In sustainment support, which element refers to actions taken to retain or restore materiel's serviceability?

The element that refers to actions taken to retain or restore materiel's serviceability is maintenance. Maintenance encompasses a range of activities designed to ensure that equipment remains operational and in good working condition. This includes repairs, inspections, and preventive measures that are essential for keeping materiel ready for use.

By focusing on the retention and restoration of serviceability, maintenance plays a crucial role in sustainment support, directly impacting the effectiveness and efficiency of military operations. Ensuring that machinery, vehicles, and other equipment are functioning properly helps to reduce downtime and enhances overall mission readiness.

While logistics support generally refers to the broader framework of planning and executing the movement of resources, and supply chain management involves the coordination and management of a supply chain, maintenance specifically zeroes in on the processes necessary to keep materiel in a serviceable state. Material control typically deals with the tracking and management of physical inventories but does not address the restoration aspect of materiel's serviceability directly.