Navy—Marine Corps logistics integration

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, Jan-Feb, 2004 by John P. Polowczyk

The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps ... sister services that make up our formidable naval forces. Surely the logistics infrastructure that enables and supports this awesome branch of the U.S. armed forces is a coordinated, integrated, well-oiled machine ... right? Wrong!

While there is some commonality, especially in the area of aviation support, there are innumerable instances where Navy and Marine Corps logistic systems and procedures vary tremendously. All that is about to change. On July 30, 2003, VADM Charles W. Moore, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Fleet Readiness and Logistics) (OPNAV N4) and LtGen. Richard L. Kelly, Deputy Commandant (Installations and Logistics) (DC (I&L)), signed an agreement--a "Terms of Reference" (TOR)--to integrate the services' logistics functions. The TOR provides a framework for this effort and sets the course for the Navy and Marine Corps to make logistics more "naval." The implications of this important journey are huge. Read on!

A short but immensely important document, the Naval Logistics Integration TOR sets the stage for Navy and Marine Corps to move beyond logistic interoperability, and to seek an integration of their service logistics in support of Sea Basing. The overall objective is to achieve a coordinated program that ensures naval logistic capabilities are utilized to their full potential in support of the fleets and forces under assignment to combatant commanders. The TOR presents specific tasks and responsibilities to build upon transformation initiatives, new opportunities, joint interoperability, and achieve the necessary integration of naval logistics between the naval services.

Specifically, some of the areas for collaboration and integration are:

* Logistics systems (Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Naval Tactical Command Support System and Global Combat Support System-Marine Corps) and inventory management

* Logistic policies, procedures and doctrine

* Common logistics support organizations/installations

* Training and education

* Naval distribution

* Common intermodal naval packaging

* Naval engineers

* Science and technology and experimentation

* Automatic Identification Technology (AIT)

* Logistics transformation initiatives

While the agreement is designed to integrate the services logistics processes to optimize support to daily operations and future Sea Basing, it also forms a Naval Logistics Integration (NLI) working group to act as an official/continuing forum to address prioritized Navy and Marine Corps issues related to improved naval logistics. The N4 and DC(I&L) have tapped their respective top logisticians to lead the effort.

The working group will be co-chaired by RDML Alan Thompson, SC, USN, Director, Supply, Ordnance and Logistics Operations Division (OPNAV/N41), and BGen. Edward G. Usher III, USMC Director, Logistics Plans, Policies, and Strategic Mobility Division (HQMC/LP).

The NLI Working Group will be broken into two subcommittees. An executive level (Flag/General Officer) committee will ensure buy-in to the concept of naval integration at the highest levels of the Navy and Marine Corps, and approve specific naval integration projects. An O-6 level committee will develop projects and assign service champions to work those projects.

The first O-6 level working group meeting was held in October with a balanced agenda that focused on near term goals. Issues addressed included:

* POM 06 initiatives

* Afloat Marine Expeditionary Unit support for consumables and repairables

* Integration of ordnance handling and reporting

* Use of common expediting cells

* Use of same deployed logistics support organizations (Commander, Task Force 53/63/73)

* Integration of shared data AIT initiatives

* Integration of Advance Traceability and Control (ATAC) policies and procedures

* Class IV material support to Seabees

The first executive group meeting was held in November. Documents and briefs on NLI and these projects are resident on the OPNAV N4 web page and can be accessed via: https:// ucso1.hq.navy.mil/opnav/webbas01.nsf/ (vwWebPage)/ webbase.htm?OpenDocument

The Navy/Marine Corps logistics integration effort is a significant project that will ultimately bring Navy and Marine Corps logistics into a focused alignment to support both Sea Basing and all other Navy and Marine Corps operations. It is clear from the broad scope of the TOR and the structure of the working groups that this effort will encompass all areas of operational logistics and will necessitate long-term commitment. It will help set the stage for future efforts to tie other services into the Sea Basing concept.

Clearly there will be many areas for Supply Corps officers of all skill sets (petroleum, operational logistics, contracting, etc.) to work with fellow Marine logisticians in making naval logistics more naval. Stay tuned!

Commander John P. Polowczyk, SC, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, Spares Program and Policy Branch, N41

CDR John Phillip Polowczyk reported to OPNAV N41, Spares Program and Policy Branch in May 2003 after a tour as the Military." Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller). He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds" a master's degree from the Naval Post Graduate School. He has previously been Supply Officer of USS Queenfish (SSN 651) and USS Peterson (DD 969). His shore tours include instructor at Navy Supply Corps School Athens, Ga.; Business Financial Manager in the SEAWOLF program office, Naval Sea Systems Command; and Financial Officer for Commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet.