Reversing a negative trend: the M981 FIST-V on deadline.

Whether in the motor pool or on the battlefield, there is a common negative trend among a number of FA units: deadlined M981 fire support team vehicles (FIST- Vs). The FIST-V is an M113 chassis with a laser designator rangefinder (LDR) and night-sight mounted on it. It seems these vehicles breakdown continuously.

Information gathered at the National Training Center(NTC), Fort Irwin, California, from rotational units over a three-month period showed that, at the task force (TF) level, anywhere from 25 to 100 percent of the FIST-Vs were reported non-mission capable (NMC) at any one time. This same trend is evident in FA units with FIST-Vs Army-wide.

This article discusses ways to help reverse this trend, including changing the FIST-V's maintenance reporting system.

The Operator. Making the M981 a more dependable vehicle begins with the operator. First, the operator must conduct proper preventive maintenance checks and services (PMCS) with the correct technical manual (TM); he will find minor deficiencies that, if left unattended, could lead to major problems and a NMC vehicle. Also, the operator must use the proper lubrication order (LO) when filling fluids to prevent unnecessary wear and tear. Finally, he must operate the vehicle properly to avoid damaging it.

Supervisors must ensure all deficiencies are annotated properly on the DA Form 5988-E Equipment Inspection and Maintenance Checklist (the automated version of DA Form 2404). This form is sent to unit-level maintenance to order parts. Supervisors must follow-up on the status of the deficiencies and ensure all parts are on order.

Unit Maintenance. The next step in the process is the battery maintenance personnel verify that the deficiencies are legitimate and annotated correctly. After ordering the parts, the supervisor should ensure these parts remain on requisition and posted on the 5988-E until the parts are received and placed on the vehicle or the deficiencies repaired.

The battery motor sergeant ensures the M981 FIST-V deadlines are included in their NMC reports, which may or may not be consolidated at the battalion level.

Reporting Problem. Although other M113s are ground-reportable pieces of equipment on the monthly Army materiel status system (AMSS) report (the automated version of DA Form 2406 Materiel Conditions Status Report), the logistics community classifies the M981. FIST-V as non-reportable on AMSS. Batteries only can document their deadlined FIST-Vs on the automated daily NMC report via the unit-level logistics system-ground (ULLS-G).

For any NMC piece of equipment to make the AMSS report, its materiel condition status report (MCSR) code in ULLS-G must be a "Y"; the FIST-V is coded "M." Only the equipment coded with a "Y" on AMSS can appear on the 026 report--the report routinely briefed to commanders. Therefore, the FIST-V cannot be reported on the 026.

When the NMC FIST-V becomes automated, it loses visibility for higher level maintenance managers plus others briefed on the 026. Also, the NMC FIST-V is not factored into the unit's operations readiness rate.

The bottom line is that, based on automated reports and routine procedures, NMC FIST-Vs have no visibility above the battery level.

Trend Fixes. There are several things units can do to help reverse the negative trend of FIST-Vs' being NMC.

The battalion maintenance tech (BMT) or the battalion motor officer (BMO) must take the battery's NMC reports to the next higher maintenance manager and get help in expediting the delivery of repair parts for FIST-Vs. This brings the problem to the attention of the higher level maintenance managers who otherwise would not have visibility of the NMC FIST-Vs.

NMC FIST-Vs should be briefed to higher commanders. Routinely, vehicles on the 026 that are NMC for a number of days (15, 30--it varies by command) are briefed to higher commanders. Although not listed on the 026, NMC FIST-Vs also should be briefed. Commanders need to be aware of the lack of visibility NMC FIST-Vs have due to the MCSR code. Then they can emphasize the importance of supporting FIST-V maintenance throughout the command.

In addition, the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, needs to work with the logistics community to change the FIST-V coding so NMC FIST-Vs can appear on the AMSS--and, ultimately, the 026.

When fully mission capable, the M981 FIST-V is an effective platform to accurately locate and adjust indirect fires onto targets. A properly working targeting station and 13-power LDR give the commander more in-depth information about his battlefield than he can get with other visibility means.

If properly maintained with deficiencies reported and fixed in a timely manner, the M981 FIST-V deficiency trend can be reversed, enabling FISTs to focus on training and providing the right fires at the right place and right time.