Rediscovering the Role of Logistics as a Critical Element of Operational Art: Resolving the Current Dilemma Facing Marine Corps Logisticians
Abstract
As the United States Marine Corps redirects its attention to the Asia-Pacific and its expeditionary roots, the Marine Corps logistics community faces a dilemma. Accustomed to the mature, land-based and tactically-focused operating environment of the past dozen or more years, Marine Corps logistics planners must turn back to expeditionary, maritime, operational logistics planning. Yet mid- and senior level logistics planners who might normally guide younger ranks in the necessary skills have themselves either not developed those skills or have allowed them to atrophy. Mature operating environments have enabled tactical success in supporting the war fighter, but have also obviated the need for coordinating the larger spectrum of logistics in support of operations in austere conditions. This dilemma facing Marine Corps logisticians is troubling when challenged with the operational complexities depicted within Expeditionary Force-21. In resolving this dilemma, the Marine Corps must increase the breadth of logistics planners capable of employing the full range of logistics capabilities in support of expeditionary operations and reduce the complexities of expeditionary logistics coordination.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 11, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1176043
Entities
People
- Eric J. Taylor
Organizations
- Marine Corps University