Should The Combat Arms Battalion Commander Own His Organizational Logistics Support?
Abstract
This monograph examines the new logistics concepts proposed by the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) to support brigade size and smaller maneuver units. At the maneuver battalion level this has resulted in the creation of the proposed Combat Logistics Company (CLC) which combines the organizational logistics responsibilities of the support platoon with limited Direct Support (DS) logistics capabilities. The monograph then argues that the approach taken by the Army for evaluating these new concepts and organizations is primarily focused on ensuring that technical specifications are met and fails to address the evaluation in a holistic manner which would take into account subjective assessments of such things as unit morale, esprit, and leadership. It proposes that an assessment be conducted which includes an evaluation of the effects that the new concepts and organizations could potentially have on the combat power of maneuver battalions they support. The monograph concludes that while good and necessary analysis has been conducted while evaluating the proposed logistics concepts, the Army must take the next step and perform a holistic analysis of these concepts and organizations that includes those elements that are often subjective in measurement, but are vitally important to 'unencumbering' the maneuver battalion and allowing it to maximize its potential combat power on the battlefield of the 21st Century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 14, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA309950
Entities
People
- Gregory L. Gardner
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College