Pre-Positioning Squadron

A forward-deployed group of cargo ships loaded with military equipment and supplies, anchored or steaming near a likely theater so forces can arrive by air and immediately draw their gear afloat. In the US, Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadrons (MPSRON-2 Diego Garcia, MPSRON-3 Guam/Saipan) under Military Sealift Command hold a Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s vehicles, ammunition, and 30 days of sustainment; the Army Prepositioned Stocks program runs a parallel squadron. The squadron compresses the response timeline by removing the long strategic-sealift leg from the deployment.