The Bundeswehr Joint Support Command is the central stakeholder for the deployment of materiel and personnel for multinational operations abroad. This capability is known as Reception, Staging and Onward Movement, or RSOMReception, Staging, Onward Movement for short. 163 Logistic Battalion constitutes a dedicated unit that facilitates this joint deployment to the theatre of operations.
163 Logistic Battalion is specifically designed to meet the needs of NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization. Counting around 600 specialists, the battalion enables the members of the Bundeswehr Joint Support Command to act as a single source of capabilities for deploying materiel and personnel during multinational operations. During the reception phase, they receive personnel, vehicles and materiel in the theatre of operations. Staging refers to the process of integrating, or, in other words, “marrying up”, personnel and materiel. Onward movement means the marshalling taking place prior to onward deployment to the actual destination referred to as “area of operations”.
Port transshipment is only one of the special capabilities of 163 Logistic Battalion.
Bundeswehr/Susanne HähnelIn its function, the battalion is the central hub for all NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization nations. In an Article 5 contingency, units will be deployed across Germany on a large scale. 163 Logistic Battalion in Delmenhorst is in charge of this process. The unit is responsible for establishing and operating staging areas as well as running maintenance areas and POLPetrol, Oil and Lubricants (petroleum, oils, and lubricants) storage sites. The logistics professionals also know how to set up and operate rest areas for marching forces. The land/sea terminal operations company is responsible for planning and operating up to two ports. Large operations involve up to 2,500 tons of goods, or 500 vehicles per day.
At home and for the Alliance: A U.S. M1 Abrams tank is being loaded onto the trailer of a Mammut heavy equipment transporter. With safety at stake, there is no room for glitches.
Bundeswehr/Roland AlpersAt the same time, terminals at up to four airports must operate properly to handle up to 500 tons of materiel and 1,000 servicemen and women daily if required. By establishing 163 Logistic Battalion, the Bundeswehr has created a capability that is unique, even within NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization, while accounting for Germany’s central location in Europe. Only by providing these logistic capabilities for reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOIreception, staging, onward movement and integration) and deployment operations can national and collective defence succeed and operational readiness be fully accomplished.