In an ever-evolving global landscape, the ability to rapidly deploy is not just a military requirement—it’s a deterrence. The U.S. Army’s global competitors are kept at bay not just by firepower, but by the sheer efficiency of its deployment strategies, known as the strategic mobility triad. This triad comprises strategic airlift, sealift and pre-positioned equipment.

Each element of the triad supports the National Military Strategy by projecting military power anywhere in the world. Central to this is the Army Prepositioned Stock (APS) program, a synchronization of multiple logistics enterprises that ensures a swift deployment, especially to pivotal regions like the Indo-Pacific. 

APS plays a crucial role to minimize the impact of contested logistics by ensuring that essential equipment and supplies are strategically located near potential areas of operation. This program enables the Army to rapidly deploy and sustain forces even when adversaries attempt to disrupt or degrade supply chains.

Commanded by Maj. Gen. David Wilson, U.S. Army Sustainment Command plays a critical role in maintaining APS. The command, under U.S. Army Materiel Command, ensures that these stocks are maintained through regional Army field support brigades and battalions.

This readiness was demonstrated in February 2022 when APS resources were used to support operations related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and deploying soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, pulled from pre-positioned stocks in Germany.

Great Value

In the expansive and complex theater of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the significance of APS is amplified, particularly for what is known as APS-4 in South Korea and Japan supporting U.S. Army forces across the Indo-Pacific area of operations. Geopolitical intricacies and vast distances underscore the necessity of having equipment and forces strategically pre-positioned, allowing the Army to quickly pivot from competition to crisis to conflict. This capability is a cornerstone of the Army’s commitment to maintaining a robust presence in the Indo-Pacific and supporting stability and defense commitments in the region.

The 403rd Army Field Support Brigade and Army Field Support Battalion-Northeast Asia play instrumental roles in the management of APS-4 in South Korea and Japan.

In August and September, a deployment readiness exercise with the 403rd Army Field Support Brigade in South Korea showcased the capability provided by APS-4. The exercise served a dual purpose: It exercised the unit’s readiness to rapidly deploy and integrate overseas, and it highlighted the 403rd’s proficiency in its mission-essential tasks. Through the deployment readiness exercise, the brigade’s soldiers demonstrated not just the quality of APS-4 equipment, but also the speed and efficiency with which they can issue it.

The deployment readiness exercise encompassed about 1,600 pieces of equipment. The goal was to release combat systems and equipment within a span of 240 hours following notification. The process included staging equipment and basic issue items, and serial number verification of major end items, weapons, secondary items and sensitive items. The overarching aim was to refine procedures based on captured metrics.

Working Together

The exercise unfolded over a 40-day period and involved key units in planning, coordination and execution. The 1st Armored Division and, specifically, the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, from Fort Bliss, Texas, served as the tactical unit gaining the equipment.

Other units involved included Eighth U.S. Army, 2nd Infantry Division, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Materiel Support Command-Korea, 498th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 25th Transportation Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade, 65th Medical Brigade and U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency. This highlights the intricate collaboration and coordination required to execute complex readiness exercises.

To prepare for the exercise, there were detailed rehearsals, tabletop exercises, pre-deployment site surveys and daily updates.

Preparations also were underway at Fort Bliss to ensure seamless integration of forces for the upcoming deployment readiness exercise. A diverse group of specialists, representing a spectrum of Army logistics and command elements, worked with the 1st Armored Division to establish timelines, coordinate the intricate sequence of pre-deployment activities, streamline the movement plan and validate transportation requirements.

Need for Speed

As the exercise drew closer, the Army Field Support Battalion-Northeast Asia prepped the equipment at appropriate staging areas at Camp Carroll, South Korea, to increase speed of issue. As soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, the gaining tactical unit, arrived in South Korea, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command received them at Osan Air Base and managed their onward movement to the tactical assembly area. The APS equipment then was transferred to the battalion’s property book.

After the exercise, the battalion returned to Camp Carroll, and over a nine-day span, the equipment was moved by rail and ground transport to be prepared for its return to APS-4.

At the APS-4 grid—the location where vehicles are equipment are laid out in a grid pattern during issue and turn-in—there were comprehensive joint inventories and technical inspections, culminating in the final acceptance of the equipment into the Global Combat Support System-Army by the APS-4 property book officer.

Once back at APS-4, the equipment was restored and repaired, ready for long-term storage and future use.

The utilization of Army pre-positioned stocks is a vital component in testing and showcasing the Army’s readiness and capabilities. However, it also brings to light certain risks and challenges.

These involve not just immediate costs and logistics, but also the ensuing downtime for system recovery and maintenance. It is crucial to understand that every exercise is a balance between displaying operational strength and managing the subsequent period of equipment refurbishment and availability.

Expensive Proposition

Using APS-4 for military exercises comes with substantial financial implications. For instance, mobilization of Army combat systems from APS, such as deployment of 15 M1A2 Abrams tanks, can incur maintenance costs exceeding $5 million for a week’s exercise. This expenditure underscores the need for judicious financial planning and budget allocation to support such exercises. The additional requirement for Care of Supplies in Storage (COSIS) maintenance adds a layer of complexity and cost to the post-exercise reset process.

Within the complex web of military logistics, COSIS remains largely behind the scenes, unfamiliar to many within the armed forces. Yet, the return of combat systems to APS necessitates a thorough COSIS procedure following initial maintenance. This process is critical to maintaining serviceability and readiness of APS assets for future operations.

A meticulous maintenance and care program, COSIS ensures that the Army’s pre-positioned stocks are returned to serviceable condition and maintained to precise standards, ensuring their availability and reliability for combat operations or other contingencies. However, the time required to restore systems to COSIS standards can significantly affect readiness timelines, making it a pivotal, though often understated, element of strategic readiness.

Availability of critical parts is another challenge. Often, these parts are not readily available and may take three to six months to procure. The process of identifying required parts, placing orders and completing maintenance is time-consuming and poses a risk to operational readiness. If contingency operations arise during this period, the unavailability of essential systems could present strategic and tactical vulnerabilities.

A Delicate Balance

In managing Army pre-positioned stocks for military exercises, the balance between achieving peak readiness and mitigating risk is delicate and complex. The rigorous exercise of APS-4 systems, while invaluable for demonstrating might and readiness, necessitates a consequential period of downtime for maintenance and resupply.

Therefore, it is essential to weigh the benefits of rigorous training and display of force against the imperative of having a constantly ready and resilient force. Forward-looking strategies must account for these intervals, ensuring that operational tempo and resource allocation are aligned with the overarching objective of sustained military readiness.

A pivotal consideration in APS-4 employment is alignment of unit capabilities with advanced equipment systems provided. A notable issue arises when gaining tactical units are equipped with fleets less modernized than those of APS-4, such as Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and up-armored tactical wheeled vehicles. This discrepancy has resulted in a significant readiness gap, exemplified by untrained and unlicensed drivers within gaining tactical units, leading to a reduced equipment draw rate of 60% in the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment.

The readiness of active Army units is contingent upon their fielding to match the evolving modernization of APS equipment. It is imperative that the emergency deployment readiness exercise-ready brigades have personnel trained and licensed to operate such sophisticated APS vehicles, ensuring that they are prepared for immediate deployment and “ready to fight tonight.”

Timely Transition

In the aftermath of rigorous military exercises, swift transition to equipment maintenance and recovery is essential. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units, with their deep sustainment expertise, are uniquely positioned to fulfill this role once the primary gaining tactical units have redeployed. These units can effectively execute comprehensive maintenance, repairs and revitalization of APS equipment, ensuring that combat systems are returned to optimal condition in a timely manner.

This strategy not only capitalizes on the specialized skills of Reserve and Guard units, but also alleviates the operational strain on gaining tactical units, which may lack resources to engage in extensive post-exercise maintenance due to their operational commitments.

By integrating these Reserve and National Guard units’ maintenance work into their annual two-week training, the Army maximizes resource efficiency and ensures that equipment care is both systematic and sustainable. This integration provides a cost-effective maintenance solution while enhancing the readiness of APS for future deployments.

This approach also aligns the Reserve and National Guard units’ training objectives with strategic military goals, providing practical, hands-on applications for their skills. It encourages a culture of continuous engagement and proficiency in equipment care, ensuring that maintenance support is a fundamental component of their annual training regimen. Such a strategy enriches the sustainment capabilities of the force, fostering a robust and ready military posture.

As the U.S. military adapts to the dynamic demands of modern warfare, integrating equipment from all services into APS-4 is a strategic imperative. This integration promises to enhance joint force capabilities by leveraging the Army’s robust infrastructure for pre-positioning vital combat systems. By incorporating assets from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps into APS reserves, the military can boost interoperability and collective operational capacity.

This effort will require a coordinated effort to identify and integrate cross-service equipment that augments the Army’s current arsenal. Establishing a joint equipment cache within APS would embody the spirit of a cohesive fighting force, ready to confront the varied challenges of future conflicts with enhanced adaptability and strength.

The envisioned unified response to global threats and a logistical network that simplifies deployment procedures for all services not only would streamline operations, but also would ensure that appropriate equipment is available for any mission.

Location, Location

APS placement is another area the military should be continually assessing, to ensure that APS locations remain adaptable and responsive to changing global threats. Regular reviews and adjustments are essential to maintain the agility and effectiveness of these strategically positioned assets.

The orchestration of deployment readiness exercises with APS-4 is a testament to the Army’s commitment to swift, efficient preparedness and reflects a profound dedication to global power projection. These operations, characterized by meticulous planning and precision, showcase logistical prowess and fortify the Army’s position as a formidable force capable of addressing emergent threats worldwide.

In this pursuit of readiness, however, there lies an inherent balance of risk—especially when exercising systems crucial to immediate contingencies. Mitigating these risks is essential to maintain the delicate equilibrium between demonstrating force capability and preserving the integrity and availability of equipment.

* * *

Col. Henry Brown is the commander of the 403rd Army Field Support Brigade, Republic of Korea and Japan. Previously, he was an Army senior service college fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, California. Previous assignments include chief of the Operations and Exercises Branch, U.S. Forces Korea, and battalion commander for Defense Logistics Agency Energy Middle East, supporting U.S. Central Command. He has an MBA from the College of William and Mary, Virginia.