Mission Command at the Tactical Edge

By MAJ Ramón E. García Rodriguez and CPT Taylor Strom, Captains Career Training Department

Article published on: January 29, 2026 in the Army Sustainment Winter 2026 Issue

Read Time: < 1 mins

Situation

During Operation ICARUS, Task Force (TF) DAGGER (2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division) initiated offensive operations to seize objective (OBJ) SEAHAWKS. As part of the operation, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment (1-32 IN), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, was tasked to clear alternate supply route (ASR) FEVER, a narrow, mountainous route canalized by terrain and degraded by monsoon rains. This route lies well forward of the brigade support area (BSA) LIFELINE, creating a sustainment gap between maneuver elements and their logistical lifeline.

The terrain restricts mounted movement, limits helicopter landing zone (HLZ) suitability, and exposes sustainment convoys to enemy reconnaissance, indirect fires, and potential sabotage by special-purpose forces and insurgents. Despite these constraints, 1-32 IN must maintain tempo, secure OBJ MARINERS, and support the wet gap crossing at OBJ RIVER.

Mission

Sustain 1-32 IN’s clearance of ASR FEVER and seizure of OBJ MARINERS by applying mission command principles to overcome distance-based sustainment challenges, ensuring uninterrupted support in a contested large-scale combat operations (LSCO) environment.

Coordinating Instructions

• TF 299th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) establishes BSA LIFELINE west of Phase Line APPLE. Priority of support: TF 1-18, TF 2-70, TF 1-63, and 1-32 IN.‌
• 1-32 IN receives 1 x Hippo, 1 x load handling system (LHS), and operators from the BSB to augment organic water storage and transportation capacity.‌
• TF 82nd Brigade Engineer Battalion provides route clearance along ASR FEVER and establishes traffic control points (TCPs).‌
• Logistic status (LOGSTAT) reports indicate 1-32 IN has two days of supply of Meals Ready-to-Eat, 6,950 gallons of Class IIIB, 1 pallet of Class IX, and multiple Class IV requests for blocking positions and defense.‌
• No HLZs are available in the area of operations; aerial resupply is not feasible during this operation.‌
• Sustainment convoys must traverse degraded terrain under threat of unmanned aircraft systems, electronic warfare, and indirect fires.‌

Question

How can mission command principles be applied to sustain 1-32 IN’s clearance of ASR FEVER, given the extended distance from the BSB and the threat environment?