Which of the following accurately describes sustainment in a military context?

In a military context, sustainment primarily refers to the provision of logistical support and resupply necessary for the continuous operation of forces in the field. This includes ensuring that troops have adequate supplies of food, ammunition, fuel, and equipment maintenance to maintain their combat effectiveness over time. Sustainment is crucial for enabling forces to remain operational over longer durations, supporting their missions without interruption, and is a key component of logistics that directly impacts readiness and effectiveness in the field.

While the capability to carry out long-term operations and battlefield maneuver planning are important aspects of military strategy, they do not encapsulate the overall definition of sustainment. Establishing and maintaining command structures is related to the organization and coordination of military forces but does not specifically address the logistical dimensions that sustainment emphasizes. Overall, option B most effectively captures the essence of sustainment in military operations.