importance of military logistics

68, Issue 1 The aim of this paper is to present the role, importance and trends of logistics development in modern conditions, as well as to present different approaches to the study of logistics, and approaches in the education and development of military logistics professionals. The authors examine the logistics and sustainment aspects of an emerging operational concept for employing a family of unmanned aerial vehicles that can be launched, recovered, and sustained with minimal reliance on runways. Military strategic capability is achieved by the economic, industrial and military might of a nation. Logistics > PRISM | National Defense University > News. The importance of logistics planning in military action has become perfectly clear in the operations that led to the liberation of Europe, starting with D-Day on June 6, 1944. Many have written on the challenges of logistics in the 21st century, but Lieutenant General Michael Dana, Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics, has captured the requirement succinctly in his term hybrid logistics, which he defines as the era where old meets new.28 This is a period in logistics operations in which the combination of old and new technology and innovative concepts will provide precise logistics support to a widely distributed force instead of a large logistics footprint that delivers through a central hub. Military logistics involves the interaction of military and government entities with private, commercial, foreign, and multinational organizations worldwide. Additionally, U.S. and partner-nation forces had significant time to deploy military capability, ultimately using a single point of entry with mature facilities and infrastructure and Internet access. 19. Carl von Clausewitz, On War, ed. "Clearly, logistics is the hard part of fighting a war." "Gentlemen, the officer who doesn't know his communications and supply as well as his tactics is totally useless." "Bitter experience in war has taught the maxim that the art of war . 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. MSC normally operates 120 civilian-crewed, non-combatant ships for a variety of missions around the world. other words joint logistics. The Movement Coordination Centre Europe commissioned RAND Europe to conduct a scoping study to understand constraints of operating in Africa, as well as barriers to the efficient coordination of airlift and other logistic support in the continent. 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. The U.S. military has not had to fight its way to the fight since World War II. 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. In this interview, they discuss what made them want to join the service, what led them to research, and how their military experience guides the work they do at RAND. 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. 20. Not Sure if someone was looking for quotes on logistics so I will post a few here. 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. Every facet of military logistics must embrace unmanned platforms, from unmanned sea-based ship-to-shore connectors to platforms for the refueling of ships to the use of unmanned platforms for aerial refueling. Logistics is perhaps the most complex and interrelated capability provided by todays military. 1. The Military Ensures Our Freedom and Safety Around the World From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the front lines of Eastern Europe, American service members have been ensuring the freedom of America and its allies for centuries. 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. Many of its theories and applications have been efficiently put into practice in the business world. Logistics can be seen as the bridge between deployed forces and the industrial base, which produces the material and weapons deployed forces need to accomplish their mission. Fundamentals In the conduct of war, war-making activity behind the cutting edge of combat has always defied simple definition. They also coordinated the loading of another 10 MSC ships at Tacoma, Wash., and San Diego, Calif., which resulted in the movement of over 1 million square feet of military equipment for the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and the U.S. Armys 101st Airborne Division. In short, we need to have the ability to autonomously anticipate the needs of the commander, not simply respond faster to bottom-up needs identification. Managing logistics is extremely crucial as it helps the organisations to gain deep insights of the supply chain. 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. Given the evolution of competitors abilities to threaten the logistical underpinnings of U.S. combat power, force logistics planning now requires innovation in both technology and operational concepts. 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. Throughout the past decades, the military helped revolutionize the world of logistics in a myriad of ways. (ARL Magazine) One of the most important areas of every army is logistics. The role and importance of logistics DLAs activity is spread across 48 U.S. states and in 28 different countries.12. 24. The Importance of In-Transit Visibility on U. S. Military Logistics INTRODUCTION Just as Abraham Maslow presented a hierarchy of human needs from survival to growth, military logistics mirrors this building block approach to satisfying certain basic needs before more advanced facets of military strategy and doctrine can be formulated. Lieutenant General Michael G. Dana, USMC, 21st Century Logistics: Designing and Developing Capabilities, Marine Corps Gazette, Vol. Developments in mechanized, aerial, and amphibious warfare made the logistic support of armed forces vastly more complicated and extensive (Nelson, 1992). Its nature is expressed in operational choices and decisions, and is fundamental to military preparedness. I love these famous logistics quotes! Logistics: The Lifeblood of Military Power, DoD, Mass Comms Specialist 3rd Class Karl Anderson, http://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp4_0.pdf, https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Esper-Milley_04-12-18.pdf, https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Spencer_04-19-18.pdf, https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Richardson_04-19-18.pdf, https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Neller_04-19-18.pdf, https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Wilson-Goldfein_04-24-18.pdf, https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/dna, https://www.ustranscom.mil/cmd/aboutustc.cfm, https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/McDew_04-10-18.pdf, http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/navy/log_quotes_navsup.pdf, https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf, https://news.usni.org/2018/02/16/new-pentagon-separation-policy-non-deployable-service-members, http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104583/civil-reserve-air-fleet/, https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/sealift-oif.htm, http://www.msc.navy.mil/publications/pressrel/press03/press34.htm, http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/navalships.htm, https://news.usni.org/2018/02/12/fy-2019-u-s-navy-30-year-shipbuilding-plan, https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/2017/10/21st-century-logistics, http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrarsenalofdemocracy.html, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/poor-richard-s-almanac. Training, quality data improve MEDLOG catalog. The goal of military readiness is to ensure that the military force is ready and able to complete tasks at any time. RAND researchers present a Future Logistics Concept Assessment Framework, which is a disciplined, systematic way to assess proposed future logistics concepts to meet the requirements of the National Defense Strategy. While 10 percent of the cargo was delivered by other means, primarily aircraft, understanding the magnitude and significance of sea-based sustainment is critical to understanding what it takes to deploy and employ the U.S. military. Ethiopia, some logistics principles were applied concerning the food-supplies taken there. "Leaders win through logistics. During the height of Operation Iraqi Freedom, MSC had 167 of its 214 active ships directly supporting the war. 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. This trend is very similar across the industrial capacity capabilities that produce aircraft and major land-component warfighting systems. U.S. Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Logistics, pp. Naval Supply Systems Command, Logistics Quotations, http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/navy/log_quotes_navsup.pdf (accessed May 30, 2018). Responsiveness can be improved by leveraging industrial-base support from the point of manufacture to the tactical edge forces. Military logistics has been part of the history of mankind and has evolved to become a science of application to different processes of the Operational Forces. To stop the ceaseless supply of allied stuff, and . 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. These 1,089 ships included 32 carriers, 10 battleships, 62 cruisers, 442 destroyers, and 563 frigates and destroyer escorts.26 Compare this to the Navys Report to Congress on the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for Fiscal Year 2019, which proposes the construction of 54 battle force ships during the five years from 2019 to 2024.27. How do these provisional units currently source personnel and equipment requirements? The military is also going full steam ahead on hardware acquisitions, but when it comes to Revolution in Military Logistics (RML), most, particularly in the military circles, are in a denial mode. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. This sets the globe left of conflict and logistically. Raison D'etre They are delivered from the sea by means of modern connectors, platforms, processes, and concepts with the flexibility to enable multi-domain fires and maneuver. Military forces must receive such support regardless of how limited or intermittent their access to the Internet may be, and supporting logistics forces must meet the demand while an enemy is trying to kill the customers, both at home and in the parking lot, and is destroying the delivery fleet at every opportunity. Michael Howard and Peter Paret (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1989), p. 95. Perpetual optimism, believing in yourself, believing in your purpose, believing you will prevail, and demonstrating passion and confidence 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. You will not find it difficult to prove that battles, campaigns, and even wars have been won or lost primarily because of logistics. The shrinking militaryindustrial base that provides the wherewithal of national power faces significant challenges because of unpredictable budgets and inconsistent program funding. 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. It is therefore important that logistics correctly assess the short-term consumption expected by combat forces; that is, the "here and now", which are essential to facilitate combat readiness and the . Without the right equipment, units cannot train to the full complement of their mission sets. I-5I-6. 101, Issue 10 (October 2017), https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/2017/10/21st-century-logistics (accessed May 29, 2018). Transitioning from large, centralized, unhardened infrastructure to smaller, dispersed, resilient, adaptive basing that includes active and passive defenses will also be prioritized.25. 18. The third foundation, the morale of his troops, was directly affected by the first two.15 Slims ability to innovate in planning, organizing, and sustaining his logistics enterprise was critical to his logistics success. 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 . 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. The importance of the global commons reigns supreme. It would require a substantial expansion of the defense industrial base, but it might offer a plausible way to keep American objectives and resources in line without sacrificing too much in either. This dangerous assumption tends to exclude logistics from the conversation regarding the nations current and future warfighting needs. As cyber and electronic warfare capabilities are introduced to the forward edge of the battlespace, individual capabilities represented by on-hand quantities of various technologies and trained personnel will truly define a units ability to execute the mission-essential tasks demanded in the complex warfighting environment of a peer adversary. 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. Strong operations professional with a Master of Science - MS focused in Human Resources Management & Development (CIPD) from The University of Salford. In Clausewitzs words, getting the force to the fight at the right place and the right time1 is the true essence of military logistics. 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. I will post a few here by todays military ready and able complete. Had to fight its way to the full complement of their mission sets helped revolutionize the world the complement. Naval supply systems Command, logistics, pp different countries.12 has not had to fight its way the... 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