Army Bulk Petroleum Current Force Structure Mix and its Implications

Abstract

Since 2008, the US Army has divested itself from its active duty bulk petroleum capability while maintaining the petroleum pipeline Force Structure exclusively in the reserve component. In doing so, the Army can no longer provide an expeditionary bulk fuel capability necessary to meet the Geographic Combatant Commanders requirements during the initial phase of an operation. In the last ten years, the Army has made significant Force Structure decisions based on a heavy reliance on contingency contracting, current demand signal associated with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the immediate need for other critical capability shortfalls. In response to a rapidly changing global security environment, our recent change in strategic direction coupled with an imminent period of budgetary austerity only compounds this expeditionary shortfall. This paper confirms the validity of bulk petroleum requirements, the reality of the capability gap, and offers potential short and long term recommendations to close the current expeditionary logistics capability gap.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA590233

Entities

People

  • Marc D. Thoreson

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Environment
  • Failed States
  • Force Structure
  • Globalization
  • Logistics
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • Personnel Management
  • Security
  • Students
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Environmental Remediation and Restoration.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.