What Army logisticians should know about the Marine Corps

Army Logistician, July-August, 2003 by James C. Bates

Normally, there is one CSSE for each MAGTF. An FSSG is the CSSE that supports an MEF. A brigade service support group (BSSG) is the CSSE that supports an MEB. A Marine expeditionary unit service support group (MSSG) is the CSSE that supports an MEU.

Maritime Pre-positioning

Also supporting the MEFs is the Maritime Pre-positioning Force, which is operated by the Navy's Military Sealift Command. The Maritime Pre-positioning Force currently is composed of 14 maritime pre-positioning ships that carry nearly all of the equipment and supplies deploying marines need to conduct operations. The Maritime Pre-positioning Force is divided into three Maritime Pre-positioning Ship Squadrons (MPSRONs). MPSRON One is usually on duty in the Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea. MPSRON Two is usually located near the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. MPSRON Three is usually stationed near Guam or Saipan in the Western Pacific Ocean.

When MPSRON ships are needed, they transport their equipment and supply loads to a relatively secure environment for offloading either in port or at sea. Deploying marines, normally arriving at nearby airfields, offload the supplies and equipment from the MPSRON. One maritime pre-positioning ship can support an MEU. One MPSRON (four to five ships) can support an MEB for 30 days. All three MPSRONs combined (14 ships) can support an MEF. The chart at left shows a partial list of the impressive amount of supplies and equipment found on the ships of one MPSRON.

Wholesale-Level logistics and Research

Like the Army, the Marine Corps, in conjunction with the Navy, is in the process of transforming itself in order to exploit our Nation's technological and doctrinal advances. Concepts associated with the Operational Maneuver from the Sea vision include enhanced joint, sea-based capabilities that will use high-speed support vessels, floating forward staging bases, and Maritime Pre-positioned Force-Future ships. These future assets will provide platforms where troops can marry up with their equipment, both during deployments and during periods of reconstitution. A floating logistics base provides several advantages. It can remain safely over the horizon until needed; it can be moved relatively quickly to other locations, such as sparsely defended enemy coastal areas; and it can reduce the amount of supplies and equipment needed ashore, thereby expediting the redeployment process at the tactical level.

At the strategic level of supply, the Marine Corps oversees the Marine Corps Materiel Command (MATCOM). Similar in purpose but smaller in size than the Army Materiel Command, MATCOM commands the Marine Corps logistics bases at Albany, Georgia (site of MATCOM Headquarters), and Barstow, California. Blount Island, Florida, is a Marine Corps depot subordinate to the logistics base at Albany.

MATCOM also oversees the Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. MARCORSYSCOM's mission is to provide life-cycle management of Marine Corps ground weapon systems, equipment, munitions, and information systems to ensure materiel readiness of its forces in the field. It serves as the principal agent for equipping marines for their warfighting mission.