Dallas,

As a former special forces maintenance company commander I am very aware of managing expectations especially when it comes to readiness and training. Although a MTOE change would help tremendously, honestly, its not a realistic option. Instead focus on the things you can affect as a commander. Here are some good starting points.

1) What is the mission of my higher?

Often, logisticians struggle with the idea of nesting my support mission with the maneuver mission. In the ADA world, how do I support these weapons systems so that they can provide Air Defense. I am assuming you have a standard maintenance company with the addition of a SSA. What are you supporting? Patriots? ADA Gunships? Are they stationary or do they maneuver? Whatever the mission of your higher, the mission will dictate the kind of support you need to give them. This is an implied task that you as the commander need to figure out. It is what they are paying you to do as a commander, create the plan to support them. And as a logistician you fortunately never get to say no.

2) Smaller Logistics is better logistics.

Large scale logistics operations are messy, unwieldy, and are hard for anyone person to control. As logistician commanders it is impossible to be everywhere at once. We often have to support wide areas. One of the ways I made my company more “expeditionary” was to create teams of 3-4 various maintenance personnel that I could imbed with an SF ODA team. The idea is not only do they get a maintenance personnel, but they could serve as Heavy Weapons operators, MATV Drivers, and Recovery Team Specialists. This way there were more SF guys to put on the objective. Additionally, you as the commander can talk with the maneuver commanders and imbed your soldiers into their training. This is where mission command is important to us as logisticians. The key to these teams is to put an E-5 or E-6 in charge of the team and to let them operate. Trust your NCOs to do what you pay them to do, lead.

3) Ask for help from your other commanders.

Beg, borrow, and barter whatever you can to get the resources your company needs to train. Work with your fellow company commanders to coordinate training resources between you. I promise you, that is what your higher wants to see from you and your peers, teamwork. Especially if you do not have the organic equipment to protect yourself, find a way to utilize the companies that do have the capabilities and see what you can coordinate together.

4) Pull out every piece of equipment you own.

Do you have GP Mediums? Do you have SAT trailers? A bunch of generators? Part of being expeditionary is having the capabilities to jump your Maintenance Control Point (MCP) with all of the equipment I just mentioned. How do you know if you can jump your MCP if you haven’t done it before? Plan training that forces your Soldiers to pull out all of the equipment. If your equipment doesn’t allow for you to be expeditionary you can then show your boss, with actual field results, the added equipment you need to complete the mission.

I know what they are asking is hard. It took me awhile to figure it out myself. But push the envelope. As a logistician you have to get creative if you want to train you Soldiers to be more expeditionary. Training should be uncomfortable and rigorous. Test your NCOs, they will surprise you with their ingenuity. Do not fret, with the right amount of creativity you can solve this problem.

I am always here to talk about creative ways to conduct training. Good luck and enjoy command!

~Joe