FORCE PROJECTION

4-167. MLRS units must be capable of deploying anywhere in the world with little or no notice to provide long-range artillery fires for contingency forces. The following discussion is not intended to be all-inclusive but rather to highlight considerations when planning for contingency operations and deployment.

4-168. Force projection usually begins as a contingency operation—a rapid response to a crisis. Alert may come without notice, bringing with it a tremendous stress on soldiers and systems, accompanied by pressure from various external sources. In any event, rapid yet measured response is critical.

4-169. The following are considerations when preparing a force projection package.

D

R

4-170. Deployment readiness requires much leader time, focus, and energy. It also takes a great deal of soldier time to train for deployment, maintain deployment administrative and logistical sustainability, and continually follow up. A key to success is each unit’s deployment SOP. The SOP should be a thorough document designed to prepare the unit for deployment. SOPs should provide a “cookbook” approach to deployment procedures. The SOP ensures continuity as leaders change and prevents a rather complex process from being misunderstood. Consider including each of the following items when preparing the SOP:

• Concept of deployment.

• Required preparation procedures.

• Deployment assistance.

• Notification-hour sequence.

• Checklists.

• Report formats.

Training for Deployment

4-171. Demanding and relevant training for deployment is important. It includes the tactical training necessary to cover contingencies in addition to rehearsing actual deployment procedures often. Soldiers should review tie-down procedures for transporting the unit via land, sea, or air. Practice includes all units rehearsing their parts in the alert sequence. When alerted to deploy, MLRS units must build on home station training by focusing on missions and conditions they expect to encounter in a particular contingency. Leaders must conduct mission essential individual and collective training during deployment and after arriving in the theater of operations.

Administrative and Logistical Readiness

4-172. In addition to tactical and deployment task proficiency, administrative and logistical sustainability to execute deployment require constant command emphasis. Primary factors include personnel, medical, and equipment readiness. Units must establish, maintain, and report prioritized lists of the following information:

• Personnel and equipment shortages.

• Non-mission capable, combat-essential equipment.

• PLL zero balances.

4-173. Battalions must also verify that soldiers have completed weapon qualification, required individual and collective training such as CBRN common skills training, and that they have completed 100 percent soldier readiness processing for overseas movement, which may include the following:

• Personnel deployability.

„ Updated DD Form 93.

„ VA Form 8286.

„ Wills and powers of attorney.

„ Properly sealed identification card.

„ Identification tags.

„ Privately owned vehicle disposition instructions.

„ Approved family care plan (if required).

• Medical/dental deployability.

„ Immunizations.

„ Human immunodeficiency virus test.

„ Physical exam.

„ Panoramic x-ray.

„ Dental category 1 or 2.

4-174. Relatively minor discrepancies in personnel deployability criteria may be exacerbated in the face of deployment. Family care plans must be initiated and continuously reviewed. Family situations often change, and a care packet that is not properly maintained may contain outdated information.

4-175. Finally, the unit must establish and update unit movement plans, rear detachment plans (for example, disposition of personal property and privately owned vehicles), recall plans, and alert rosters.

Recall plans should be practiced often and revised as necessary.

I

4-176. Early deploying units usually face a maze of complex information requirements—some relating to the enemy, others to local laws, availability of facilities, and similar considerations. Force projection operations need accurate and responsive tactical intelligence. To satisfy their intelligence requirements, MLRS commanders must determine the available sources and establish connectivity with appropriate agencies.

F

T

4-177. Force tailoring is the process of determining the right mix of units and the sequence in which they are to deploy. MLRS commanders must be ready to deploy subordinate elements of their unit to support a particular force projection package.

J

O

4-178. Joint operations occur when multiple Service and functional components combine efforts under a JTF. The synchronization of air, land, sea, space, and special operations forces is critical to effectiveness and ultimate mission accomplishment. MLRS units may support any of a number of components during joint operations. One of the most likely is MLRS support of a Marine air ground task force (MAGTF). The exact size and composition of the MLRS unit to support MAGTF operations will be a function of METT-TC. Normally, an MLRS battery or battalion will support a MEF or MEF Forward (MEF [Fwd]) based on METT-TC.

C

O

4-179. Combined operations occur when 2 or more nations combine their efforts in a military operation.

Force projection operations will almost always involve operations with other nations. MLRS commanders and soldiers should be sensitive to cultural differences that may impact their operations.

DEPLOYMENT

4-180. MLRS units are capable of deploying by air, land, or sea as part of an all Army force or as part of a combined arms force. Time lines for deployment will always be driven by METT-TC. Generally, this time line will be developed based on reverse planning at higher headquarters. Factors that affect reverse planning include, but are not limited to, aircraft availability; type, size, and amount of equipment; and personnel and equipment attached. Movement officers have to be experts, and automated unit equipment lists must be tracked meticulously.

M

4-181. The MLRS M270 and M270A1 systems can be deployed by C17 and larger type aircraft. A M142 can be deployed by C130 and larger type aircraft. MLRS commanders must ensure that their soldiers are familiar with aircraft loading procedures as well as with Air Force rules and regulations regarding transport of equipment. Units must maintain current strategic load plans for all types of aircraft. The air load planning system enables computation of the required number and type of aircraft to carry the specified equipment and troops to be airlifted. Table 4-6 identifies the aircraft required to lift a representative battery and battalion.

Sea

4-182. MLRS units must also be prepared to deploy their equipment by sea. This is especially true for follow-on forces. MLRS commanders should ensure that their units are familiar with all facets of sealift operations.

Land

4-183. Units must often move their equipment to a seaport by rail or heavy equipment transport (HET), and then load the equipment onto ships. MLRS commanders must be familiar with specific vehicular requirements for transport and ensure that their soldiers are trained on proper loading techniques.

D

P

4-184. Because contingency forces are tailored to meet specific mission requirements, it is possible that only parts of an MLRS unit will deploy as part of a force projection package. These packages assume that a

slice of C2 up to the battalion level will accompany each package. (The liaison vehicle is often used.) This allows for more rapid integration of follow-on elements of the battalion by having the structure in place. It also facilitates activities such as operational and logistics liaison with support from the battalion. Table 4-6 gives examples of possible MLRS packages that could support contingency operations. These tables are general in nature and do not include detailed ancillary personnel and equipment requirements. These tables do, however, include approximate numbers of direct support maintenance equipment and personnel.

Table 4-6. MLRS Contingency Packages

MLRS Battery Package MLRS Battalion Package Major Items of Equipment Qty Major Items of Equipment Qty

Launcher 6 Launcher 18

M1068, CP 5 M1068, CP 13

M88A1 recovery vehicle 1 M88A1 recovery vehicle 4

M985 HEMTT 12 M985 HEMTT 36

HMMWVs 14 HMMWVs 26

M978 fuel tanker 2 M978 fuel tanker 7

Cargo trucks 10 Cargo trucks 26

Personnel Personnel

MLRS Unit 126 MLRS Unit 424

MST 40 MST 73

Air Frames Air Frames

C5A 5 C5A 17

C17 9 C17 17