Combat service support
Encyclopedia
Combat service support is a subset of military logistics
. Combat service support is more limited in depth than logistics
, as it primarily addresses those factors directly influencing combat operations
.
, the term combat service support was until 2008 defined as the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of operating forces in theater
at all levels of war. Within the national and theater logistics systems, it includes but is not limited to that support rendered by service forces in ensuring the aspects of materiel
and supply chain management
, maintenance
, transportation
, health services
, and other services required by aviation
and ground combat troops to permit those units to accomplish their missions in combat
. Combat service support encompasses those activities at all levels of war that produce sustainment to all operating forces on the battlefield
. Within the United States Army, the traditional combat service support branches are the following:
, combat service support has a similar definition to that of the United States Army. The Marine Corps Logistics Command
(MARCORLOGCOM) is the preferred provider of supply chain management, collaborative maintenance management and strategic prepositioning to the operating forces of the United States Marine Corps and other services and agencies.
The Logistics Combat Element
(LCE, formerly Combat Service Support Element OR CSSE) is the portion of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force
(MAGTF) responsible for providing logistical support. The LCE provides all support functions not organic to the ground combat element
(GCE) and aviation combat element
(ACE) units of the MAGTF. Functions include: communications
, combat engineers, motor transport, medical and dental, supply, maintenance, air delivery
, and landing support
.
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
. Combat service support is more limited in depth than logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
, as it primarily addresses those factors directly influencing combat operations
Combat operations process
Combat operations process is undertaken by armed forces during military campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements to facilitate the setting of objectives, direction of combat, and assessment of the operation plan's success....
.
United States Army
In the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, the term combat service support was until 2008 defined as the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of operating forces in theater
Theater (warfare)
In warfare, a theater, is defined as an area or place within which important military events occur or are progressing. The entirety of the air, land, and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations....
at all levels of war. Within the national and theater logistics systems, it includes but is not limited to that support rendered by service forces in ensuring the aspects of materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
and supply chain management
Military Supply Chain Management
Military supply chain management is a cross-functional approach to procuring, producing and delivering products and services. The broad management scope includes sub-suppliers, suppliers, internal information and funds flow.-Supply:...
, maintenance
Maintenance, repair, and operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
, transportation
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
, health services
Military Health System
The Military Health System is the enterprise within the United States Department of Defense responsible for providing health care to active duty and retired U.S. Military personnel and their dependents...
, and other services required by aviation
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
and ground combat troops to permit those units to accomplish their missions in combat
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
. Combat service support encompasses those activities at all levels of war that produce sustainment to all operating forces on the battlefield
Battlefield
A battlefield refers to the location of a battle.Battlefield may also refer to:-In music:*"Battlefield", a song by Diana Ross from her 1991 album The Force Behind the Power* Battlefield Band, a Scottish traditional music group...
. Within the United States Army, the traditional combat service support branches are the following:
- Acquisition Corps (of which the United States Army Materiel CommandUnited States Army Materiel CommandThe U.S. Army Materiel Command is the primary provider of materiel to the United States Army.The Command's mission includes the research & development of weapons systems as well as maintenance and parts distribution....
is a subordinate command) - Adjutant General's Corps
- Chaplain CorpsChaplain Corps (United States Army)The Chaplain Corps of the United States Army consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned Army officers as well as enlisted soldiers who serve as assistants. Their purpose is to offer religious services, counseling, and moral support to the armed forces, whether in peacetime or at war.-Army...
- Finance CorpsFinance CorpsThe United States Army Finance Corps is a combat service support branch of the United States Army. The Finance Corps is the successor to the old Pay Department, which was created in June 1775. The Finance Department was created by law on 1 July 1920 . It became the Finance Corps in 1950. It is...
- Judge Advocate General's Corps
- Medical CorpsArmy Medical Department (United States)The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
(of which the United States Army Dental CommandUnited States Army Dental CommandThe U.S. Army Dental Command, known as DENCOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Medical Command that provides command and control of the Army's fixed-facility dental treatment facilities, preventive care, dental research, development and training institutions, dental treatment to...
is a subordinate command) - Ordnance Corps
- Quartermaster Corps
- Transportation Corps
Replaced by Sustainment
"Combat service support" as a classification was replaced by "sustainment" with the publication of FM 3-0, Operations in February 2008. Sustainment is one of the six warfighting elements that also include movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, command and control, and protection.United States Marine Corps
In the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, combat service support has a similar definition to that of the United States Army. The Marine Corps Logistics Command
Marine Corps Logistics Command
Marine Corps Logistics Command is a major command of the United States Marine Corps that is the preferred provider of supply chain management, collaborative maintenance management and strategic prepositioning to the Operating Forces and other services and agencies.-Mission:To provide worldwide,...
(MARCORLOGCOM) is the preferred provider of supply chain management, collaborative maintenance management and strategic prepositioning to the operating forces of the United States Marine Corps and other services and agencies.
The Logistics Combat Element
Logistics Combat Element
In the United States Marine Corps, the Logistics Combat Element , formerly combat service support element, is the portion of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force responsible with providing logistical support...
(LCE, formerly Combat Service Support Element OR CSSE) is the portion of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Marine Air-Ground Task Force
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a term used by the United States Marine Corps to describe the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air-ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that...
(MAGTF) responsible for providing logistical support. The LCE provides all support functions not organic to the ground combat element
Ground combat element
In the United States Marine Corps, the Ground combat element is the land force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides power projection and force for the MAGTF.-Role within the MAGTF:...
(GCE) and aviation combat element
Aviation combat element
In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element is the air arm of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the...
(ACE) units of the MAGTF. Functions include: communications
Military communications
Historically, the first military communications had the form of sending/receiving simple signals . Respectively, the first distinctive tactics of military communications were called Signals, while units specializing in those tactics received the Signal Corps name...
, combat engineers, motor transport, medical and dental, supply, maintenance, air delivery
Delivery (commerce)
Delivery is the process of transporting goods. Most goods are delivered through a transportation network. Cargo are primarily delivered via roads and railroads on land, shipping lanes on the sea and airline networks in the air...
, and landing support
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
.
Logistics Groups
There are four logistics groups in the United States Marine Corps:- 1st Marine Logistics Group1st Marine Logistics GroupThe 1st Marine Logistics Group is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, with detachments located at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center...
, based at Marine Corps Base Camp PendletonMarine Corps Base Camp PendletonMarine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
, California. Units of the 1st Marine Logistics Group include:- 1st Headquarters and Service Battalion
- Combat Logistics Regiment 1Combat Logistics Regiment 1Combat Logistics Regiment 1 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group and the I Marine Expeditionary Force .-Mission:To provide logistics...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 1Combat Logistics Battalion 1Combat Logistics Battalion 1 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 1 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 5Combat Logistics Battalion 5Combat Logistics Battalion 5 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 1 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 7Combat Logistics Battalion 7Combat Logistics Battalion 7 ' is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California and fall under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group and I Marine Expeditionary Force .-Wartime...
- 7th Engineer Support Battalion7th Engineer Support BattalionThe 7th Engineer Support Battalion is an engineering support unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 1
- Combat Logistics Regiment 15Combat Logistics Regiment 15Combat Logistics Regiment 15 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. They fall under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group and I Marine Expeditionary Force...
- 1st Supply Battalion1st Supply BattalionThe 1st Supply Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that specializes in distributing and warehousing military goods and equipment...
- 1st Maintenance Battalion1st Maintenance BattalionThe 1st Maintenance Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that provides intermediate-level maintenance for the I Marine Expeditionary Force’s tactical ordnance, engineer, motor transport, communications electronics and general support ground equipment...
- 1st Medical Battalion1st Medical Battalion1st Medical Battalion is a unit of the United States Marine Corps operated by the United States Navy that provides medical support to Marine Corps forces forward deployed to operations or humanitarian missions...
- Combat Logistics Company 11
- Combat Logistics Company 16
- 1st Supply Battalion
- Combat Logistics Regiment 17Combat Logistics Regiment 17Combat Logistics Regiment 17 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. They fall under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group , I Marine Expeditionary Force . The unit is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 11Combat Logistics Battalion 11Combat Logistics Battalion 11 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 13Combat Logistics Battalion 13Combat Logistics Battalion 13 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. In garrison, it falls under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group; however, when deployed, it forms the logistics combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 15Combat Logistics Battalion 15Combat Logistics Battalion 15 is a military logistics battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California. It consists of approximately 300 Marines and Sailors. It is part of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 within the 1st Marine Logistics Group , I Marine...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 11
- 1st Dental Battalion1st Dental Battalion1st Dental Battalion is unit of the United States Navy that supports United States Marine Corps forces. The battalion includes fifteen dental clinics spread throughout California and Arizona...
- 2nd Marine Logistics Group2nd Marine Logistics GroupThe 2nd Marine Logistics Group is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 2nd MLG was formerly known as 2nd Force Service Support Group , reorganized with its sister FSSGs into Marine Logistics Groups in 2005...
, based at Marine Corps Base Camp LejeuneMarine Corps Base Camp LejeuneMarine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
, North Carolina. Units of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group include:- 2nd Headquarters and Service Battalion
- Combat Logistics Regiment 2Combat Logistics Regiment 2Combat Logistics Regiment 2 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group and the II Marine Expeditionary Force .-Mission:CLR-2 provides direct support...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 2Combat Logistics Battalion 2Combat Logistics Battalion 2 is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps . CLB-2 provides direct combat service support to Regimental Combat Team 2 . CLB-2 was formed anew after its second deployment to Iraq in 2005 as a part of the reorganization of the 2nd Force Service Support Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 6Combat Logistics Battalion 6Combat Logistics Battalion 6 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed "Red Cloud," the unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 8Combat Logistics Battalion 8Combat Logistics Battalion 8 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 2
- Combat Logistics Regiment 25Combat Logistics Regiment 25Combat Logistics Regiment 25 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group and the II Marine Expeditionary Force .-Subordinate units:* 8th Engineer...
- 2nd Supply Battalion2nd Supply BattalionThe 2nd Supply Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that specializes in distributing and warehousing military goods and equipment...
- 2nd Medical Battalion2nd Medical BattalionThe 2nd Medical Battalion is a medical support unit of the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy that is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina...
- 2nd Maintenance Battalion2nd Maintenance BattalionThe 2nd Maintenance Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that provides intermediate-level maintenance for the II Marine Expeditionary Force’s tactical ordnance, engineer, motor transport, communications electronics and general support ground equipment...
- Combat Logistics Company 21
- Combat Logistics Company 23
- 2nd Supply Battalion
- Combat Logistics Regiment 27Combat Logistics Regiment 27Combat Logistics Regiment 27 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group and the II Marine Expeditionary Force .-Subordinate units:* Combat Logistics...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 22Combat Logistics Battalion 22Combat Logistics Battalion 22 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 24Combat Logistics Battalion 24Combat Logistics Battalion 24 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 26Combat Logistics Battalion 26Combat Logistics Battalion 26 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 22
- 2nd Dental Battalion2nd Dental Battalion2nd Dental Battalion is unit of the United States Navy that supports United States Marine Corps forces. The battalion includes ten dental clinics and annexs spread throughout North Carolina...
- 8th Engineer Support Battalion8th Engineer Support BattalionThe 8th Engineer Support Battalion is an engineering support unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina...
- 2nd Military Police Battalion
- 3rd Marine Logistics Group3rd Marine Logistics GroupThe 3rd Marine Logistics Group is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Camp Smedley Butler, Okinawa, Japan. 3d MLG was formerly the 3rd Force Service Support Group , with official redesignation on 28 October 2005...
, based at Camp KinserCamp KinserCamp Kinser is a United States Marine Corps base in Okinawa, Japan. Another military installation is located south of Camp Kinser, but it belongs to the US Army.-External links:* *...
, OkinawaOkinawa Prefectureis one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan. Units of the 3rd Marine Logistics Group include:- 3rd Headquarters and Service Battalion
- Combat Logistics Regiment 3
- Combat Logistics Battalion 3Combat Logistics Battalion 3Combat Logistics Battalion 3 is a logistics battalion in the United States Marine Corps. They are headquartered at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and fall under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 3 and the 3rd Marine Logistics Group -Mission:...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 4Combat Logistics Battalion 4Combat Logistics Battalion 4 is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps . The battalion falls under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 3, which is a part of the 3rd Marine Logistics Group...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 3
- Combat Logistics Regiment 35
- 3rd Supply Battalion3rd Supply BattalionThe 3rd Supply Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that specializes in distributing and warehousing military goods and equipment...
- 3rd Maintenance Battalion3rd Maintenance BattalionThe 3rd Maintenance Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that provides intermediate-level maintenance for the III Marine Expeditionary Force’s tactical ordnance, engineer, motor transport, communications electronics and general support ground equipment...
- 3rd Medical Battalion3rd Medical BattalionThe 3d Medical Battalion is a medical support unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan...
- Combat Logistics Company 35
- Combat Logistics Company 36
- 3rd Supply Battalion
- Combat Logistics Regiment 37Combat Logistics Regiment 37Combat Logistics Regiment 37 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of the 3rd Marine Logistics Group and III Marine Expeditionary Force . The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 31Combat Logistics Battalion 31Combat Logistics Battalion 31 is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. It is task organized combat service support element capable of providing a wide range of combat related support to all elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit...
- Combat Logistics Battalion 31
- 3rd Dental Battalion3rd Dental BattalionThe 3rd Dental Battalion is a unit of the United States Navy that supports United States Marine Corps forces on Okinawa, Japan. The battalion includes nine dental clinics, approximately 77 Dental Officers, 4 Medical Service Corps officers, 181 Dental Technicians, and 26 civilians...
- 9th Engineer Support Battalion9th Engineer Support BattalionThe 9th Engineer Support Battalion is a general and direct engineering support unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan...
- 4th Marine Logistics Group4th Marine Logistics GroupThe 4th Marine Logistics Group is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at New Orleans, Louisiana.-Mission:...
, a reserve unit, headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, with units scattered throughout the United States. Units of the 4th Marine Logistics Group include:- 4th Headquarters and Service Battalion
- Combat Logistics Regiment 46
- 4th Maintenance Battalion4th Maintenance BattalionThe 4th Maintenance Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps Reserve that provides intermediate-level maintenance for the Marine Reserve’s tactical ordnance, engineer, motor transport, communications electronics and general support ground equipment. They are headquartered in New...
- 4th Supply Battalion4th Supply BattalionThe 4th Supply Battalion is a battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve that specializes in distributing and warehousing military goods and equipment. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, they fall under the command of the 4th Marine Logistics Group and Marine Forces Reserve...
- 6th Engineer Support Battalion6th Engineer Support BattalionThe 6th Engineer Support Battalion , is an engineering battalion of the Marine Forces Reserve. Their headquarters are based in Portland, Oregon and they fall under the command of the 4th Marine Logistics Group.-Current Units:...
- 6th Communication Battalion
- 6th Motor Transport Battalion6th Motor Transport BattalionThe 6th Motor Transport Battalion headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey, consists of seven reserve companies in seven cities:*Red Bank, New Jersey*Providence, Rhode Island*Orlando,Florida*Las Vegas, Nevada*Lubbock, Texas*Texarkana, Texas and...
- 4th Medical Battalion
- 4th Dental Battalion
- 4th Landing Support Battalion4th Landing Support Battalion4th Landing Support Battalion ' is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The unit is based out of the New Orleans, Louisiana and falls under the command of the 4th Marine Logistics Group .-Mission:...
- 4th Marine Logistics Group Forward East
- 4th Marine Logistics Group Forward West
See also
- Combat supportCombat supportIn the United States Army, the term combat support refers to units that provide fire support and operational assistance to combat elements. Combat support units provide specialized support functions to combat units in the areas of chemical warfare, combat engineering, intelligence, security, and...
- Combat armsU.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental SystemThe Combat Arms Regimental System , was the method of assigning unit designations to units of the five combat arms of the United States Army from 1957 to 1981. CARS was superseded by the U.S...
- List of United States Marine Corps Combat Logistics Companies