The Mission Support Element
What is it'
The Mission Support Element (MSE) is a Generating Force Table of Distribution and Allowances (TDA) organization assigned to U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and attached to a Corps or Division commander designated as senior commander (SC) on an installation to perform Administrative Control (ADCON) responsibilities under Title 10 of the United States code.
The MSE provides area support to all assigned, attached, and tenant FORSCOM units in the SC's area of responsibility. The MSE provides critical capability to the SC necessary to synchronize, coordinate, and execute Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) and accomplish mission requirements. The MSE TDA may include military, civilian, and contract personnel as well as military and commercial equipment. The MSE does not deploy as a unit, but its personnel and equipment may.
What has the Army done'
When the Installation Management Activity (now IMCOM) initially formed, HQDA approved functions retained by Army Commands and documented them on TDAs. In 2007, FORSCOM reorganized and standardized MSE staff functions to support modularity. The MSE enables SCs to exercise seamless and continuous ADCON/Title 10 support of the Expeditionary Force given ARFORGEN requirements. In a period of pervasive conflict and cyclic deployments, the MSE provides continuity and is optimized to execute when the SC is deployed, allowing the operational staff to focus on its warfighting mission.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future'
Many of the Army's processes are still evolving to changing dynamics. In this bridging period, units and senior leaders must be acculturated to the MSE concept. The MSE is an autonomous, predominantly Department of the Army civilian staff that will provide experience and continuity for the long-term.
MSEs will not augment, nor be subordinated to, the SC's corps or division headquarters staff or the installation garrison staff; nor is it a duplicative capability to the garrison and operational staff.
The MSE and operational staff functions will not be integrated, but must work collaboratively. The MSE, garrison, and operational staffs all share the same objective of providing "trained and ready forces."
Why is this important to the Army'
The MSE is the key enabler in support of a modular expeditionary force and campaign capable Army. It provides dedicated mission support to FORSCOM modular units, especially when the SC is deployed. The SC is responsible for synchronizing ARFORGEN activities on the host installation. The MSE enables the ARFORGEN process by coordinating, integrating, prioritizing, and synchronizing Title 10 activities and provides the SC with a critical capability necessary to accomplish mission requirements. It shapes conditions for unit RESET; supports "stay behind" units; and supports units that deploy after the SC and his HQ Staff deploy.
References:
<a href="http://www.army.mil/forscom" target="_blank">U.S. Army Forces Command</a>
<a href="http://www.ausa.org/publications/armymagazine/archive/october2009/Documents/Casey211009.pdf" target="_blank"> Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Army Magazine, Oct., 2009</a>
<a href="http://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2009/10/13/ " target="_blank"> STAND-TO! edition, October 13, 2009: Improving Army Force Generation</a>
<a href="https://fcportal.forscom.army.mil/sites/G3/g3acd/acp/armytran/default.aspx" target="_blank"> FORSCOM Execution Order, FORSCOM Modular Force Command and Control Implementation Strategy dated 6 September 2006</a>
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