text: Sustainment Operations During Competition Below Armed Conflict
  SECTION II – PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS DURING COMPETITION
  3-19. In addition to the sustainment activities and other considerations for operations during competition
  mentioned above, there are additional conditions and planning considerations for sustainment forces.
  Sustainment planners must be prepared to meet the challenges of distributing supplies and bulk fuel utilizing
  military assets without reliance on OCS and contractors on the battlefield. Additional considerations are
  discussed below.
  THEATER STRATEGIC, OPERATIONAL, AND TACTICAL
  COMPETITION ACTIVITIES
  3-20. Certain conditions must be established in theater during competition at the theater strategic, operational,
  and tactical levels. These conditions must be in place to enable deployment, employment, sustainment, and
  redeployment of forces. They include—
  • Whole-of-government initiatives.
  • JOA opening:
  ▪ Theater opening.
  ▪ Port opening.
  ▪ RSOI.
  • Support to other Services.
  • Theater distribution.
  WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
  3-21. Whole-of-government initiatives enable access to countries. They involve strategic organizations
  establishing host-nation agreements, contracts, and clearances to allow forces to enter ports and airfields and
  operate on highways, rail lines, and waterways in theater. They can be complex and time consuming. The
  number of governments and defense organizations involved can complicate and prolong the process to gain
  access to a country’s infrastructure and commerce.
  JOINT OPERATIONS AREA OPENING
  3-22. Establishing a JOA relies on the efforts of theater strategic, operational, and tactical-level organizations.
  This condition must be tailored to accommodate the size and capabilities of deploying forces. Specific tasks
  involved in establishing a JOA include theater opening, port opening, and RSOI.
  Theater Opening
  3-23. Theater opening involves establishing and operating ports of debarkation (air, sea, and rail), a
  distribution system, and sustainment infrastructure. This condition facilitates port throughput for the RSOI
  of forces in theater. Specific capabilities include security forces, port opening teams, maintenance companies,
  transportation companies, signal companies, medical detachments, and command and control structures.
  Coordination between the supported CCDR, USTRANSCOM, and other strategic organizations will
  determine the who, what, and how of theater opening.
  Port Opening
  3-24. The TSC is responsible for port opening and accomplishes this through its task organized elements to
  begin initial theater distribution. This size and scope of the units conducting port opening will depend on
  mission and operational variables. Multiple port opening options are available to assist the CCDR.
  3-25. The Army’s theater petroleum and water group supports the theater port opening mission of the TBX
  when assigned. It provides planning, coordinating and operations support to the TBX when the bulk
  petroleum portion of the mission exceeds staff capabilities.