FM 3-34.22 - Army Electronic Publications & Forms - U.S. Army

Sustainment Support for Engineer Operations
organizations. Additional missions or tasks (clearing an LZ for aerial resupply) are created by the
sustainment support plan. These missions or tasks must be anticipated (ensuring the passage of sustainment
units through obstacles to continue their support of the maneuver units) and planned for during mission
analysis.
8-13. The planner who anticipates is proactive—not reactive—before, during, and after operations. The
ability of the force to seize and maintain the initiative, synchronize activities along the entire depth of the
AO, and exploit success depends on the abilities of commanders, logisticians, and engineers to anticipate
requirements. Engineers consider joint, multinational, contract civilian, and interagency assets when
planning support for engineer operations. Engineers—
� Use all available resources to the fullest (especially HN assets).
� Prioritize critical engineer activities based on the concept of operations.
� Anticipate engineer requirements based on war-gaming and rock drills, incorporating experience
and historical knowledge.
� Organize and resource for simultaneous and noncontiguous operations, but do not think
contiguously or sequentially.
� Participate in and evaluate the engineer significance of each phase of the operation throughout
the entire MDMP.
8-14. The ENCOORD at every echelon and the engineer unit commander forecast future requirements and
accumulate the assets needed to accommodate likely contingencies. Engineer operations frequently
require—
� High fuel consumption rates (higher than most equipment found in a light brigade).
� Engineer-specific Class IX repair parts that often require extraordinary coordination to obtain.
� Large amounts of Class IV and V construction and barrier materials.
� Demolitions for offensive and defensive operations.
� A large commitment of maintenance and transportation support.
� Financial services to support the local purchase and contracting of HN assets and materials.
Simplicity
8-15. Simplicity involves avoiding complexity and often fosters efficiency in planning and executing
logistics operations. Mission type orders and standardized procedures contribute to simplicity. Engineer
commanders and staffs establish priorities and allocate supply classes and services to simplify sustainment
operations. Engineers use preconfigured loads of specialized classes of supply to simplify transport.
Flexibility
8-16. The key to flexibility lies in the expertise for adapting sustainment structures and procedures to
changing situations and missions. Sustainment plans and operations must be flexible enough to achieve
responsiveness and economy. Flexibility may include the kind of improvisation that makes, invents, or
arranges what is needed from what is on hand.
8-17. Extraordinary methods may be necessary to ensure success during operations. Sustainment planners
attempt to push support forward to engineer units to ensure smooth combat operations. Sometimes this is
not feasible. In such cases, engineers improvise by making, inventing, devising, or fabricating what is
needed. Engineers rely on the results of engineer resource assessments to evaluate the availability of
materiel, resources, and terrain features that have engineer application (creating a demolition cratering
charge using common fertilizer and diesel fuel). (See FM 3-34.170 for more information on engineer
resource assessments.)
8-18. Sustainment organizations must improvise to meet current needs and respond to unforeseen
emergencies. They should plan for and use HN supply assets, facilities, and equipment when possible.
Specific damage assessment and repair procedures may also be implemented based on the need to
improvise during operations. Improvisation is not a substitute for good planning; requirements must be
anticipated. However, improvisation can be a great strength; engineer personnel must recognize it as an
advantage in meeting emergencies.
11 February 2009 FM 3-34.22 8-3