sustainment

Sustainment is the act or process of maintaining the ongoing operation of a system, organization, or activity by providing the necessary resources, services, and support. In military usage, sustainment refers to the logistics function that enables a force to continue operations, including supply, maintenance, transportation, medical support, personnel services, and field services. The goal is to keep forces ready and capable by preventing shortages of fuel, ammunition, spare parts, food, and other essentials, and by ensuring recovery and movement of forces as needed.

In civilian contexts, sustainment covers the ongoing provisioning and support of infrastructure, enterprises, or programs. In logistics and supply chains, sustainment encompasses procurement, inventory management, warehousing, distribution, maintenance, and disposal; it aims to ensure resource availability, minimize downtime, and extend the life of assets. For disaster response and humanitarian efforts, sustainment planning coordinates food, water, shelter, medical care, and communications to maintain operations under stress.

Sustainment is related to, but distinct from, sustainability. Sustainability emphasizes long-term viability and environmental, social, and economic considerations, while sustainment focuses on continuously providing the necessary inputs to keep a system or operation functioning in the present. Challenges include uncertainty in demand, supply disruption, cost, and coordination across multiple actors.