Within a Brigade Combat Team (BCT), who carries the first sustainment load?

The first sustainment load within a Brigade Combat Team (BCT) is carried by the Forward Support Company (FSC). The FSC plays a vital role in providing logistical support directly to the maneuver battalions within the BCT. It is designed to ensure that units have the necessary supplies, such as ammunition, food, fuel, and maintenance support, readily available during combat operations.

This capability to provide immediate support allows the BCT to maintain operational tempo and sustain combat effectiveness. The FSC is embedded within the BCT's structure and is strategically oriented towards facilitating quick response times to the needs of the maneuver units, making it essential for the execution of large-scale combat operations.

The other choices represent different support elements outside the direct vertical integration of the BCT. The Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) serves as a higher level of sustainment support for the brigade as a whole, while the Army Sustainment Command (ASCC) and Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) provide broader logistics and sustainment functions at a strategic level. These options, while important in the sustainment framework, do not directly carry the first sustainment load to the frontline units like the FSC does.