Symbols for ABN/AA

Reference: FMI 3-90.6 p. xxi, top paragraph: “Today’s varying types of divisional and non-divisional BCTs will be reduced to three variants. . . Selected infantry BCTs will be organized along the standard design, but retain the ability to conduct forced entry operations by vertical envelopment (air assault and airborne).”
Question: Is there a different symbol for “selected BCTs with ABN or AA capability”?
CAC says: Old symbols still applicable in this case.

Patient Holding Capability

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 3-2, Figure 3-1
Issue: The BSMC icon doesn’t show the patient holding capability “tick marks”
Question: Should the icon have the “tick marks”?
Yes, it should.

Supply Line

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 3-2, Figure 3-1
Issue: The HHC icon has the “supply line” above SPT
Question: Should the “supply line” be below SPT? FM 1-02 doesn’t show this type of map symbol.

This symbol should have “HQ” instead of “SPT.” The line isn’t supposed to be there. Forget about it.

Additionally, the order of companies is wrong. It should be HQ, distribution (A), maintenance (B), and medical (C). The designer was biased (he's a retired OD officer). :)

FSB

Reference: 3-90.6, Chapter 10, Page 10-36, line 1375
Issue: “A Finance Battalion typically supports a division, with detachments FSB, ….”
Question: What does the acronym FSB stand for?
Forward Support Battalion, however this was probably a typo since it makes no sense as written. I think they meant to say “with detachments in the FSB providing…” FSB longer applies to logistics units in the BCT. BSB is the proper term. Also, there are no more finance battalions in the modular army.

Air Ambulance and the AXP

Reference: 3-90.6, Chapter 10, Figure 10-8, line 974
Issue: The diagram shows the air ambulance flow going to the BAS and BSMC. It doesn’t show the helicopter going to the AXP. With respect to what normally happens, the diagram is correct. Could the air ambulance go to the AXP? Sure, but that’s not likely.
Reference: 3-90.6, Chapter 10, Page 10-28, line 1035
Issue: The AXP is used to transfer patients from tracked to either wheeled or air ambulances. Incorrect. Flow is typically TRACKED to WHEELED or WHEELED to WHEELED. Exceptions could exist (METT-TC).
Question: Is the diagram incomplete or the text incorrect? What is the farthest distance that the air ambulance will fly forward on the battlefield? The farthest distance (or location) is the BAS. There could be exceptions to this (METT-TC).

Transportation trains?

Reference: FMI 3-90.6, Chapter 10, Figure 10-6, line 914.
Issue: Shows a UEy Transportation Company icon with circles underneath, in the UEy area.
Question: Is this a new way to show a transportation unit? The circles should be removed as well as the flag (shark bite).

Mortuary Affairs

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 6-16, Figure 6-6
Issue: Icons that I can’t find the names for.
Question: What is the BSPCP on the mortuary affairs chart? It is a BDE level organization according to the figure. Also what is the below icon that is in the same chart?

BSPCP is not a term we’re familiar with either. Neither is the icon.

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 6-15, Chapter 6-73
Issue: “At the HBCT theater mortuary evacuation point (TMEP),…”
Question: Does the HBCT really have a TMEP? If this is the case, they why doesn’t the UEx also have a TMEP? According to the White Paper, Chapter 11, Page F54, line 22 the remains are transported to the TMEP in the UEy which is operated by the MA Company.

Theoretically, the HBCT could have a TMEP if the situation requires it. Modular units are not pigeon-holed or necessarily restricted by echelon. However, the following is more likely –

BCT/BSB: When a service member is killed or dies in combat, maneuver forces will evacuate the Remains from the battlefield to the Unit Remains Collection Area (URCA). There is a 92M30 in the BSB.
UEx/UEy: The Remains are then evacuated from the URCA to the Mortuary Affairs Collection Point (MACP). In the sustainment brigade you’ll find a 92A4V and a 92M40. They manage MA assets within UEx AOR. Their functions include: Monitor & Coord Evac Ops From BCT to UEy, Ensure Fatality Reports are Entered / Updated in MARTS, Operations Planning.

The MACP is (usually) operated by a six person team from the MA Company, which is not assigned to the sustainment brigade. From the MACP, Remains are evacuated to the Theater Mortuary Evacuation Point (TMEP). Personnel at the TMEP vary according to the situation. Figure at least a platoon or larger. This may or may not include a personal effects (PE) depot. A MA Decontamination Collection Point (MADCP) may be required depending on the situation.


Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 6-15, Chapter 6-72
Issue: “Remains are transferred to the support platoon (forward MA collection point (MACP)) during CRO operations. “
Question: According to the organizational charts of the FSCs that I’ve seen, the Support Platoon doesn’t exist, so why the reference to it? Following this, the reference is to the FSC Distribution PLT.

See discussion above. Change to read: “Remains are transferred to the mortuary affairs collection point (MACP) during replenishment operations.”

CTCP, CABSA, MBSA

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 3-50, line 2205
Issue: “The CTCP is located within the FSC forward location, one to four kilometers behind the battalion (combat trains).”
Question: If the Combat Trains Command Post is not within the Combat Trains, as the above statement implies, what else is at this location?
(What were we thinking?) See next question.

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 3-50, line 2191
Issue: The FSCs locate … four to twelve km behind their combined arms battalion in the combined arms battalion support area (CABSA).
Question: Is the CABSA [Combined Arms Battalion Support Area] the same thing as the MBSA [Maneuver Battalion Support Area]?
No. Discard MBSA. This was an old idea that somehow escaped the editing process. The doctrine is intended to imply that the FSC HQ and elements not required forward would be co-located in the BSA. However, it does not preclude a CAB from establishing a CABSA with its FSC.

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 3-52, Figure 3-5, Line 2241
Issue: Reference the answer for the above question.
Question: Does an FSC, other than the Combined Arms Forward Support Company, reside in a separate support area or collocate with the BSB?
METT-TC (See above)

FSC Commander

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 3-50, line 2164
Issue: “The FSC commander is the logistic executer at the battalion level ….for the maneuver battalion for supply minus CL VIII, transportation and maintenance.”
Question: If the FSC has a Maintenance Platoon and the above statement is true, what does the FSC commander do with these soldiers? Misstatement: FMTs in the FSC provide maintenance. Move transportation and maintenance in front of minus.

Armament & Electronics Maintenance.

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 3-33, line 1415
Issue: There is no mention of Field Maintenance for armament and electronics maintenance located in the Field Maintenance Company of the BSB.
Question: Where does the BSB go to for Direct Support level maintenance (armament and electronics) on their organic equipment? Open Issue: Capability was intended within the BSB Field Maint Co design; documentation fix in progress.

HET recovery in the BSB

Reference: FMI 3-90.6, Page 10-33, line 1240
Issue: “The BSB has the capacity and mission to conduct HET recovery and evacuation of damaged weapons systems.”
Question: What section in the BSB has HETs? I’ve quickly looked through the 3ID UEx MTOE and couldn’t find any HETs within the entire organization. Where are they coming from? No HETs in the HBCT. Recovery is by organic recovery vehicle or like vehicle towing to an MCP. Beyond that point, HETs are called forward from the Sust Bde to perform evacuation.

Combat Spares

Reference: FMI 4-90.1, Page 3-12, line 512
Issue: “He monitors BSB combat spares (parts load list (PLL), shop and bench stock)…..
Question: Has the acronym for PLL changed from Prescribed Load List to Parts Load List? AR 710-2, 25 Feb 05, para 2-22c, defines Combat Spares as the combination of shop stock, bench stock and PLL carried by a Combat Repair Team (CRT) [soon to be re-designated as Field Maintenance Teams (FMT)] in any organization authorized to combine organizational and direct support maintenance capabilities within the CRT(FMT). Also, look out for the next AR 750-1, which is due out this spring (est. mid-May).

QSC; General Supply Flows

Reference: White Paper, Chapter 11, F-36
Issue: The QSC is shown in the flows for (General Supplies, CL VII, IX) and a DS Supply Company is shown the flows for (Water, Sustainment).
Question: What is the mission of the QSC vs the DS Supply Company? Typo or intentional?
Disregard references to QSC. This was just a placeholder meant to refer to any company with the corresponding QM capability.

CL IX distribution; QSC; flags on icons

Reference: White Paper, Chapter 11, F-60
Issue: CL IX distribution flow chart shows Corps flags on the QSC in both the UEy and UEx organizations but yet the Trans (Dry Cargo) icons don’t have the flag.
Question: Are UEy organizations supposed to have the flag and UEx not or is there another standard out there? And for that matter, are TSC units going to have the double flag?
At this time, no flags (sometimes called “shark bites”) are supposed to be used to identify echelon.

UEx/UEy internal logistical support

Reference: Unknown
Issue: Lack of specific information on UEx and UEy organizations internal logistical support operations.
Question: With 2 level maintenance changing HBCT units, what is taking place in UEx and UEy organizations, for DS level maintenance? DS level maintenance is no longer. Both UEx and UEy headquarters will have some organic field maintenance capability.
Are UEy Transportation or Quartermaster Sustainment Companies going to be doing Field Maintenance on their equipment or are they going to go to a Support Maintenance Company for that level? Yes, they will rely on the support maintenance company (SMC) in the CSSB(Area). Also, a component repair company (CRC) will be found in the UEy.