The art of military logistics

Drastic changes in supply chain management practices of military forces have been dictated by ever-changing global politics. US military planners have begun transforming their logistical operations to accommodate a new national security environment changing how logistic functions are accomplished while revising traditions and organization structures. Current military missions are radically different than the conflicts envisioned during the Cold War. This has forced military logistics planners to create innovative means to move personnel and materiel to any location rapidly. The current operating environment uses isolated, independent, and sometimes incompatible systems, processes, and data. Existing logistics planning and decision support systems must be changed from a long-lead time deliberate planning process to an extremely rapid automated crisis action planning process with links to all operational and logistics planners. The Advance logistics planning program will develop automated, multi-echelon, collaborative information systems/transportation technologies that will provide warfighters with an unprecedented capability to monitor, rapidly replan and re-execute logistical support.