# 137 S13 Ep 16 – Base Cluster Basics w/JRTC Expert Sustainers

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crucible-the-jrtc-experience-podcast-6038857/137-s13-ep-16-base-cluster-basics-w-jrtc-expert-sustainers
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crucible-the-jrtc-experience-podcast-6038857/137-s13-ep-16-base-cluster-basics-w-jrtc-expert-sustainers.md
Podcast: [The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crucible-the-jrtc-experience-podcast-6038857)
Published: 2026-03-07T04:03:30+00:00
Episode link: https://thecrucible-thejrtcexperience.podbean.com/e/137-s13-ep-16-%e2%80%93-base-cluster-basics-wjrtc-expert-sustainers/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/pdird3bw4f2bfggt/Ep_137_The_Crucible_-_HPT_Base_Clusters6hen9.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-crucible-the-jrtc-experience-podcast-6038857/episodes/137-s13-ep-16-base-cluster-basics-w-jrtc-expert-sustainers
Duration seconds: 2187

## Resource

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-thirty-seventh episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by MAJ Marc Howle, the Brigade Senior Engineer / Protection Observer-Coach-Trainer, and MAJ David Pfaltzgraff, BDE Executive Officer OCT, from Brigade Command & Control (BDE HQ) on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are expert sustainers from across JRTC: MAJ Amy Beatty, the TF Executive Officer for TF Sustainment (DSSB / LSB) and CPT Cody Kindle, the S-4 Sustainment Planner inPlans / Exercise Maneuver Control (TF Zulu). This episode dives into the importance of base clusters, which are a survivability and sustainment technique used by brigades and battalions to disperse logistics and command elements while maintaining mutual support in a contested battlespace. Instead of concentrating sustainment nodes such as the brigade support area (BSA), field trains, and maintenance sites in a single large footprint, units distribute smaller elements across a wider area in multiple mutually supporting positions connected by terrain, security, and communications. This approach reduces the vulnerability of sustainment assets to long-range fires, UAS surveillance, and precision strike systems that dominate the modern battlefield. By dispersing logistics nodes while maintaining coordination through disciplined reporting, movement control, and security integration, base clusters allow sustainment elements to remain survivable, mobile, and capable of supporting maneuver forces in large-scale combat operations (LSCO). Part of S13 “Hip Pocket Training” series. For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast Be sure to follow us on s…

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## Transcript

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