Army Maintenance (AR 750-1)

Overview

AR 750-1 establishes policies and responsibilities for Army materiel maintenance. Maintenance is the function of sustaining materiel in an operational status, restoring it to a serviceable condition, or updating and upgrading its capability. Every Soldier and leader is responsible for maintaining their assigned equipment. Preventive maintenance is key to readiness — broken equipment means a unit cannot accomplish its mission.

Levels of Maintenance

The Army uses a two-level maintenance system:

1. Field Maintenance: Performed by operators, crews, and unit-level mechanics. Includes operator-level PMCS, troubleshooting, and repair/replacement of components and modules. This is 'on-system' maintenance.

1. Sustainment Maintenance: Performed at depots and national-level facilities. Includes overhaul, rebuild, and major repair beyond field-level capability. This is 'off-system' maintenance.

The goal is to fix equipment as far forward as possible to keep units operational.

PMCS (Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services)

PMCS is the foundation of the Army maintenance system. Every piece of equipment has a Technical Manual (TM) that prescribes the PMCS procedures.

• PMCS intervals:
• Before operation (Before PMCS)
• During operation (During PMCS)
• After operation (After PMCS)
• Weekly and monthly checks as prescribed

• Operators perform PMCS using the equipment TM and record deficiencies on DA Form 5988-E (Equipment Maintenance and Inspection Worksheet). Faults are classified as:
• Deadline: Equipment cannot be safely operated — requires immediate reporting to the chain of command.
• Non-mission capable: Equipment cannot perform its primary mission.
• Shortcomings: Deficiencies that do not prevent operation but need correction.

The Army Maintenance Management System (TAMMS) & GCSS-Army

While TAMMS provides the foundational policies for tracking maintenance, the Army currently uses GCSS-Army (Global Combat Support System-Army) as the automated system of record. Key forms and symbols include:

• DA Form 5988-E / DA Form 2404: Equipment Inspection and Maintenance Worksheet. The 5988-E is the automated version printed from GCSS-Army, while the 2404 is the manual backup used in the field or when systems are down.
• Status Symbols: 'X' (Not Fully Mission Capable/Deadlined), '/' (Shortcoming), '-' (Inspection/Service Due), and 'Circled X' (Operable under specific commander authorized conditions).
• DA Form 2408-14: Uncorrected Fault Record — tracks faults that cannot be immediately repaired.
• TM (Technical Manual): Contains PMCS tables, troubleshooting procedures, and repair instructions for each piece of equipment.

Commanders use the Unit Status Report (USR) to report equipment readiness to higher headquarters. Equipment readiness rates directly impact a unit's deployability rating.

Commander and NCO Responsibilities

Commanders are responsible for the maintenance of all equipment assigned to their unit. They ensure maintenance is resourced, prioritized, and executed.

• NCOs enforce maintenance standards at the Soldier level:
• Ensure operators perform PMCS correctly and on time
• Verify faults are properly recorded on DA Form 5988-E
• Follow up on parts requests and work orders
• Conduct maintenance stand-downs and motor pool operations
• Enforce dispatch procedures — no vehicle leaves without a completed PMCS and dispatch

The 10/20 Standard: Refers to the Army Maintenance Standard where equipment meets the requirements of the -10 (Operator) and -20 (Field/Mechanic) Technical Manuals. It means the equipment is Fully Mission Capable (FMC), all services are performed, and any required parts are on order.

Board Tips

Know the two levels of maintenance (field and sustainment). Know what PMCS is and the three intervals (before, during, after). Know the key forms (DA Form 5988-E, DA Form 2404). A common board question: 'What do you do if you find a fault during PMCS?' Answer: Record the fault on DA Form 5988-E, report it to your supervisor, determine if it's a deadline fault, and ensure a parts request or work order is submitted. Never operate deadlined equipment.