text: Army Sustainment at Echelon
  AVIATION SUPPORT BATTALION
  2-105. The aviation support battalion (ASB) is organic to a CAB, an expeditionary CAB, and a theater
  aviation brigade. There are primary differences between a BSB and an ASB:
  • The ASB is only assigned a medical section and a maintenance platoon. These elements are assigned
  to the headquarters and support company and have significantly less capability than a BSMC and a
  field maintenance company.
  • An aviation support company replaces the field maintenance company and provides aviation
  maintenance and recovery support to the brigade.
  • The forward support companies are organic to helicopter battalions in the brigade.
  • A signal company is added, similar to a MEB.
  • The CAB has an ammunition transfer and holding point that supplies munitions to its forward
  arming and refueling points (FARPs).
  2-106. The ASB performs the following tasks:
  • Ground vehicle and aviation maintenance and recovery operations.
  • Signal and network security to the CAB for command and control.
  • Aviation and ground sustainment operations for the aviation brigade.
  • Distribution management operations within the aviation brigade.
  • Role 1 medical care for the ASB.
  2-107. Additional sustainment support for aviation battalions and squadrons is provided by an organic
  aviation maintenance company and FSC. For more information on aviation sustainment, see FM 3-04.
  SECTION VI – COMMAND AND SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS
  2-108. As operations continue and theater sustainment matures, leaders should continually re-assess and
  make recommendations to their supported headquarters regarding task organization changes necessary to
  keep pace with operational requirements. Determining the optimal command and support relationships
  between maneuver commanders and sustainment units is critical for both sustainment leaders and those
  supported. Command and support relationships directly influence the ability to meet maneuver commander
  requirements. Understanding the practical effects of a particular command or support relationship in the
  context of a specific operation is critically important. Striking the most effective balance between centralized
  and decentralized control of sustainment units requires a clear understanding of the supported commander’s
  intent and the tactical situation, as well as the ability to anticipate the various possible outcomes of the combat
  operations being supported. Knowing the inherent responsibilities of each command and support relationship
  allows commanders to organize their forces effectively and helps supporting commanders understand their
  unit’s role in the organizational structure.
  2-109. The flexibility to adjust command and control structure and employ different command and support
  relationships in an AO gives both maneuver and sustainment commanders the ability to effectively balance
  sustainment capabilities across the AOR. Sustainment staff estimates should account for available
  sustainment forces, assigned missions, commander priorities, and the validity of previous assumptions. Doing
  so effectively requires continuous dialogue between sustainment and maneuver commanders.
  JOINT COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS
  2-110. JP 1, Volume 2 specifies and details four types of joint command relationships:
  • COCOM.
  • OPCON.
  • TACON.
  • Support.
  COMBATANT COMMAND (COMMAND AUTHORITY)
  2-111. COCOM is the command authority over assigned and allocated forces vested only in commanders of
  CCMDs or as directed by the President or the Secretary of Defense in the Unified Command Plan and cannot
  be delegated or transferred. COCOM only extends to those forces assigned or allocated to the CCMD by the