SUSTAINMENT: A CRISIS Exists (The 8 Principles & 4 Elements)

Infantrymen can’t shoot bullets that don’t get to the ORP. Tanks go no where without gas (or donuts, according to the Armor Major on Twitter/X). As much as so-called trigger pullers get the glory and the movies, they wouldn’t go very far or get much done without dedicated sustainers pushing them what they need.

Side note: If you’re from a light formation, you’ll be amazed by the mass and extent of the logistics effort for armor, mech and Stryker units. Go see how they do business!

This week we dive into the key bits of ADP 4-0 and FM 4-0. Chapter 1 of both pubs has similar content about the basic principles of sustainment. If you recall our series of the fundamentals and hierarchy of doctrine, you’re recall ADPs are at the top of the Pyramid, and “-0s” are the top of the hierarchy for all branches. So, this is the basic stuff to know if you want to talk to Loggies and about their vital missions. We’re using the ADP for source material.

Today we cover the list of principles (remember the mnemonic: A CRISIS Exists) and the elements of sustainment. The rest of this week and next we’ll get into each principle. Per our normal cycle, Friday will be a wrap-up and quiz of the first few principles, and next Friday will wrap-up the rest.

This week we also add a new feature to our structure. “The Big Chunks” will cover the biggest things to remember for the day.

As always, italics added for our emphasis, and […] indicates we cut out stuff we thought was fluff. And, as always: you’re smarter reading the pub yourself to be exactly sure

The Big Chunks

• Sustainment is one of the 8 elements of combat power

• Sustainment Definition

• Sustainment War Fighting Function elements

• A CRISIS E

The major takeaways:

Definition: Sustainment is the provision of logistics, financial management, personnel services, and health service support necessary to maintain operations until successful mission completion. Sustainment is accomplished through the coordination, integration, and synchronization of resources from the strategic level through the tactical level in conjunction with our joint and multinational partners. (ADP 4-0, Chapter 1 preamble).

Sustainment Warfighting Function elements include:

• Logistics

• Financial Management

• Personnel Services

• Health Service Support

The 8 principles of Sustainment:

• Anticipation

• Continuity

• Responsiveness

• Improvisation

• Simplicity

• Integration

• Survivability

• Economy

(“A CRISIS Exists,” may help you remember.)

Diving deep in the doctrinal details:

SUSTAINMENT WARFIGHTING FUNCTION The sustainment warfighting function is one of the eight elements of combat power: leadership, information, command and control, movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, and protection (See ADP 3-0). The sustainment warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that provide support and services to ensure freedom of action, extended operational reach, and prolong endurance (ADP 3-0). Sustainment determines the depth and duration of Army operations (ADP 3-0). Successful sustainment enables freedom of action by increasing the number of options available to the commander. Sustainment is essential for retaining and exploiting the initiative. The sustainment warfighting function consists of four elements: logistics, financial management, personnel services and health service support as shown in the sustainment warfighting function logic chart (Introductory figure-1).

LOGISTICS

1-1. Logistics is planning and executing the movement and support of forces. It includes those aspects of military operations that deal with: design and development; acquisition, storage, movement, distribution, maintenance, and disposition of materiel; acquisition or construction, maintenance, operation, and disposition of facilities; and acquisition or furnishing of services. The explosive ordnance disposal tasks are discussed under the protection warfighting function. Army logistics elements are: maintenance, transportation, supply, field services, distribution, operational contract support, and general engineering. For additional details, see FM 4-95.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

1-2. Financial management leverages fiscal policy and economic power across the range of military operations. Financial management encompasses finance operations and resource management. For additional details, see FM 1-06.

PERSONNEL SERVICES

1-3. Personnel services are sustainment functions that man the force, maintain Soldier and Family readiness, promote the moral and ethical values of the Nation, and enable the fighting qualities of the Army. Personnel services include planning, coordination, and sustaining personnel efforts at the operational and tactical levels. Personnel services include human resources support, legal support, religious support, and band support. For additional details, see FM 1-0, FM 1-04, FM 1-05, FM 1-06, and ATP 1-19.

HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT

1-4. Army Health System (AHS) support includes both health service support and force health protection that are critical capabilities embedded within formations across all warfighting functions. The force health protection mission falls under the protection warfighting function and will not be covered in this publication (see ADP 3-37). For additional details on health service support and the AHS see FM 4-02. Health service support encompasses all support and services performed, provided, and arranged by the Army Medical Department to promote, improve, conserve, or restore the behavioral and physical well-being of Army personnel and as directed, unified action partners (UAPs). Health service support includes the following—

• Casualty care, which encompasses a number of medical functions, including:

  • Medical treatment (organic and area medical support).

  • Hospitalization.

  • Dental care (treatment aspects).

  • Behavioral health/neuropsychiatric treatment.

  • Clinical laboratory services.

  • Treatment of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear patients.

• Medical evacuation (including medical regulating).

• Medical logistics (including blood management).

Want more than this Daily Dose of Doctrine? Take A Doctrine Deep Dive with a read of ADP 4-0 here.