Tag Archives: Logistics

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U.S. Army Watercraft Are Overlooked, Until You Need Them

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In the Spring of 2024, a minor flotilla of Army vessels crossed the Atlantic. The eyes of Gaza watchers were held by the Army’s curious navy, and the utility of the flotilla was brought to full-light in the service of humanity. But one week prior to this mission, the demand for Army watercraft was near-invisible. Although employed as an instrument of peace, this deployment displayed a capability that large scale combat operations will demand. Army watercraft are invisible until they’re needed – and it’s often been that way.

USAV SP4 (LSV-6) underway on the James River on March 12, 2024. USNI News Photo originally found HERE.
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Parapacks over Holland

Operation Market Garden's Lessons in the Fight for Supply from the Sky

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Since the release of the hit miniseries Band of Brothers and Hollywood-classic Saving Private Ryan, the story of American paratroopers in the Second World War has become cauterized in the minds of history connoisseurs and students. The story has all the elements of a homeric epic: young, fit men strapping on a parachute and leaping from planes to land amongst the enemy. They were a live military experiment in an entirely new form of warfare. The two Hollywood productions were followed by almost two decades of literature from historians and popular authors alike analyzing and dissecting the fire and brimstone shooting matches fought by these men. But little analytics have been devoted to the factors that made these battles possible.

U.S. Army photo retrieved from U.S. Army W.T.F! moments Facebook page.
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Successful Sustainment

Logistics 101

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It’s Summer 2019 at the 25th Infantry Division’s Lightning Academy. I report to the 40-foot tower for my hollywood-style rappel. A Staff Sergeant affectionately known as “Air Assault Sergeant,” calls me forward to his line atop the tower. I sound off with a loud and thunderous “right hand brake hand,” and step forward. He inspects the stitching on my gloves and my rappel seat, finishing with the instructions of “hook in.” I get into position and while assessing me, he asks what I do. “I’m a logistician Air Assault Sergeant,” I say. He turns to the other instructor shouting, “this kid says he only eats vegetables.” They both laugh. From that day forward, I have continued to reflect on the unique relationship between logisticians and our customers of whom we support.

The United States Army and Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI-AD Indonesia Armed Forces) conduct a two-week joint exercise, Garuda Shield 21.

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A Training Relationship

How Sustainment Leaders and Units are Developed

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While combat arms battalion commanders and company commanders maneuver their units to accomplish battalion level objectives, the Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) Commander and his or her company commanders must maneuver their units to enable the breadth and depth of the entire Brigade Combat Team’s (BCT) operation.  The BCT’s maneuver battalions fight to achieve BCT tactical objectives, and the Fires Battalion and Engineer Battalion shape for the maneuver battalions. Only the BSB, however, continually supports all seven organic battalions within a BCT.

U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Nathan Franco
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NTC Update (NOV 19)

Forward Support Company Observations & Best Practices

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The Forward Support Companies (FSC) provide direct logistic support to each maneuver battalion in a Brigade Combat Team (BCT). The FSC Commander is responsible for assisting the battalion S4 and, executing logistics support according to both the BSB and supported maneuver commander’s guidance, and serving as the link between organizations (FM 3-96, 9-7). To accomplish these tasks, the FSC echelons assets across the battlefield throughout the company trains, combat trains, and field trains. Synchronizing these elements requires unfettered communication between the key nodes at each echelon including the supported battalion Tactical Operations Center (TOC), Combat Trains Command Post (CTCP), and Field Trains Command Post (FTCP). Manning and equipping the CTCP and FTCP is an implied task for the FSC but, it should be well defined. A symptom of BCTs tendency to perform collective training at the battalion level and of FSC culture which prides itself on not requiring support from the BSB is that Forward Support Companies struggle to provide adequate support during large scale combat operations (LSCO). 

Crew members and mechanics from Golf Forward Support Company, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, reinstall an engine during National Training Center Rotation 16-08 in August 2016. (Photo Credit: Capt. Jonathan Camire)
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Sustaining Multi-Domain Operations

The Logistical Challenges of Future War

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The Army can’t guarantee overmatch in future war – a luxury we have had since the end of the Cold War. Our senior leaders are acknowledging it. This is a sobering thought, especially for sustaining the force. As part of the so called “tail,” this changes how we support the future fight. We have spent our entire military careers operating in theaters where our forces have superiority across all domains. Our forces executed resupply operations from the division rear area in relative security. We were able to appropriately prepare to provide logistics across the line of departure, but no longer.

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CAVLOG

An Excel Tool for Logistics Planning at the Troop and Squadron-level

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Whether tank companies in the assault or cavalry squadrons conducting zone reconnaissance, the Armor Branch fights on its fuel-tanks and ammo-racks. Increased consumption, large maneuver spaces, and long lines of communication to the Brigade Support Area, reduce the responsiveness and continuity of logistics operations compared with those of the other combat arms. In our Squadron, we identified accurate anticipation of requirements as a major stumbling block to our troops’ maneuver operations. Tactical operations, inconsistent reporting, and poor systems led to inaccurate forecasting of logistical needs. This created a back-up at the CTCP that then resulted in inadequate pushes of resupply from the FTCP. We needed consistency and accuracy – insert, CAVLOG.

Logistics may not be as sexy as maneuver, but ask the trooper on the screen-line or the Soldier in the trenches and he will tell you – it’s the stuff by which we live and die.
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We ❤️ Logistics

#BranchSeries - Logistics

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What do you want to be when you grow up? This August will be my 15th year of service and I still do not know the answer to that question. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you. If I terminate service now, in addition to leadership experience, I’ll have a heavily padded resume that rivals those of my infantry brethren. Perhaps, you are unsure of where your life will be in 20 years? Choosing a branch that offers training beneficial in the civilian workforce may be an indicator that you possess the traits necessary to plan for contingencies. If this is the case, you are what the Logistics Corps needs.