Combat service support is a topic that is, broadly speaking, a subset of military logistics. However, combat service support is often more limited in depth, as the related groups primarily address factors supporting readiness for
combat operations
Combat operations area - process is undertaken by armed forces during military campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements to facilitate the setting of objectives, direction of combat, and assessment of the operation plan's success.
...
. The
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secur ...
organizes various agencies providing services such as medical assistance, for example, akin to other nations' militaries.
United States Army
In the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
, the term combat service support was until 2008 defined as the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of operating forces in
theater
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actor, actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The p ...
at all levels of war. Within the national and theater logistics systems, it includes but is not limited to that support rendered by service forces in ensuring the aspects of
materiel
Materiel (; ) refers to supplies, equipment, and weapons in military supply-chain management, and typically supplies and equipment in a commercial supply chain context.
In a military context, the term ''materiel'' refers either to the spec ...
and
supply chain management
In commerce, supply chain management (SCM) is the management of the flow of goods and services including all processes that transform raw materials into final products between businesses and locations. This can include the movement and sto ...
transport
Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land ( rail and road), water, cable, pipel ...
ation,
health services
Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the preventive healthcare, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, treatment, wiktionary:amelioration, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other disability, physical and menta ...
, and other services required by
aviation
Aviation includes the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. ''Aircraft'' includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot ...
and ground combat troops to permit those units to accomplish their missions in
combat
Combat (French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, o ...
. Combat service support encompasses those activities at all levels of war that produce sustainment to all operating forces on the battlefield. Within the United States Army, the traditional combat service support branches are the following:
Basic branches
* Acquisition Corps
* Adjutant General's Corps
* Finance Corps
* Logistics Corps
* Ordnance Corps
*
Quartermaster Corps
Following is a list of Quartermaster Corps, military units, active and defunct, with logistics duties:
* Egyptian Army Quartermaster Corps - see Structure of the Egyptian Army
* Hellenic Army Quartermaster Corps (''Σώμα Φροντιστώ� ...
*
Transportation Corps
The Transportation Corps is a combat service support branch of the U.S. Army. It is responsible for the movement of personnel and material by truck, rail, air, and sea. It is one of three U.S. Army logistics branches, the others being the ...
Dental Corps
A medical corps is generally a military branch or officer corps responsible for medical care for serving military personnel. Such officers are typically military physicians.
List of medical corps
The following organizations are examples of medi ...
**
Medical Corps
A medical corps is generally a military branch or officer corps responsible for medical care for serving military personnel. Such officers are typically military physicians.
List of medical corps
The following organizations are examples of medi ...
Medical Specialist Corps
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army (AMEDD), formerly known as the Army Medical Service (AMS), encompasses the Army's six medical Special Branches (or "Corps"). It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the me ...
Judge Advocate General's Corps
The Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, is the military justice branch or specialty of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called ju ...
Replaced by sustainment
"Combat service support" as a classification was replaced by "sustainment" with the publication of FM 3–0, Operations in February 2008. Sustainment is one of the six warfighting functions, which also include movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, command and control, and protection.
United States Marine Corps
In the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through ...
, combat service support has a similar definition to that of the United States Army. The Marine Corps Logistics Command (MARCORLOGCOM) is the preferred provider of supply chain management, collaborative maintenance management and strategic prepositioning to the operating forces of the United States Marine Corps and other services and agencies.
The Logistics Combat Element (LCE), formerly Combat Service Support Element (CSSE) is the portion of the
Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF, pronounced MAG-TAF) is a term used by the United States Marine Corps to describe the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air-ground, combined ar ...
medical
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practi ...
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Bomb disposal is an explosives engineering profession using the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. ''Bomb disposal'' is an all-encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the milit ...
There are four logistics groups in the United States Marine Corps:
*
1st Marine Logistics Group
The 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG) is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, with several subordinate elements also located at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma a ...
, based at
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by Oc ...
, California, provides tactical logistics support above the organic capabilities of supported elements of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and provides task organized Logistics Combat Elements in support of MAGTF operations. Units of the 1st Marine Logistics Group include:
** Headquarters Regiment Provides combat logistics to 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and command, control and coordination of logistics services to I MEF forces. Executes Maritime Pre-positioning Force (MPF) Operations in order to achieve rapid build-up of combat power. Provides combat logistics to Marine Expeditionary Units and provides terminal operation support to deploying I MEF forces.
*** Combat Logistics Battalion 11 (provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit)
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 13
Combat Logistics Battalion 13 (CLB-13) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. In garrison, it falls under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group; however, when deployed, it forms the l ...
1st Marine Division (United States)
The 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) is a Marine division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).
It is t ...
1st Marine Regiment (United States)
The 1st Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The regiment is under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force. The ...
Combat Logistics Battalion 7
Combat Logistics Battalion 7 (CLB 7) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Logistic ...
(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the
7th Marine Regiment (United States)
The 7th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Nicknamed the "Magnificent Seventh", the regiment falls under the command of the 1st ...
1st Supply Battalion
The 1st Supply Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that specializes in distributing and warehousing military goods and equipment. It is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command o ...
*** Combat Logistics Company 11 (provides direct, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California)
*** Combat Logistics Company 16 (provides direct, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona)
**
1st Dental Battalion
The 1st Dental Battalion is a Fleet Marine Force unit of the United States Navy. The battalion includes fifteen dental clinics spread throughout California and Arizona. The unit is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and falls under t ...
**
1st Medical Battalion
1st Medical Battalion is a unit of the United States Marine Corps operated by the United States Navy that provides expeditionary Health Service Support to Marine Corps forces forward deployed to operations or humanitarian missions. The unit is b ...
2nd Marine Logistics Group
The 2nd Marine Logistics Group (2nd MLG) is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 2nd MLG was formerly known as 2nd Force Service Support Group (FSSG), reorganiz ...
, based at
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune () is a United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports ( Wilmingt ...
, North Carolina, provides tactical logistics support above the organic capabilities of supported elements of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and provides task organized Logistics Combat Elements in support of MAGTF operations. Units of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group include:
** Headquarters Regiment Provides combat logistics to 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and command, control and coordination of logistics services to II MEF forces. Executes Maritime Pre-positioning Force (MPF) Operations in order to achieve rapid build-up of combat power. Provides combat logistics to Marine Expeditionary Units and provides terminal operation support to deploying II MEF forces.
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 22
Combat Logistics Battalion 22 (CLB-22) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North C ...
(provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) is one of seven such units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. It is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. They are currently based out of M ...
)
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 24
Combat Logistics Battalion 24 (CLB-24) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Caroli ...
(provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with a strength of about ...
Combat Logistics Regiment 2
Combat Logistics Regiment 2 (CLR 2) is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (2nd MLG) and the I ...
(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the infantry regiments of the
2nd Marine Division (United States)
The 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) is a division (military), division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeu ...
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 2
Combat Logistics Battalion 2 (CLB-2) is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), which provides direct combat service support to Regimental Combat Team 2 (RCT-2). CLB-2 was formed after its second deployment to Iraq in 2005 as ...
(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the
2nd Marine Regiment (United States)
The 2nd Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
Cu ...
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 6
Combat Logistics Battalion 6 (CLB-6) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed "Red Cloud," the unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment ...
Combat Logistics Battalion 8
Combat Logistics Battalion 8 (CLB-8) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. It is part of Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Caro ...
2nd Maintenance Battalion
The 2nd Maintenance Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that provides intermediate-level maintenance for the II Marine Expeditionary Force's tactical ordnance, engineer, motor transport, communications electronics and gener ...
***
2nd Supply Battalion
The 2nd Supply Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that specializes in distributing and warehousing military goods and equipment. They are based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and they fall under the ...
*** Combat Logistics Company 21 (provides direct, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina)
***
Combat Logistics Company 23
A Combat Logistics Company (CLC) is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps that are based at Marine Corps air stations. Formerly known as Combat Service Support Companies, they provide intermediate supply support and intermediate motor ...
(provides direct, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina)
**
2nd Dental Battalion
2nd Dental Battalion (2nd Den Bn) is unit of the United States Navy that supports United States Marine Corps forces. The battalion includes ten dental clinics and annexes spread throughout North Carolina. The unit is based out of Marine Corps Ba ...
**
2nd Medical Battalion
The 2nd Medical Battalion (2D MED BN) is a medical support unit of the United States Marine Corps and that is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The unit falls under the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (2nd MLG).
Current ...
**
8th Engineer Support Battalion
The 8th Engineer Support Battalion (8th ESB) is an engineering support unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The unit falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics ...
*
3rd Marine Logistics Group
The 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3rd MLG) is the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) for III Marine Expeditionary Force currently headquartered on Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. 3rd MLG provides combat service supp ...
, based at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, provides tactical logistics support above the organic capabilities of supported elements of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and provides task organized Logistics Combat Elements in support of MAGTF operations. Units of the 3rd Marine Logistics Group include:
** Headquarters Regiment Provides combat logistics to 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and command, control and coordination of logistics services to III MEF forces. Executes Maritime Pre-positioning Force (MPF) Operations in order to achieve rapid build-up of combat power. Provides combat logistics to Marine Expeditionary Units and provides terminal operation support to deploying III MEF forces.
*** Combat Logistics Battalion 31 (provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit)
** Combat Logistics Regiment 3 (provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the infantry regiments of the
3rd Marine Division (United States)
The 3rd Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps based at Camp Courtney, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan. It is one of three active duty infantry divisions in the Marine Corps and together with th ...
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 3
3d Littoral Logistics Battalion (3d LLB) is a logistics battalion in the United States Marine Corps. They are headquartered at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and fall under the command of 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and the 3rd Marine Division (3d MarD ...
Combat Logistics Battalion 4
Combat Logistics Battalion 4 (CLB-4) is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The battalion falls under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 3, which is a part of the 3rd Marine Logistics Group. They are based on Camp S ...
(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the
4th Marine Regiment (United States)
The 4th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. Based at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, it is part of the 3rd Marine Division of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Mission
Close with and destroy the enemy by ...
** Combat Logistics Regiment 35 (provides general, non-aviation and ground equipment maintenance and supply support, to all elements of the III MEF)
***
3rd Maintenance Battalion
The 3rd Maintenance Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that provides intermediate-level maintenance for the III Marine Expeditionary Force's tactical ordnance, engineer, motor transport, communications electronics and gene ...
***
3rd Supply Battalion
The 3rd Supply Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that specializes in distributing and warehousing military goods and equipment. They are headquartered at Camp Kinser, with their most remote company of Marines, Ammunition ...
*** Combat Logistics Company 35 (provides direct, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI)
***
Combat Logistics Company 36
A Combat Logistics Company (CLC) is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps that are based at Marine Corps air stations. Formerly known as Combat Service Support Companies, they provide intermediate supply support and intermediate mot ...
(provides direct, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan)
**
3rd Dental Battalion
The 3rd Dental Battalion is a unit of the United States Navy that supports United States Marine Corps forces on Okinawa, Japan. The battalion includes nine dental clinics, approximately 77 United States Navy Dental Corps, Dental Officers, 4 Navy ...
**
3rd Medical Battalion
The 3d Medical Battalion (3D MED BN) is a medical support unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The unit falls under the command of 3rd Marine Logistics Group.
Current units
* Headquarters a ...
4th Marine Logistics Group
The 4th Marine Logistics Group (4th MLG) is a reserve logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps. The group is headquartered at New Orleans, Louisiana while its subordinate units are spread across the United States.
Mission
Provide gener ...
Headquarters and Service Battalion The Headquarters and Service battalion provides command and control, administration, communications, security, food service and data processing support to the Marine Logistics Group (MLG) and supporting services to the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) or two Marine Expeditionary Brigades (MEB) and MEF residual forces in expeditionary/amphibious operations and subsequent operations ashore.
** Combat Logistics Regiment 4 (provides direct, motor transport and landing support and general maintenance and supply support, to an infantry regiment of the
4th Marine Division (United States)
The 4th Marine Division is a reserve division in the United States Marine Corps. It was raised in 1943 for service during World War II, and subsequently fought in the Pacific against the Japanese. Deactivated after the war, the division was re- ...
23rd Marine Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Marine Regiment (23rd Marines) is a reserve infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered in San Bruno, California and falls under the command of the 4th Marine Division and the Marine Forces Reserve.
The reg ...
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 453
Combat (French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, ...
**
Combat Logistics Regiment 45
Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
(provides direct, motor transport and landing support and general maintenance and supply support, to an infantry regiment of the
4th Marine Division (United States)
The 4th Marine Division is a reserve division in the United States Marine Corps. It was raised in 1943 for service during World War II, and subsequently fought in the Pacific against the Japanese. Deactivated after the war, the division was re- ...
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 25
The Combat Logistics Battalion 25, (originally the 6th Motor Transport Battalion), is a Marine Forces Reserve logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Red Bank, New Jersey. The unit falls under Combat Logistics R ...
(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the
25th Marine Regiment (United States)
The 25th Marine Regiment (25th Marines) is one of two infantry regiments in the 4th Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps. From its headquarters in Fort Devens, Massachusetts, the regiment commands fifteen training centers in nine sta ...
***
Combat Logistics Battalion 451
Combat (French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, ...
**
4th Dental Battalion
The 4th Dental Battalion is a unit of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, staffed by personnel from both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy that provides dental support to United States Marine Corps forces. The unit is a ...
Combat Service Support
The term combat service support (or CSS) is utilized by numerous military organizations throughout the world to describe entities that provide direct and indirect sustainment services to the groups that engage (or are potentially to be engaged) ...
*
Combat Support
In the United States Army, the term combat support refers to units that provide fire support and operational assistance to combat elements. Combat support units provide specialized support functions to combat units in the following areas
* Chemi ...
*
Combat arms
Combat arms (or fighting arms in non-American parlance) are troops within national armed forces who participate in direct tactical ground combat. In general, they are units that carry or employ weapons, such as infantry, cavalry, and artillery ...