text: Chapter 9
  force, the goal of our maintenance system is to reduce repair times by repairing or replacing components,
  modules, and assemblies as far forward as possible.
  Field-Level Maintenance
  9-119. Field-level maintenance is on or near system maintenance focusing on the repair and return to the
  user. It includes maintenance actions performed by operators, crews, and ordnance maintainers. Units
  perform field-level maintenance as far forward as possible utilizing line replaceable units or modules and
  component replacement or repair. The owning or support unit most often performs field-level maintenance
  by using tools and test equipment found in the unit. Field-level maintenance is not limited to simply removing
  and replacing parts.
  9-120. Field-level maintenance allows for repair of components or end items if the maintainers possess the
  requisite skills, proper tools, proper repair parts, references, and adequate time. Field maintenance includes
  adjustment, alignment, service, applying approved field-level modification work orders, fault and failure
  diagnoses, battle damage assessment and repair, and recovery. Field-level maintenance is always repair and
  return to the user and includes preventative maintenance checks and services.
  9-121. The maneuver force organization’s operators and crews have the responsibility to perform
  maintenance on their assigned equipment. Operators and crews receive formal training from their proponent
  typically through advanced individual training and new equipment training on a specific piece of equipment
  or weapon system. Operators and crew tasks consist of inspecting, servicing, lubricating, adjusting, and
  replacing minor components or assemblies using basic issue items and onboard spares. After operatorshave
  exhausted their maintenance capabilities, they rely on ordnance maintainers in field maintenance
  organizations or teams to conduct field-level maintenance on the item of equipment.
  Sustainment-Level Maintenance
  9-122. Sustainment-level maintenance is off-system component repair or end item repair, which returns the
  equipment back to the national supply system. National-level maintenance providers perform
  sustainment-level maintenance. Only in rare exceptions will sustainment-level maintenance personnel return
  an item back to the owning unit. One example is during reset. National-level maintenance providers include
  the U.S. Army Materiel Command and installation logistics readiness centers maintenance activities.
  Sustainment-level maintenance returns items to a national standard, providing a consistent and measurable
  level of reliability. Sustainment-level maintenance supports both operational forces and the Army supply
  system.
  9-123. The Army conducts below depot sustainment-level maintenance on a component, accessory,
  assembly, subassembly, plug-in unit, or other portion after maintainers remove it from the system. The
  remove and replace authority for this level of maintenance is noted in the relevant maintenance allocation
  chart for the equipment. Sustainment-levelmaintainers return items to the supply system after they perform
  the maintenance. Below depot sustainment-level, maintenance can also apply to end item repair.
  9-124. Depot level maintenance repairs end items or a component, accessory, assembly, subassembly,
  plug-in unit; either on the system or after maintainers have removed the inoperable or damaged item. Either
  depot personnel or contractor personnel, when authorized by the U.S. Army Materiel Command, perform
  depot sustainment-level maintenance. Depot level maintainers return items to the supply system after they
  perform the maintenance at this level.
  RECOVERY OPERATIONS AND PLANNING
  9-125. Recovery is the process of repairing, retrieving/freeing immobile, inoperative materiel from the point
  where it was disabled or abandoned. Maintenance planners should echelon dedicated recovery assets
  throughout the BSA, field, combat, and company trains for optimum support of the BCT.
  9-126. Commanders must emphasize the use of self and like vehicle recovery methods to the greatest extent
  possible. These practices will minimize the use of dedicated recovery assets for routine recovery missions.
  Recovery managers and supervisors must ensure maneuver forces and logistics units use recovery vehicles
  only when necessary. The FSC commander, maintenance warrant officer, and supported battalion or