Basing and Operational Reach

Basing is a critical component of American warfare, and the expeditionary posture of the United States military poses challenges to operational planners and logisticians alike. Force projection is a key requirement for the US Army, and the use of basing directly speaks its success. From the "iron mountains" of Operation Desert Storm, to forward operating bases along the zone of separation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, to forward logistics bases and combat outposts of Iraq and Afghanistan, basing provides a critical position to deploy, stage, project, and fight forces. A lack of clear guidance for the use of bases at the operational level and below is a concern looking at current sustainment doctrine. Basing is a critical component of sustainment that, when included with operational and sustainment planning, has the capability to provide the maneuver commander the ability to extend operational reach and provide increased freedom of maneuver. While LOGCAP has emerged as a viable solution for contingency and steady state basing, it fails to meet the needs of an expeditionary force and the demands of the initial entry force. The sustainment community needs to reevaluate its limited inclusion of basing at and below the operational level, and utilize the existing force structure to fill gaps in expeditionary basing capability. A greater emphasis on basing in doctrine and organizational structure will extend operational reach and increase freedom of maneuver.