Are There Lessons In US Marine Corps Ground Maintenance Operations For a Force Projection Army?
Abstract
The Army is embarking on a transformation plan that will allow ground units to rapidly deploy from CONUS to an undeveloped theater of operation and conduct sustained combat operations. In order to accomplish this feat there will be a complete transformation in force structure. The transformed Army (or Objective Force) is not expected to be operational until some time after 2012. Until that time the legacy force complemented by the Interim Brigade Combat Team will be the Army's contribution for fighting and winning the nations wars. In order to project and sustain these heavier forces refinements to current sustainment doctrine is necessary. According to FM 3-0 operational reach is influenced by combat power, sustainment capabilities as well as the geography. An effective ground maintenance program can increase the operational reach of ground forces. The purpose of this monograph is to determine if the Marine Corps ground maintenance operations offer any insight for improving maintenance operations for a force projection Army. The Marine Corps has extensive experience as a CONUS based projection force. They utilize many of the same ground systems that the Army employs, receiving support from the same depots. The two services share a maneuver oriented, offensive doctrine. Despite the many similarities the Marine Corps focus on expeditionary operations has lead to some differences in maintenance operations. These differences will be analyzed in the areas of doctrine, training, organization, pre-positioning strategies, class IX management, and developing concepts for future operations. It will be shown that the Marine Corps expeditionary focus has led to several valid concepts for incorporation into a force projection Army. The Marine Corps concepts in the areas of doctrine, pre-positioning and developing concepts better support a CONUS based projection force. Conclusions are focused on improving the operational reach of Army ground forces to provide flexibility.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA416180
Entities
People
- Tyler C. Osenbaugh
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College