transportation office and transportation management office functionality. It provides an integrated traffic management capability and supports deployment, redeployment, and sustainment of U.S. forces. The system ultimately will be integrated with unit, installation, and depot-level supply systems to manage inbound and outbound movement, shipment, documentation, and requisition information. TC-AIMS II replaces TC-AIMS, Department of the Army Movement Management System—Redesign, and Transportation Coordinator—Automated Command and Control Information System.
Note. The United States (U.S.) Army is the proponent for TC-AIMS II.
3-51. TC-AIMS II enhances TSC capabilities to effectively and efficiently conduct theater opening operations in a theater of operations by:
• Supporting the joint deployment process for movement related aspects of RSOI and theater movement activities.
• Providing improved theater movement management functionality.
• Improving and expediting unit movement and transportation management actions.
• Providing an initial automated capability for port movement control elements to gain visibility of inbound units and cargo.
• Providing an automated capability for TSC early entry command and control elements to task available assets, and schedule, manage, and track multiple convoy movements.
• Providing additional reporting capability.
3-52. TC-AIMS II provides the TSC with an automated capability to forecast the arrival of personnel and intertheater cargo and containerized shipments, and to maintain visibility of command interest cargo en route to the theater. Thereby enhancing TSC capabilities to maintain the intratheater segment of the distribution system in balance and operating efficiently.
3-53. TC-AIMS II provides TSC distribution managers the capability to coordinate and provide transportation services to shippers, carriers, and receiving activities located throughout the theater. Automated functions include documenting transportation movement requests, tasking mode operators, forecasting, and reporting container and cargo movements throughout the distribution system. Other capabilities include scheduling and deconflicting convoy movements, maintaining unit personnel location manifesting data, and maintaining in-transit cargo and asset movement visibility.
3-8
FM 4-94
12 February 2010
Command, Control, Automation and Communications
3-54. TC-AIMS II provides mode operators an automated capability to receive commitments, conduct mission planning, task available assets, and maintain fleet asset status data.
STANDARD ARMY MAINTENANCE SYSTEM (SAMS)
3-55. There are three versions of SAMS: SAMS-1, SAMS-2, and SAMS-E which will eventually replace SAMS-1, SAMS-2, and ULLS-G. SAMS-1 is an automated maintenance management system used at the support maintenance company and component repair company found in the sustainment brigades and in the BSB’s field maintenance company and FSC. The system automates work order registration and document registers, inventory control and reorder of shop and bench stock, as well as automating work order parts and requisitioning. It produces pre-formatted and ad hoc reports and allows extensive online inquiry.
3-56. SAMS provides the capability for automated processing of field and sustainment maintenance shop production functions, maintenance control work orders, and key supply functions. Requisitions are prepared automatically and an automatic status is received from SARSS-1. It also provides completed work order data to the logistics support activity (LOGSA) for equipment performance and other analyses.
3-57. SAMS-1 automates maintenance documentation and information gathering and transmittal. It also provides the following:
• Management of work orders and work order tasks.
• Allows transfer of repairs and/or due-ins between work orders and shop stock.
• Accounts for direct, indirect, and nonproductive man-hours.
• Simplifies and standardizes collecting and using maintenance data.
3-58. SAMS-1 improves readiness management and visibility by providing equipment status and asset data: raises the quality and accuracy of performance, and lower cost and backlog through improved maintenance management. SAMS-1 uses commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware.
3-59. The SAMS-2 is an automated maintenance management system used at the SPO section of the sustainment brigade, CSSBs, and BSB. Field commanders use SAMS-2 to collect and store equipment performance and maintenance operations data. They use this data to determine operator and maintenance guidance to give to their subordinate maintenance units. SAMS-2 also provides the capability of monitoring equipment non-mission capable status and controlling/coordinating maintenance actions and repair parts utilization to maximize equipment availability. SAMS-2 receives and processes maintenance data to meet information requirements of the manager and to fulfill reporting requirements to customers, higher maintenance and readiness managers, and the wholesale maintenance level. Management can access data instantly to control, coordinate, report, analyze, and review maintenance operations. SAMS-2 also:
• Maintains equipment status by line number and unit within the command.
• Maintains a record of critical repair parts and maintenance problem areas.
• Provides visibility of backlog and planned repair requirements.
• Provides maintenance performance and cost evaluation tools.
3-60. SAM-2 provides maintenance and management information to each level of command from the user to the DA level. SAMS-2 collects, stores, and retrieves maintenance information from SAMS-1 sites and allows managers to coordinate maintenance workloads. SAMS-2 passes key maintenance and supply information to higher commands for maintenance engineering and readiness reporting requirements. SAMS-2 operates on COTS hardware.
3-61. SAMS-Enhanced is the replacement system that combines the functionality of SAMS-2, SAMS-2, and ULLS-G. This gives the FSCs, SPOs, and TSC one common operating system that simplifies automation repair and management.
12 February 2010
FM 4-94
3-9
Chapter 3
SECTION III: STAMIS AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION SYSTEM
ENABLERS
LOGISTICS INFORMATION WAREHOUSE
3-62. LIW consists of data management and business intelligence capabilities resulting from the merger of national and tactical logistics information. By integrating the logistics integrated data base (LIDB) with the integrated logistics analysis program (ILAP) under one organization, the Army’s national and tactical data sources are harmonized to provide:
• One authoritative source of logistics information.
• One accurate view of the Army’s materiel posture.
• Further reductions in unique and duplicative data stores.
3-63. LIW provides a re-engineered single sign-on web access to the existing capabilities of LIDB, ILAP, and a host of logistics support activity (LOGSA)/Army logistics tools. A query and reports capability provides commanders and managers a search capability for data maintained in the LIW. Data mining is accomplished by using search criteria such as national item identification number (NIIN), line item number, DODAAC, unit identification code, or serial/registration number.
3-64. A valid LIW account is required to access LIW databases. If you do not have an account, one can be requested by completing a system access request. The system access request may be found at: https://www.logsa.army.mil.
3-65. LIW provides TSC materiel managers, other logisticians, and commanders with an authoritative source for decision support and analysis. For example, TSC materiel managers use LIW and other LOGSA databases as their primary source of maintenance and readiness management data essential to sustainment. A brief description of selected LIW capabilities follows.
SUPPLY
3-66. The supply module provides TSC materiel managers with the capability to view asset quantities and locations for all items in the Army inventory. Search by NIIN for asset balance file assets, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) asset manager position, and non-major asset storage locations. DLA asset visibility allows materiel managers to input a NIIN to gain visibility of the DLA item manager’s asset position. The query respon