Which level of sustainment links the strategic and tactical levels, coordinating support from strategic to meet tactical needs?

• A. Operational
• B. Strategic
• C. Tactical
• D. None

Answer: (A)

The level that links the strategic and tactical levels is the operational level. This layer sits between high-level planning and on-the-ground execution, turning strategic guidance and resources into theater-wide logistics plans. It coordinates across commands and components, prioritizes needs, and manages the flow of supply, transportation, maintenance, and support to sustain campaigns and major operations. In short, strategic sets the direction and resources, tactical handles execution, and the operational level ensures those resources move from strategic availability to tactical delivery in time and quantity to meet mission needs. The other options describe the extremes or an outside scope, but not the bridge that ties strategy to battlefield action.