Combat service support is a topic that is, broadly speaking, a subset of

military logistics Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement, supply, and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with: * Design, development, acqui ...

. 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. Th ...

. 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 secu ...

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 service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

, 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 specif ...

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 stor ...

maintenance Maintenance may refer to: Biological science * Maintenance of an organism * Maintenance respiration Non-technical maintenance * Alimony, also called ''maintenance'' in British English * Champerty and maintenance, two related legal doct ...

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, pipeline, an ...

ation, health services, 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 air ...

and

ground combat Land warfare or ground warfare is the process of military operations eventuating in combat that takes place predominantly on the battlespace land surface of the Earth, planet. Land warfare is categorized by the use of large numbers of combat pe ...

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, or ...

. 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 The Adjutant General's Corps is a corps in the British Army responsible for many of its general administrative services, named for the Adjutant-General to the Forces (now the Commander Home Command). As of 2002, the AGC had a staff of 7,000 peo ...

Finance Corps The United States Army Finance Corps is a combat service support (CSS) branch of the United States Army. The Finance Corps traces its foundation to 16 June 1775, when the Second Continental Congress established the office of Paymaster General of ...

Logistics Corps The Israeli Logistics Corps is a support corps in the IDF Technological and Logistics Directorate, which centralizes the logistical activity in the IDF, including the transporting of supplies, shipments of fuel, construction, and transport. Its ...

* 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 Φροντιστών ...

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 Qua ...

Special branches * Army Medical Department (AMEDD) ** Dental Corps **

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 medica ...

** Medical Service Corps ** Medical Specialist Corps ** Nurse Corps ** Veterinary Corps * Chaplain Corps *

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 jud ...

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 Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition point, flames are pr ...

, 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 combi ...

, combat service support has a similar definition to that of the United States Army. The

Marine Corps Logistics Command Marine Corps Logistics Command (MARCORLOGCOM) is a major command of the United States Marine Corps responsible for support for fielded weapons systems and support services and supplies. Mission To provide worldwide, integrated logistics/supply ...

(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 (MAGTF) responsible for providing logistical support. The LCE provides all support functions not organic to the ground combat element (GCE) and aviation combat element (ACE) units of the MAGTF. Functions include: heavy engineer support,

motor transport Motor transport (MT) refers to the operation and maintenance of a military vehicle fleet (especially trucks), and sometimes to the servicemembers to operate and maintain them. Traditionally, motor transport organizations are responsible for a unit ...

supply Supply may refer to: *The amount of a resource that is available **Supply (economics), the amount of a product which is available to customers **Materiel, the goods and equipment for a military unit to fulfill its mission *Supply, as in confidenc ...

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 practic ...

, dental, and specialized support such as air delivery,

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 ...

(EOD), and landing support.

Logistics groups

There are four logistics groups in the United States Marine Corps: * 1st Marine Logistics Group, 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 O ...

, 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 Headquarters Regiment (HQ REGT) was a logistics regiment based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (2nd MLG) and the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), United Stat ...

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 (provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit) ***

Combat Logistics Battalion 15 Combat Logistics Battalion 15 (CLB-15) is a military logistics battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California. It consists of approximately 275 Marines and Sailors. It is part of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 ...

(provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit) **

Combat Logistics Regiment 1 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 to the infantry regiments of the 1st Marine Division (United States) ***

Combat Logistics Battalion 1 Combat Logistics Battalion 1 (CLB 1) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 1 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif ...

(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the 1st Marine Regiment (United States) ***

Combat Logistics Battalion 5 Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (CLB-5) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. CLB-5 is a subordinate battalion to Combat Logistics Regiment 1 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Ca ...

(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the 5th Marine Regiment (United States) *** Combat Logistics Battalion 7 (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 ...

Combat Logistics Regiment 15 Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (CLR-15) was a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. When active, it fall under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group and I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). The unit was based out of Marine ...

(provides general, non-aviation and ground equipment maintenance and supply support, to all elements of the I MEF) *** 1st Maintenance Battalion *** 1st Supply Battalion ***

Combat Logistics Company 11 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 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 ** 1st Medical Battalion **

7th Engineer Support Battalion The 7th Engineer Support Battalion (7th ESB – "Big Red") is an engineering support unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The unit falls under the command of 1st Marine Logist ...

* 2nd Marine Logistics Group, based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, 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: **

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 ...

(provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit) ***

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 Car ...

(provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit) ***

Combat Logistics Battalion 26 Combat Logistics Battalion 26 (CLB-26) 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 the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, No ...

(provides direct, multi-function, logistics support to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit) **

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 ...

(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 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 Lejeune, North Carolina ...

***

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) ***

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 2 ...

(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the

6th Marine Regiment (United States) The 6th Marine Regiment (also referred to as "6th Marines") is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The regiment falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Division of t ...

***

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 Car ...

(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the

8th Marine Regiment (United States) The 8th Marine Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. When last active, it was based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and fell under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and the II Marine Expedit ...

Combat Logistics Regiment 25 Combat Logistics Regiment 25 (CLR 25) was a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. When active, the unit was based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fell under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group and t ...

(provides general, non-aviation and ground equipment maintenance and supply support, to all elements of the II MEF) *** 2nd Maintenance Battalion *** 2nd Supply Battalion ***

Combat Logistics Company 21 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 Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina) *** Combat Logistics Company 23 (provides direct, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina) ** 2nd Dental Battalion ** 2nd Medical Battalion ** 8th Engineer Support Battalion * 3rd Marine Logistics Group, based at

Camp Kinser Camp Kinser is a United States Marine Corps logistics base in Okinawa, Japan. Overview Camp Kinser is a major logistics base for Marine Corps Forces on Okinawa. Its flagship command is the 3rd Marine Logistics Group. It sits adjacent to the Ea ...

, 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: **

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 Combat Logistics Regiment 3 (CLR-3) is a direct support (DS) logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The unit falls under the 3rd Marine Logistics Group and the III Marine Expeditiona ...

(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the infantry regiments of the 3rd Marine Division (United States) ***

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 Ma ...

(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the 3rd Marine Regiment (United States) *** Combat Logistics Battalion 4 (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 fi ...

Combat Logistics Regiment 35 The Combat Logistics Regiment 35 (CLR-35) was a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps that was headquartered at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. When active, the unit fell under the 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3rd MLG) and the III Marine ...

(provides general, non-aviation and ground equipment maintenance and supply support, to all elements of the III MEF) *** 3rd Maintenance Battalion *** 3rd Supply Battalion ***

Combat Logistics Company 35 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, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI) *** Combat Logistics Company 36 (provides direct, non-aviation related, ground equipment maintenance and supply support to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan) ** 3rd Dental Battalion ** 3rd Medical Battalion **

9th Engineer Support Battalion The 9th Engineer Support Battalion (9th ESB) is a general and direct engineering support unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. The unit is subordinate to the 3rd Marine Logistics Group and th ...

* 4th Marine Logistics Group, a reserve unit, headquartered in

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

, Louisiana, with units scattered throughout the United States, provides tactical logistics support above the organic capabilities of supported elements of the Marine Forces Reserve and provides task organized Logistics Combat Elements in support of 4th MARDIV and 4th MAW operations. Units of the 4th Marine Logistics Group include: ** 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 Combat Logistics Regiment 4 (CLR-4) is a regiment of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. It was activated on September 8, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population ...

(provides direct, motor transport and landing support and general maintenance and supply support, to an infantry regiment of the 4th Marine Division (United States) ***

Combat Logistics Battalion 23 Combat Logistics Battalion 23 (CLB-23) is a Military Logistics Battalion of the Marine Forces Reserve, United States Marine Corps Reserve. The unit is based out of the New Orleans, Louisiana with Marine Forces Reserve and headquartered in Fort Le ...

(provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the 23rd Marine Regiment (United States) *** Combat Logistics Battalion 453 ** Combat Logistics Regiment 45 (provides direct, motor transport and landing support and general maintenance and supply support, to an infantry regiment of the 4th Marine Division (United States) *** Combat Logistics Battalion 25 (provides direct, motor transport and landing support to the 25th Marine Regiment (United States) *** Combat Logistics Battalion 451 ** 4th Dental Battalion ** 4th Medical Battalion **

6th Engineer Support Battalion The 6th Engineer Support Battalion (6th ESB or 6th EngSptBn), is an engineering battalion of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. They are headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and they fall under the command of the 4th Marine Logistics Group. ...

References

External links

Combat Service Support Detachment 21Combat Service Support Detachment 23
{{DEFAULTSORT:Combat Service Support Military logistics United States Army doctrine