Sustaining Operations

6.0.1 Command Post (CP) sustainment is the process of managing personnel safety, fuel consumption, power management, environmental impacts, and maintainability of equipment. In order to compensate the trade-offs encountered between effectiveness and survivability, proper sustainment techniques should be developed and implemented to ensure maximum life cycle longevity. The content within this section can be used to augment a unit's existing sustainment plan.

6.1 Daily Operations

6.1.1 Outline of duties and tasks to be considered in planning and sustaining CP operations. These should include fuel consumption factors, maintenance intervals, extreme

environment issues, and best practices for conducting duties and tasks with regular 24-hour events, such as shift change.

Table 6-1 gives examples of daily duties.

Table 6-1 Daily Duties 6.2 Safety

6.2.1 This section outlines safety concepts and considerations that unit and section leaders should be aware of to plan, configure, set up, operate, and train for CP operations.

6.2.2 Use ground guides when positioning vehicles, Tactical Quiet Generators (TQGs), Trailer-Mounted Support System (TMSS) trailers, and Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) trailers.

Set parking brakes.

Place chock blocks around wheels.

Place drip pans under engine drip points.

Install Surface Wire Grounding System (SWGS) and attach to Rigid Wall Shelter (RWS) Power Entry Panel (PEP) ground lug and LTV bumper ground.

Drive ground rod using gloves and goggles.

6.2.3 Comply with applicable Tactical Operations Center (TOC) subsystem Technical Manual (TM) setup procedures.

6.2.4 Cabling

Visually confirm that cables are routed with appropriate bend radius and support, inspect for visible exterior damage and sharp edges that can cause insulation damage.

Minimize trip hazards using proper cable routing, cable guards, etc. Mark remaining hazards.

Visually inspect that connector pins are not bent. Document cable pin-to-pin continuity is correct.

Visually confirm color-coded or keyed connectors are properly mated.

Visually confirm that connectors or cables do not protrude into aisle ways, significantly impeding egress.

Visually confirm that cables have permanent and legible identification within 2 inches of both cable ends.

Visually confirm that exposed wiring and cable condition is not cut or crushed.

Visually confirm all AC-powered remote equipment is supplied from Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

protected outlets or surge protection devices.

6.2.5 Grounding

Visually confirm that path from tie point to ground is continuous and secure.

Visually confirm that ground lug connectors are present, marked and tightened.

Verify equipment case grounding to external ground point continuity and resistance less than Ohms (25 Ohms preferred). Verify ground cable amps are sufficient to carry maximum fault current to ground.

Visually confirm shelter grounding terminal is identified and marked with warning to establish ground before applying power.

6.2.6 Antennas

Erect no antennas within two times the antenna height to the base of the power lines.

When setting up antenna farm, consider adding additional guy wires if bad weather is expected.

Insure vehicle-mounted antenna tips are present and secured to protect against eye injury/puncture.

Verify that personnel positions are beyond the minimum safe distance to operating antennas and visually confirm general RF safety markings present near antenna access.

6.2.7 Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)

Enforce no smoking or welding within 50 ft of refueling, solvent use, or flammable storage points.

Comply with local installation HAZMAT procedures for storing and disposing of Petroleum Oil and Lubricant (POL) products, cleaning solutions, and contaminated waste.

Set up HAZMAT spill barriers around fuel truck points.

Set up HAZMAT spill kits inside soft shelter entrance points.

6.2.8 Place TMSS and TQG trailers at max distance from tents.

recommended distance is 10-12 ft.

TMSS-Large recommended distance is 20-22 ft.

TQG recommended distance is 50 ft.

Visually confirm that systems are positioned where exhaust from one will not enter another's fresh air intake or blow into occupied tents/shelters.

Place chock blocks around wheels.

Place drip pans under engine drip points.

Install ground rods (minimum of two sections) and do not operate Generator set (GenSet) until the ground terminal stud is properly connected to the ground point.

° Drive rods using goggles and gloves (includes helpers).

° Visually confirm all circuit breakers OFF before starting the engine.

° Do not attempt service or adjustments to electrical connections until GenSet is OFF and completely de-energized.

6.2.9 Lighting

Place tent lighting high enough to prevent head strikes.

Connect light sets with power OFF.

6.2.10 Shelter Life Safety

Maintain a clear egress path and mark exits for each tent.

Set up fire extinguisher points near each shelter exit and power systems.

Set up medical aid point.

° Provide minimum first aid kits and resuscitation equipment per unit requirements.

° Identify personnel trained as emergency life savers.

Ensure that all personnel know emergency contact numbers.

° Follow Technical Bulletins Medical (TB MED) guidance for heat and cold stress.

Ensure that RWS ladders are in contact with ground before using.

6.2.11 Transit Case Setup

Visually confirm presence of lift labels on items that exceed 37 lb. Use proper number of lifters per MIL-STD-1472F guidance.

Connect all Operational Transit Cases (OTCs) to a ground, with power OFF prior to use.

Connect fiber optics with power OFF to avoid Ultra Violet (UV) eye hazard.

Connect laptops with power OFF.

6.2.12 Operations

Identify unobstructed emergency egress routes for vehicles in the TOC complex should they need to be moved quickly.

Protect and/or mark head strike hazards.

Enforce personnel use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where required (around operating generators, pounding metal stakes, etc.).

Confirm that noise levels are less than 85 dBA (82 dBA for 12-hr operations). Hearing protection, as recommended by medical or safety officers, must be worn within identified noise hazard areas.

Confirm that shelter floor, step surfaces of roof and ladder climbing and access surfaces for elevated equipment (e.g., Environmental Control Unit [ECU]) are equipped with non-skid pads.

Maintain filler nozzle and fuel tank contact and attach bonding wires where available to avoid static spark ignition of fuel vapors.

Discharge static electricity from the body by touching a metal chassis or cabinet before touching electrostatic discharge (ESD)-sensitive electronic components, otherwise, internal circuits can be destroyed.