Combat service support (United States)

the use of the term in the United States military

Combat service support is a topic that is, broadly speaking, a subset of military logistics. However, combat service support is often more limited in depth, as the related groups primarily address factors supporting readiness for combat operations. The United States Department of Defense organizes various agencies providing services such as medical assistance, for example, akin to other nations' militaries.

"Combat service support" as a classification was replaced by "sustainment" with the publication of FM 3–0, Operations in February 2008. In the US Army Sustainment is defined as "the provision of logistics, personnel services, and health service support necessary to maintain operations until successful mission completion". Sustainment is one of the six warfighting functions, which also include movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, command and control, and protection.

In the United States Marine Corps, combat service support has a similar definition to that of the United States Army. The Marine Corps Logistics Command (MARCORLOGCOM) is the preferred provider of supply chain management, collaborative maintenance management and strategic prepositioning to the operating forces of the United States Marine Corps and other services and agencies. The Logistics Combat Element (LCE), formerly Combat Service Support Element (CSSE) is the portion of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) responsible for providing logistical support. The LCE provides all support functions not organic to the ground combat element (GCE) and aviation combat element (ACE) units of the MAGTF. Functions include: heavy engineer support, motor transport, supply, maintenance, medical, dental, and specialized support such as air delivery, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and landing support.