Combat Service Support for the Task Force Scout Platoon

by Captain Mkhaei L. Maus Providing logistics support for the Task Force Scout Platoon is currently a critical problem. FM 17-98, Scout Platoon, even states, “The scout platoon presents a complex logistical problem for the battalion staff.” How are we going to keep eyes and ears forward in sufficient quantities to support the commander’s requirements? Answers to these questions will be the focus of this article, and I will show one method which worked successfully for my task force during a rotation to the National Training Center and during Operation DESERT

STORM.

Current doctrine gives the task force three options for resupplying the scout platoon. The fmt is to have the scouts use the nearest company team’s CSS assets. There are several problems with this method. The company team commander must realize the importance of supporting the scouts and must give them priority when they come for resupply. Also, the task force staff must plan this support in advance so that the supporting company’s first sergeant and the scout platoon understand the resupply plan and are rehearsed to execute it. Inherently, the scout platoon may not always be able to resupply at the designated task force LOGPAC time due to their mission. They may require a special LOGPAC time, and the supporting company’s fmt sergeant will be stretched even more than he already is. This method can work for Class I, III, and V, but maintenance and medical support are very difficult. If a tank company is supporting the scouts, they may not have enough mechanics to support the scouts, forcing the scouts to go longer without their equipment. Medical support is also extremely difficult because, in most cases, the first sergeant is going to evacuate his casualties first, leaving the scouts to evacuate their own. Both scenarios take scouts away from their reconnaissance mission.

A second method is to make the scout platoon responsible for their own LOGPAC. This method forces the platoon sergeant not only to coordinate for resupply, but also to take himself away from the reconnaissance mission to pick-up, distribute, and retum the LOGPAC. This stretches the scouts to the limit and takes the most experienced scout out of the reconnaissance mission for extended periods of time. In the M3 scout platoon, this method has just taken 17 percent (10 percent in the HMMWV scout platoon) of the task force commander’s organic “eyes and ears” out of the forward battle area This is the easiest method of resupply for the task force, but is very hard on the scout platoon.

The third method is to provide a dedicated maintenance team and logistics package to the scout platoon. This team responds to the needs of the scouts and is dedicated to keeping the platoon combat effective. FM 17-98 suggests the headquarters company fmt sergeant or the support platoon leader bring this team forward. However, we know that these key leaders are very busy and have many other responsibilities to tend to. Therefore, many questions arise to the make-up of the scout CSS team. Such as, how do we outfit this “team? Who is in charge of the team? What equipment do they use, and who is involved in the team? These assets must be taken out of the task force’sown organic assets because none are addressed in the current MT)E. Here’show our task force used this technique and the equipment we used.

Organization And Equipment. The logistics team worked out of an M113A2. (We used the ALO’s vehicle.) The task force commander, LTC Marlin, placed a sergeant first class from the S3 section in the track and gave him the title of scout field fmt sergeant. He also had three soldiers working with him. They were a scout driver, a medic, and a Bradley mechanic. These assets would allow for resupply, maintenance, and medical evacuation of the platoon. Operations. The field fust sergeant had two radios in the M113A2 and operated on the scout platoon net and the admidlog net. This allowed the scout platoon sergeant to stay on the task force command net with the platoon leader and ensured immediate, accurate reporting of the current situations to the task force commander. The field first sergeant normally stayed one terrain feature behind the platoon and centered in sector. If additional security was required, he would stay with the center section and could easily respond to any situation arising. By having the mechanic and medic on board, the field first sergeant could respond to any mechanical or medical problem while the platoon could continue to focus its efforts forward in the recon battle. The mechanic could provide quick maintenance support and usually got the vehicle back into the fight within 30 40 ARMOR -