Force Management Reflection
1st ELO (Enabling Learning Objective)
In order to acquire the best military manpower that will enhance army sustainability, the Army strictly picks candidates who bear certain traits. However, it is also good to remember that the candidates’ physical fitness, health conditions, backgrounds, and educational backgrounds are the major areas of concern when recruiting for military manpower. Force management is strictly about military manpower competency and expects that all are subject to the rules (Ref 1). However, in the military, there are various ranks and positions that people work in. For instance, major generals, lieutenants, captains, colonels, corps, and brigadiers. All these constitute the military manpower, and so in the recruiting process, each must measure the standards set.
The candidate inspiring to join the military must be a residential citizen of a particular country with a valid Identification card nearing the person’s details. Besides, age matters are also of great concern. In most cases, a candidate must be between 18 to 35 years, as this is the age bracket with string gentlemen and women. The candidate, however, must meet the minimal health thresholds with stable health background. Besides, one must be at least a high school graduate or equivalent graduate to join the army. The candidate must also prove to be physically fit in order to join the military manpower.
The First Three Steps of the Manning Lifecycle in the Army.
The Structure of The Military Manpower
The military manpower structure is summarized in the chart below, taking The United States Force as an example.
Figure 1: The structure of the military manpower
Based on the above chart, it comes out clearly that the Sectary of Defense is the senior-most official in military manpower. He is the most qualified person among all other officers in the army. The secretary of defense is responsible for allocating all the policies to all the departments in the military. He also doubles up as the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Their work is to plan and coordinate military operations and distributions of troops. It is also imperative to remember that various military departments of staff are mandated to conduct thorough training to the forces and equipment with the necessary tools for battle.
Distribution of Military Manpower
The distribution of the military manpower is done according to gender, educational levels of officers, levels of technical proficiency, and age of officials. People who are educated higher than others in the army tend to enjoy privileges (Ref 2). Health status is also considered when distributing soldiers in the army. Therefore, for the individual looking forward to joining the national defense forces of their respective countries, they must consider the aspects that are highlighted above, putting much focus on the requirements of joining the army.
The 2nd ELO (Enabling Learning Objective)
The main most crucial tools used in planning for sustainment operations at the Joint Forces Land Component Command level are relevant documents, open-source references, for instance, web-search results and imagery from the commercial satellite. However, these tools work to the extent when the military IPB, which is instrumental in detecting danger and threats, is in much need.
However, when planning for the Joint Forces Land Component Command’s sustainment, the Joint Planning Process(JPP) plays a central role. In a nutshell, JPP is an analytical method that gives one the knowledge and approaches necessary to do planning at any joint operations. The process of planning for sustainment at JFLCC is main on the initial processes of decision-making. Scholars argue that due to lack of planning during the first steps of decision-making, many problems arise, especially when planning for sustainment operations(Ref 3). The major processes involved are receipt of the mission and the mission analysis.
The major skills required to plan for sustainment at the JFCC depend on the various departments involved. These skills are as follows; administration skills, driving skills, translators and interpreters, food handling personnel, dockworkers, mechanics, and security guards. Certainly, JFCC needs medical personnel to provide the necessary medical services to the staff for effective operations. All these work together to make the planning and operation a success. It is, therefore, essential to consider these skills before one plans to join the military.
The 3rd ELO (Enabling Learning Objective)
The sustainment brigade’s capabilities.
The sustainment brigade’s organization’s structure is illustrated in the chart below, picking our example of the United States Army.
Fig 2. The Structure of the Sustainment Brigade.
From the above figure, it is clear that the Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) is the top and senior-most official in the Sustainment Brigade. He is the one responsible for handling all the multifunctional logistics that help in all the army maneuvers.
Sustainment Brigade’s Capabilities/Mission
The sole mission of the Sustainment Brigade is to provide the necessary support to other related services by supplying medical equipment and personnel, fuel, foodstuffs as well as supplying spare parts of army vehicles (ref 4). The most commonly used equipment by the brigade is, for instance, mounted telescopes, modular fuel systems, mobile gun systems, and low-bed semitrailers, which are the most powerful and essential equipment.
The sustainment brigade’s mission/capabilities are of great use and can be deployed in the joint task force and contingency plan to conduct operations that are related to the environment because since the contingency plan (CONPLAN)) is much more handling catastrophic events and potential threats, the brigade can be of greater help in supplying the necessary equipment, personnel, and spare parts.
References
- Abdessameud, O. M., Van Utterbeeck, F., Van Kerckhoven, J., & Guerry, M. A. (2018). Military Manpower Planning.
- Holian, L., & Adam, T. (2020). Veterans’ Education Benefits: A Profile of Military Students Who Received Federal Veterans’ Education Benefits in 2015-16. Stats in Brief. NCES 2020-488rev. National Center for Education Statistics.
- Samuels, S. L. Setting Conditions to Achieve Effects for Sustainment Operations.
- McLean, J. I. (2016). Army Aviation’s Pacific Rebalance: Evolution Towards Maritime Operations. US Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth United States.