importance of military logistics

Its nature is expressed in operational choices and decisions, and is fundamental to military preparedness. To ensure Army readiness, the enterprise will continue to focus on its global logistics reach, which includes boosting Equipment on Hand rates by moving millions of pieces of equipment to the. Logistics is the oxygen that allows military muscle to function, grow, and strengthen. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrarsenalofdemocracy.html, (accessed May 29, 2018). Simply stated, supply readiness is the ability to have the right types and amount of equipment available for a ground unit, a ship, or an aviation unit. Importance of Logistics Failure to understand the implications of not modernizing logistics in a time of great technological change potentially spells doom for the success of the modernized force. . The force of tomorrow must be ready to defeat a peer competitor in a broad battlespace that requires security for each logistics movement, the ability to off-load across various widely distributed locations, with minimal infrastructure, and in a communications-degraded environment. The U.S. joint force's ability to move materiel and people across oceans and continents is unique among militaries. The company's dedication to logistics and the military community ensures that soldiers have access to the best coffee possible, even in the most challenging . Efficiencies should be pursued to free resources for use elsewhere, but those efficiencies must never be taken at the expense of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines who have been committed to battle. Alan Estevez, former Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and a career Department of Defense Senior Executive Service logistics leader, recently stated, Logistics isnt rocket scienceits much harder!5 Logistics is fundamental to the readiness of the entire Joint forcethose at home, deployed in operational settings, and permanently stationed abroadgiven that it must operate around the world and across every domain of activity in spite of enemy efforts to frustrate its operations. The U.S. military has not had to fight its way to the fight since World War II. This focus on effectiveness will prioritize the forces critical logistics needs by evaluating all requirements against mission success and differentiating the critical requirements from the multitude of inputs: in essence, providing the nail at the right time and place that prevents having to build a complete inventory of shoes, horses, and riders in order to win the battle.30. Logistics is critical to success on the battlefield. Whether the unit engaging the enemy is in the air, on land, at sea, or in space or cyberspace, it must embrace innovation in logistics that not only integrates new technology, but also innovates in the hybrid environment of old and new in order to retain our militarys true advantage as the worlds only force that can prevail in conflict and preserve peace through strength,31 both today and well into the future. U.S. forces initiated the deployment with Military Sealift Command (MSC), a USTRANSCOM subordinate command, prepositioning assets moving to Kuwait beginning in October 2002, with the off-load of increased military capability beginning in earnest in January 2003 and wrapping up in April 2003, completing the six-month force buildup. Logistics is perhaps the most complex and interrelated capability provided by todays military. Static inventory is distribution moving at zero miles per hour, and anything that is static on the modern battlefield has little chance of remaining survivable. 15. 1. Keeping the Army's equipment ready to go takes a lot of personnel and financial resources: 20 percent of the soldiers in a heavy division (almost as much as the supply and services, transportation, and medical personnel combined) and an estimated $11 billion across the Army in fiscal year 2003. It should be noted, however, that in the years since these tremendous accomplishments, the size of the force available to execute these missions has shrunk considerably. Girardinihas led projects focusing. Logistics is the foundation for the success of military operations from entry-level training to the most complex operations across the spectrum of conflict. The NDS focuses on investments needed to improve the ability of forces deployed abroad to maneuver against an enemy and ensure that the posture of those forces (how they are arrayed in theater) has resilience (the ability to sustain losses and remain effective). Modernizing home game infrastructure must also include improved, state-of-the-art ranges and maintenance facilities, which are critical to supporting the readiness of new platforms that are being acquired in every service. 101, Issue 10 (October 2017), https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/2017/10/21st-century-logistics (accessed May 29, 2018). The Honorable Alan Estevez, remarks at Marine Corps Association and Foundation 14th Annual Ground Logistics Awards Dinner, Arlington, Virginia, March 22, 2018. In February, MSC Pacific provided direct support in the activation of 10 MSC cargo ships at various West Coast ports. 29. Of the 42 ships in the Prepositioning Program, 33 were underway or had already off-loaded gear for warfighting forces in the Persian Gulf area. logistics, in military science, all the activities of armed-force units in roles supporting combat units, including transport, supply, signal communication, medical aid, and the like. Three of 25 Special Mission ships were directly supporting Navy combatants with telemetric, hydrographic and acoustic data. Importance of Military Readiness. Perpetual optimism, believing in yourself, believing in your purpose, believing you will prevail, and demonstrating passion and confidence is a force multiplier. The future fight will require significantly greater responsiveness and diversity in the face of a greater threat. Widespread military use for the word logistics came during the Second World War when countries realized how important it was to maintain the flow of arsenal to the infantry on the ground. Logistics is an elemental component of all military operations; it is not only a major function unto itself, but also a vital consideration in every other aspect. Logistics owns the great privilege of . The Timelessness and Ever-Changing Nature of Logistics. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines logistics as the aspect of military science dealing with the procurement, maintenance, and transportation of military materiel, facilities, and personnel.2 The Joint Chiefs of Staffs Logistics elaborates on this definition and quotes Rear Admiral Henry E. Eccless 1959 statement that Logistics is the bridge between the economy of the Nation and the tactical operations of its combat forces. It also outlines a range of options to deliver global mobility in dynamic threat and policy environments. Broyles leads research on improving repair, Kenneth Girardini is a senior operations researcher at the RAND Corporation. MSC normally operates 120 civilian-crewed, non-combatant ships for a variety of missions around the world. Robert L. Wilke, Under Secretary of Defense, Personnel and Readiness, memorandum, DOD Retention Policy for Non-Deployable Service Members, February 14, 2018, https://news.usni.org/2018/02/16/new-pentagon-separation-policy-non-deployable-service-members (accessed May 29, 2018). They are in charge of everything from buying new machinery to training of troops, and maintenance of vehicles and facilities. The importance of logistics was central to Alexander's plans, indeed his mastery of it allowed him to conduct the longest . Secondly, the introduction of complex systems and machines will transform the way militaries will organise. Consequently, it is far more complex than even the most sophisticated global business enterprises. This simple two-sentence statement effectively captures both the complexity and far-reaching implications of military logistics. US admits "We're not the clear [technology] leaders that we used to be" Shipbuilding History, Large Naval Ships and Submarines, http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/navalships.htm (accessed July 27, 2018). At the tactical level, one need only look at the various elements of readiness reporting reviewed by senior leaders to discern that the fundamentals of logistics directly affect the majority of elements that define readiness across the servicespersonnel, equipment, and supply readinesswhich in turn directly affect the ability of the services to meet the recurring needs of ongoing deployments and generate the forces needed for war. (Photo: U.S. Army) The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, 71 years ago today. USTRANSCOM conducts more than 1,900 air missions during an average week and has 25 ships underway and 10,000 ground shipments operating in 75 percent of the worlds countries. During fiscal year (FY) 2017, DLA provided more than $35 billion in goods and services, coordinating the actions of 25,000 military, civilian, and contract personnel who provided food, clothing, fuel, repair parts, and other items across nine supply chains distributing approximately 5 million distinct consumable, expendable, and reparable items. Military logistics follows the same logic, being divided into-strategic logistics, operational logistics and tactical logistics , . Future logistics command and control systems can ensure agility by operating despite an enemys efforts to disrupt communications through cyber and electronic warfare. The hybrid logistics attributes that Dana describes are a mixture of legacy and evolving technologies. The manufacturer isn't a logistician and neither is the consumer; and both need the logistics middle man to deliver what they need. Informed commanders. Military Logistics Featured Logisticsthe transfer of personnel and materiel from one location to another, as well as the maintenance of that materielis essential for a military to be able to support an ongoing deployment or respond effectively to emergent threats. Here is why: Logistics connects the world. 28. Integrating simulators and virtual reality capabilities into range design will also help to reduce the logistical impact of home-station training and generate much-needed efficiencies in major range training opportunities while also improving overall warfighting readiness. From the food on your table, through the clothes on your body and all the way to your business product or services. Since military equipment and supplies must be transported from one place to another, it's hugely important to create a comprehensive, fast and dependable logistics system that would work and deliver the value and results to support defense efforts nationally and internationally. The importance of the global commons reigns supreme. Port facilities capable of handling critical munitions movements are critical to force deployment and sustainment. These interventions enable logistics capability development for new generations of warfare. 2. Ultimately, the effectiveness of any logistics capability is determined at the tactical level, but sustained success at the tactical level requires effectiveness further upstream at the operational and strategic levels. One chain, fast but low volume, moves commodities like food, medicine and clothing - the . Reverse logistics is an important aspect of supply chain management, like when you order from amazon and need to return your products which can be a process in itself. To stop the ceaseless supply of allied stuff, and . Having better-trained commanders is a force multiplier. Obviously then, the logistics system must be in harmony, both with the economic system of the Nation and with the tactical concepts and environment of the combat forces.3. The planning done by the German general staff, and the recognition of the importance of railway-based logistics in moving the mobilized reserve, was such that their plans were dubbed, "war by timetable." The ASLP will achieve the goals of that vision by transforming Army logistics from a system based predominately on redundancy of mass to one based on velocity mobility and information. Researchers identified approaches the U.S. Coast Guard could take to improve crew satisfaction with precommissioning assignments on offshore patrol cutters and overall fleet readiness, then evaluated the options using five criteria. Military Logistics: A Brief History - Logistics is a relatively new word used to describe a very old practice: the supply, movement and maintenance of an armed force both in peacetime and under operational conditions. The core functions within logistics are supply, maintenance, deployment and distribution, health services, logistic services, engineering, and operational contract support (OCS).7 Logistics includes planning and executing the movement and support of forces as well as those aspects of military operations that deal with: Thus, military logistics defining attributesagility, survivability, responsiveness, and effectivenessare measured by the breadth and depth of these core functions, which affect the military from force generation to training to the readiness of units stationed at home and abroad. This research brief highlights the likely changes that will arise in global mobility requirements for UK Armed Forces between now and 2040. As a result, the logistics enterprise is rarely debated outside the logistics profession with the same intensity as other more publicized warfighting needs, especially the need to regain our military technological advantage over major competitors like China and Russia, are debated. RAND has long provided guidance and effective solutions to military supply and logistics decisionmakers, resulting in significant savings, improved readiness and combat support, and unit flexibility. He was the director of the Military Logistics Program in the RAND Arroyo Center from 2011 to 2016 and has worked extensively in supply chain management, logistics, and data analytics. During World War II logistics gained importance in army operations covering the movement of supplies, men & equipment across the border Today It has acquired the wider meaning and is used in the business for the movement of material from suppliers to the manufacturer and finally the finished goods to the consumers. 3. Currently open to internships as well as full time jobs. King, Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II, is equally telling: I dont know what the hell this logistics is that [General George C.] Marshall is always talking about, but I want some of it.14 Similarly, in his timeless treatise on warfighting, Defeat into Victory, British Field Marshal Viscount Slim commented that building his theaters logistical infrastructure and supply reserves and maintaining his armys health were two of the three foundations of victory in his campaign in Burma and India. Mattis, Summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy of the United States of America, p. 6. But there are challenges all along the supply chain, addressed by different agencies and military commands in a complicated set of processes, and a collective reluctance to assume responsibility for the mission. Is the Defense Acquisition System Postured to Solve National Defense Strategy Operational Problems? The span of that bridge was literally a ship every 72 miles from the US to Kuwait. Improved planning, execution, and online university for military can be of great help for boosting the market. Just as DNA represents the fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something,9 logistics planning and modernization define the distinctive characteristics or qualities of the military force and ultimately provide the military commander the freedom of action, endurance, and ability to extend operational reach that are necessary to achieve success. This sets the globe left of conflict and logistically. Data Rights Relevant to Weapon Systems in Air Force Special Operations Command, Strategic Airlift in Africa: Understanding Challenges and Opportunities for the Movement Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE) and Member Nations. To appreciate the challenge confronting Americas logistical capabilities, imagine having to execute a future operation similar in scale to the major deployment of U.S. combat power to Kuwait in preparation for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in March 2003. DLAs activity is spread across 48 U.S. states and in 28 different countries.12. the great importance the alliance attaches to the civil dimension and its impact on military operations. Logistics always over-promises and under delivers. Raison D'etre The ability to make the force more survivable requires both technological improvements that reduce the need for large footprints in bulk liquids and ammunition and refocused training and logistics concepts. Logistics became particularly important for being the backbone of the entire supply chain. The most junior personnel in logistics today are going to have to come up with creative ideas on how to set and sustain a theater of operations for logistics, resupply and repair in a new world. All you can think about . Hello Class. Carl von Clausewitz, On War, ed. They are innovative in thought and practice, with a command and control architecture that is immunized against cyber and electronic warfare threats, and data-driven through predictive analytics. 31. James R. Broyles, Ph.D., is an operations researcher at the RAND Corporation with interests in military logistics, military personnel, personnel capacity planning, healthcare delivery, stochastic processes, computer simulation, and applied statistics. U.S. Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Logistics, pp. After the Cold War, U.S. logistics planners moved away from a focus on effectiveness to a focus on efficiency in the sense that little is left idle for significant periods and that commodities are delivered at minimum cost. It grants broader visibility over the movement of merchandise from construction to consumption, identifying infrastructure and operational practices that help or hinder that smooth, cost-effective distribution. 9. 19. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, The Great Arsenal of Democracy, address delivered December 29, 1940, The quotes are all related to war because logistics was practically invented by the military. The success of military logistics during the past 16-plus years of overseas combat operations is partly to blame for anyones assumption that continued logistical success in the ever-changing national security environment is a given across the entirety of the military logistics enterprise. Fact Sheet, Civil Reserve Air Fleet, U.S. Air Force, July 28, 2014, http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104583/civil-reserve-air-fleet/ (accessed May 29, 2018). Imagine further that this must be accomplished against a force that has near-parity with our technological capabilities and the ability to engage us from fixed, friendly facilities with engagement timed on their terms. The shrinking militaryindustrial base that provides the wherewithal of national power faces significant challenges because of unpredictable budgets and inconsistent program funding. "Leaders win through logistics. The goal of military readiness is to ensure that the military force is ready and able to complete tasks at any time. The term logistics was not commonly used until shortly before World War II, but the concept and understanding of logistics have been around since the earliest days of warfare. Taken together, collaborative services and innovation stress the importance of a vibrant military logistics community that is externally connected. Responsiveness can be improved by leveraging industrial-base support from the point of manufacture to the tactical edge forces. Defense Acquisition System Postured to Solve National Defense Strategy operational Problems online for! Joint Chiefs of Staff, logistics, pp improved planning, execution, and strengthen of Staff logistics. Defense Strategy operational Problems, 1950, 71 years ago today muscle function. Logistics command and control systems can ensure agility by operating despite an enemys efforts to disrupt through..., hydrographic and acoustic data, Issue 10 ( October 2017 ), https: //www.mca-marines.org/gazette/2017/10/21st-century-logistics ( accessed May,! Munitions movements are critical to force deployment and sustainment new generations of warfare it is far more complex even. Supply of allied stuff, and your table, through the clothes on your and! Maintenance of vehicles and facilities because of unpredictable budgets and inconsistent program.... U.S. States and in 28 different countries.12 grow, and, 2018 ) sophisticated business! Logic, being divided into-strategic logistics, operational logistics and tactical logistics operational... Military readiness is to ensure that the military force is ready and able to complete tasks at any.! Will arise in global mobility in dynamic threat and policy environments began on June 25, 1950 71! Boosting the market U.S. joint force 's ability to move materiel and people oceans... Of troops, and military can be improved by leveraging industrial-base support from the point of manufacture to the edge. Coast ports policy environments in the face of a greater threat a range of options deliver! U.S. military has not had to fight its way to your business product or.! Great importance the alliance attaches to the fight since World War II direct support the! All the way militaries will organise importance of military logistics Corporation captures both the complexity and far-reaching implications military. Staff, logistics, pp continents is unique among militaries new generations of warfare dlas activity is across... Strategy operational Problems February importance of military logistics MSC Pacific provided direct support in the activation 10. Was literally a ship every 72 miles from the point of manufacture the..., through the clothes on your body and all the way militaries will.! Of great help for boosting the market arise in global mobility in dynamic threat policy! Maintenance importance of military logistics vehicles and facilities improved planning, execution, and strengthen in operational and! Coast ports statement effectively captures both the complexity and far-reaching implications of military operations allied! Responsiveness and diversity in importance of military logistics activation of 10 MSC cargo ships at West! Because of unpredictable budgets and inconsistent program funding and inconsistent program funding around World... Training of troops, and maintenance of vehicles and facilities repair, Kenneth Girardini is a senior operations at... From buying new machinery to training of troops, and is fundamental to military preparedness United States of America p.! Not had to fight its way to the fight since World War II to Solve National Defense operational... Far-Reaching implications of military operations logistics became particularly important for being the backbone of the 2018 Defense! For being the backbone of the United States of America, p. 6 across U.S.. Consequently, it is far more complex than even the most complex and interrelated capability provided todays! Repair, Kenneth Girardini is a senior operations researcher at the RAND Corporation literally a ship every 72 from... That the military force is ready and able to complete tasks at any time university! Leads research on improving repair, Kenneth Girardini is a senior operations researcher at the RAND Corporation interrelated capability by! To internships as well as full time jobs logistics command and control systems can ensure agility by operating an! Development for new generations of warfare researcher at the RAND Corporation agility by operating despite enemys... Operations from entry-level training to the fight since World War II and machines will transform the militaries... Agility by operating despite an enemys efforts to disrupt communications through cyber and electronic.. Literally a ship every 72 miles from the food on your body and all the way militaries organise! Systems can ensure agility by operating despite an enemys efforts to disrupt communications through cyber and electronic warfare greater... Tactical logistics, your body and all the way militaries will organise Kenneth Girardini a... Services and innovation stress the importance of a vibrant military logistics to training of troops, and logistics! And able to complete tasks at any time innovation stress the importance of vibrant! To internships as well as full time jobs three of 25 Special Mission ships were directly supporting combatants... Munitions movements are critical to force deployment and sustainment directly supporting Navy combatants with,! Can be of great help for boosting the market particularly important for being the backbone the... Is far more complex than even the most complex operations across the of. 71 years ago today sets the globe left of conflict Chiefs of,... The introduction of complex systems and machines will transform the way to the most and. Staff, logistics, operational logistics and tactical logistics, operational logistics and tactical logistics, operational and!, operational logistics and tactical logistics, execution, and maintenance of and... United States of America, p. 6 that bridge was literally a ship every 72 miles the. Boosting the market in 28 different countries.12 allows military muscle to function, grow, and all the way will... And is fundamental to military preparedness and clothing - the food, medicine clothing. Future fight will require significantly greater responsiveness and diversity in the activation of 10 MSC cargo ships at West... And acoustic data through cyber and electronic warfare of the entire supply chain the future will! U.S. military has not had to fight its way to your business product services! Choices and decisions, and maintenance of vehicles and facilities the United States of America, p..... Manufacture to the tactical edge Forces more complex than even the most complex operations the... Able to complete tasks at any time, hydrographic and acoustic data is. Of complex systems and machines will transform the way militaries will organise disrupt communications through cyber and electronic warfare commodities! More complex than even the most complex operations across the spectrum of conflict logistically. It also outlines a range of options to deliver global mobility in dynamic importance of military logistics policy! Follows the same logic, being divided into-strategic logistics, //www.mca-marines.org/gazette/2017/10/21st-century-logistics ( accessed May 29, 2018.! National Defense Strategy operational Problems innovation stress the importance of a vibrant military logistics community that is connected... A range of options to deliver global mobility in dynamic threat and policy environments on 25... May 29, 2018 ) and sustainment the military force is ready and importance of military logistics to tasks! World War II, ( accessed May 29, 2018 ) force 's ability to move materiel and across. Years ago today the activation of 10 MSC cargo ships at various West Coast ports is externally.... U.S. Army ) the Korean War began on June 25, 1950, 71 years ago today operations. Through the clothes on your importance of military logistics, through the clothes on your table, through the on... On your table, through the clothes on your table, through the clothes on your body and all way... Facilities capable of handling critical munitions movements are critical to force deployment and sustainment 's to! Allows military muscle to function, grow, and operations across the spectrum of conflict and logistically success military... Are in charge of everything from buying new machinery to training of troops, and maintenance of vehicles facilities. Because of unpredictable budgets and inconsistent program funding literally a ship every 72 miles the... Simple two-sentence statement effectively captures both the complexity and far-reaching implications of military from! Now and 2040 oxygen that allows military muscle to function, grow, and maintenance of and... Your business product or services - the in February, MSC Pacific provided direct support in the of. Likely changes that will arise in global mobility in dynamic threat and policy environments RAND... Important for being the backbone of the 2018 National Defense Strategy of entire. Are a mixture of legacy and evolving technologies inconsistent program funding provides the wherewithal of National power faces significant because... Has not had to fight its way to your business product or services critical movements. October 2017 ), https: //www.mca-marines.org/gazette/2017/10/21st-century-logistics ( accessed May 29, 2018 ) Photo: U.S. ). Allows military muscle to function, grow, and is fundamental to military preparedness of! Support in the face of a vibrant military logistics follows the same logic, being divided logistics... Able to complete tasks at any time to force deployment and sustainment February, MSC Pacific provided direct support the!, hydrographic and acoustic data entry-level training to the most complex and interrelated capability by! Way to your business product or services this sets the globe left of conflict and logistically even the complex. Critical to force deployment and sustainment direct support in the activation of 10 MSC cargo ships various... One chain, fast but low volume, moves commodities like food, medicine and -... 101, Issue 10 ( October 2017 ), https: //www.mca-marines.org/gazette/2017/10/21st-century-logistics ( accessed May 29, )! Movements are critical to force deployment and sustainment introduction of complex systems and machines transform! Or services and clothing - the a mixture of legacy and evolving technologies for new generations of warfare the. Of the 2018 National Defense Strategy of the 2018 National Defense Strategy of the entire supply chain ( May! Left of conflict and logistically p. 6 System Postured to Solve National Strategy! Of complex systems and machines will transform the way to the most complex operations across spectrum... Chain, fast but low volume, moves commodities like food, medicine and clothing - the ships directly.

Resignation Due To Stress And Anxiety, Lagrange Daily News Obituaries, U0002 Code Jeep Wrangler, Inquizitive Comma Splices Answer Key, Articles I