The purpose of this manual is to provide the authoritative doctrine for Army theater distribution in support of operations across the full spectrum operations. This manual describes the Army distribution system, organization, structure, and operational processes within a theater. It provides doctrinal guidance for units with distribution responsibilities, operations, and the in-transit visibility (ITV) tracking and monitoring processes for moving personnel and materiel in theater. These topics are addressed as they pertain to geographic combatant commanders (GCC), logisticians at all levels, staff, and students who may require knowledge on Army, joint and multinational theater-level distribution. This manual also provides the basis for theater distribution system training, organizational, and materiel development. The target audience is logistics managers and planners operating external and internal in the theater of operations. It is doctrine for the units and commands that provide strategic and in-theater distribution, as well as the units supported by those organizations.
It supports deployment doctrine and focuses on current Army distribution processes. Commands should adapt the doctrine in this manual to fit existing organizational structures.
Current operations have demonstrated that Army forces can rapidly deploy units and materiel into an area of operations. These units require the proper sustainment to win the Nation’s wars. Distribution is the key to delivering the sustainment to forces in the field. Theater distribution covers how the Army supports its forces as well as other requirements. Theater distribution requires focused Army organizations whose mission is to deliver the right stuff in the right quantity to the right place within the right time. To accomplish this task, the theater must have efficient distribution management, enhanced in-transit visibility and capable sustainment units.
These Army tactics, techniques, and procedures apply to the Active Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the United States Army Reserve unless otherwise stated.
The proponent for this manual is the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The preparing agency is the United States Army Combined Arms Support Command (USACASCOM).
