Combat Service Support Reach: A Risky Support Strategy for the Interim Brigade Combat Team (IBCT)
Abstract
On 12 October 1999, the Chief of Staff Army, Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, announced the Army's need to be strategically responsive and dominant across the full spectrum of operations. At the center of his vision is the Army's transformation. Also during his speech, General Shinseki announced that "we will begin immediately" to develop technology-enhanced, fast-deployable and lethal brigades called Interim Brigade Combat Teams or IBCTs He said they will be dominate across the full spectrum of military operations and have the capability to deploy anywhere in the world within 96 hours. To achieve this objective General Shinseki pointed to one enabling capability - CSS Reach". CSS Reach is the answer to the concept of full spectrum dominance envisioned by Joint Vision 201012020 and its assertion that dominance is only achievable if we minimize the footprint forward. General Shinseki, articulating this idea, posited, that to make up for the smaller footprint, "you have reach back' capabilities,so when you need something you reach back for it". There's the rub, CSS Reach seeks to exploit the integration of Uncommercial sector best practices". These attempts at combining industry to government strategies, bring a unique set of risks and vulnerabilities into play. We find that the very techniques, partnerships, and processes sought to be capitalized upon turnout to be harbingers of risk. Consequently, CSS Reach, unintentionally, becomes a liability to the very endstate it promises to deliver. At risk is full spectrum dominance and warfighter confidence in a logistics strategy that reduces security, in the way of inventory and logistics capability, forward. The vulnerabilities are not irreversible. Investment in some key areas will go a long way towards mitigating the risks, and paving the way for the development of better logistics support strategies for the objective force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA404681
Entities
People
- Ronald V. Robinson
Organizations
- United States Army War College