LOGISTICS

Logistics and Environment

[Name of the Institute]Logistics and Environment

Modern Improvement is US Logistics

There is a revolution of military affairs which have taken place recently. The transformation encompasses development of logistics older systems of the industrial revolution era with a large number of supplies to a alternative form, which reflects the changing ways of warfare. The development of information technology has accelerated this transformation. The importance of this transformation is underpinned by the fact that the US military is perusing many goals in many countries and need rapid and influential power in distant countries. Most recent is the example of US operations in Afghanistan, where the US army regularly requires warfare logistics.

The military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan illustrate the need of transformation in the US logistics. The operations undertaken by the US military are based in penetrating enemy territory, or the US army is engaged in making diverted advances in enemy battlefields, which require state of the art logistic supply systems. According to many commentators, the current system of logistics, which is although much better than one which was employed during world war era, lacks much needed flexibility, better delivery means, communication capacity and situational awareness in order to meet challenges of changing warfare. All this is needed to achieve with reduced carbon footprint. There is a large reduction in the industrial base in recent years which presents another challenge for logistic system (Lexingtoninstitute.Org, 2004).

The US military has started a extensive transformation of overall logistics, which includes changes in culture, doctrine, organization, technologies and prospect. The current plan of transforming the Army Logistic system includes four key areas. The first one is a connection between battlefield C4 network and logisticians, which will allow the military to view battlefield and take better decisions. The second one includes modernization of the distribution system, which will result in responsive and rapid provision of needed support at an ideal time and right place. Third includes improvements in force reception through enhancement of strategic movement ability of command and control (reach back ability), logistics and supplies, as well as, development of theater sustainment base. The fourth critical area includes the integration of overall supply chain as a two way process, from factory to foxhole and from foxhole to a factory, which will result in efficient management of supply flow.

These changes in military-logistic revolution plan are happening in the middle of dynamic changes that are poised to effect logistic system. These include creation of globalized defense industrial base, the creation of joint logistic system and joint forces, the development of FCS (Future Combat System), the employment of Stryker brigades and development of modular formations. It is expected that each of this development will enhance and accelerate the transformation of logistic system. However, these developments have also brought new challenges.

The ultimate goal of factory-to-foxhole is the creation of a seamless system. Outside this goal, the system requires extending the cockpit, other important elements along with the bridge of combined and joint forces. Logistics should not be taken as unimportant, ...