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The Publication of Record for the Military Logistics
Community
MLF Ennouncement 2009 - Issue 1
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Greetings!
With a new year comes a fresh look at what will drive
defense logistics in 2009. As editor of
Military Logistics Forum, I'd like to offer readers a February issue featuring
an in-depth feature interview with newly decorated four star Commanding General
Ann Dunwoody of U.S. Army Materiel Command as she lays out AMC's path for the
year ahead. The February issue also features a special focus on "Expeditionary
Logistics" and how the military services are working together through the Joint
Contingency Acquisition Support Office in promoting DoD's logistics
transformation initiatives. Other featured topics include a look at the Air
Force's "High Velocity Maintenance" program, DLA's effort at reutilization of
service equipment through DRMS, and a look at how DoD is partnering across
industry to better streamline contracting practices.
In addition, a new bi-monthly column called "Log Leadership
Lessons" will profile a select senior retired logistician with joint
credentials writing about lessons learned at all levels of defense logistics.
February's profile will feature Mr. Rick Hack, President, KBR, Inc., who will
share his thoughts from the perspective of a career logistician. This issue will be distributed
at the AUSA Winter Symposium 2009 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Be sure to check out the current edition of MLF's E-Nouncement!
Best Regards,
Christian Sheehy, Editor
Military Logistics Forum magazine
A KMI Media Group publication
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IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF MLF...
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MRAPin' IT
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Operation Iraqi Freedom is helping create a whole new way of
fielding force protection products beginning with the mine-resistant ambush protected
vehicle which has saved lives and greatly reduced combat injuries to Soldiers
on patrol.
"We're getting the fielded pieces out to the Soldiers immediately. When
roadside bomb attacks were on the rise in Iraq,
Soldiers found themselves in need of vehicles that could resist the
threat," said Lt. Col. Steven Brewer, force integration officer for Multi-National Division Center.
"We are doing stuff going immediately from concept to implementation in
less than a year out here, so we are taking a lot of short cuts and doing a lot
of pieces after the fact. Then, we just keep improving it and testing it.
Because of the rushed need for the MRAP, four companies were manufacturing
them. Additionally, six of 12 models passed the initial testing with the Army
eventually choosing four. Since the first four models, there have been three
generations of improvements, essentially creating 12 versions of the vehicle. A
simulated MRAP roll-over trainer, similar to the Humvee egress assistance
trainer currently being used by service members, is also in development.
"The MRAP fielding will probably go down as the granddaddy of all
fieldings," said Brewer. "We are completing the final MRAP fieldings
in January, which consist of the explosively formed projectile (EFP) protected
version of the vehicle."
A process that can take at best five years or longer to fulfill, took roughly
eight months to reach more than 50 percent of the units in need.
"We don't have time to wait for that five-year process. We need the stuff
while we are still here, so we've come up with this abbreviated process,"
said Brewer.
A wide variety of new equipment is making its way to units in the field.
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INFORMATION KEY TO SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
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Military operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan
have focused attention on the performance of the Department of Defense's (DOD)
supply chain management. According to DOD, it spent approximately $178 billion
on its supply chain in fiscal year 2007. As a result of weaknesses in DOD's
management of its supply chain, this area has been on GAO's list of high-risk
federal government programs since 1990. DOD released its Logistics Roadmap in
July 2008 to guide, measure, and track logistics improvements. DOD has
identified two technologies included in this roadmap, item unique
identification (IUID) and passive radio frequency identification (RFID), as
having promise to address weaknesses in asset visibility. GAO reviewed (1) the
extent to which the roadmap serves as a comprehensive, integrated strategy to
improve logistics; and (2) the progress DOD has made implementing IUID and
passive RFID. GAO reviewed the roadmap based on DOD statements about its
intended purposes and visited sites where IUID and passive RFID were
implemented.
What GAO Recommends
GAO recommends that DOD (1) include in its roadmap additional information and
elements needed for a comprehensive strategy and (2) collect data associated
with the implementation of IUID and passive RFID, analyze their return on
investment, and determine if sufficient funding priority has been provided. DOD
concurred with GAO's recommendations.
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Thank you for your interest in Military Logistics Forum magazine. For more information about MLF's editorial content, advertising opportunities, or to suggest a story idea, contact us .
Christian Sheehy
Editor, Military Logistics Forum magazine
* P.S. - To learn about other KMI publications, click here.
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