Maintenance is training. It is as important as the mission objective because the act of conducting maintenance builds operator familiarity, increases proficiency, identifies small problems before they become major failures, and strengthens foundational skill across the formation.
Maintenance cannot be treated as somebody else's responsibility. A work order with the FMS does not remove
unit ownership, leader involvement, or the requirement to understand what is happening with the equipment.
The Equipment Status Report, or ESR, is the key to driving maintenance from a proactive stance instead of a
reactive one. Understanding how to read the ESR empowers leaders to analyze equipment status, set priorities,
follow up on problem areas, and increase readiness.
