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On 16 August 2008, the 3d Sustainment Brigade redeployed from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 07-09 to its home station at Fort Stewart, Georgia, as the first totally modular sustainment brigade. The concept of modularity had proven successful in allowing the brigade to perform many functions while deployed. However, the redeployed brigade was quickly challenged by the complexities of the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) cycle as it began its reset phase.
Most sustainment brigades consist of about 32 déployable units. Each of these units has a separate or derivative unit identification code (UIC) and progresses through ARFORGEN individually. Having such a large number of UICs that are deployed and redeployed in a nonhomogenous manner creates many challenges for the sustainment brigade and combat sustainment support battalion (CSSB) headquarters. This article will examine the complexities of the ARFORGEN process experienced by the modular sustainment brigade and propose possible solutions to problems.
ARFORGEN and the Sustainment Brigade
Under the Army's modular design, all combat battalions and the brigade support battalion within a brigade combat team (BCT) execute the ARFORGEN process together as an entire unit. A sustainment brigade executes ARFORGEN differently. Unlike a BCT, a sustainment brigade has only one organic subordinate unit: the special troops battalion (STB) headquarters. Under modularity, force sustainment units are attached to the sustainment brigade down to the team level and tasked for deployment or operational support directly by the Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). Each force sustainment unit, therefore, must go through the ARFORGEN process separately. It then will face challenges with reset operations, deployment validation training, and rear detachment composition.
Reset Operations
In April 2009, more than 33 individual units of the 3d Sustainment Brigade were in various phases of ARFORGEN, with 13 in the reset phase. For fiscal year 2010, the brigade will have 35 units in the ARFORGEN process, with 19 units scheduled for reset. Since a majority of these units have different latest arrival dates (LADs) and boots on ground dates, traditional ARFORGEN processes and activities, such as equipment sourcing conferences, tax the capacity of FORSCOM's G^t Equipment Integration Branch.
Under modularity, a BCT will normally undertake each phase of the ARFORGEN process as a whole with Department of the Army (DA) oversight. In most cases, sustainment brigades...