Combat Service Support Guide

Following three successful editions, the fourth edition of this book provides concise, updated guidance and procedures for providing logistical support to a deployed army on 21st-century battlefields.

Since 2004, the US Army has started a revolution of reorganization and doctrine development throughout its Combat, Combat Support and especially Combat Service Support “logistics” organizations, known as “Transformation.” In the logistics or “Sustainment” arena, the Army’s concept towards supporting other units has changed from the old “out-stockpile” the enemy concept towards a system used by modern civilian distributors – “Just-In-Time” sustainment, leaving planning and synchronizing throughput of commodities and support to the customer with little margin of error. To successfully accomplish this, Sustainment planners must thoroughly understand the Military Decision Making Process or “MDMP” for short. Conducting a Sustainment oriented MDMP is essential in integrating the Sustainment War Fighting Functional Area into the unit’s plan and for ensuring a synchronized and supportable course of action. Successful integration is a result of having the right personnel, available tools, correct MDMP methodology, and synchronized timeline throughout the process. If this guide can assist logistics’ planners in accomplishing this process, then it has accomplished its intent and mission.

Comprehensive reference for military forces and other agencies Peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, nation assistance, civil agency support The first book to cover on-the-ground functions, such as working with international and interagency task forces; methods of coordination; rules of engagement; checkpoints; civilian population and movement control; evacuating noncombatants; distributing humanitarian aid; operating dislocated civilian camps; providing medical care; conducting cordons and searches; disarming belligerents; confiscating hostile weapons and equipment; conducting negotiations; exchanging prisoners; interacting with the media; and dozens of other military and civil support type operations.