Logistics in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

Army Logistician, Nov-Dec, 2003 by Masahiro Fukuda, Robert O. Bosworth

Because the stability of the Asia-Pacific region is of vital interest to both nations, Japan and the United States have maintained a strong alliance for over 50 years. As the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) transforms to face the challenges of the 21st century, it must confront logistics support issues similar to those the U.S. Army is facing as it transitions to the Objective Force. Reducing the logistics footprint, increasing efficiency, enhancing responsiveness, and minimizing the cost of logistics without sacrificing readiness are among the challenges the JGSDF faces. This article provides an overview of JGSDF logistics and examines some recent JGSDF logistics initiatives and logistics transformation concepts under consideration.

Force Structure

Japan's National Defense Program Outline (NDPO) defines the basic structure of the JGSDF, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The 1995 revision of the NDPO directed the JGSDF to complete a restructuring effort by the end of Japan Fiscal Year (JFY) 2008 (1 April 2008 through 31 March 2009). That restructuring reduces its force to 8 divisions, 1 armored division, 6 brigades, 1 airborne brigade, 1 helicopter brigade, 900 tanks, 900 artillery systems, 145,000 active-duty personnel, and 15,000 reserve personnel. Now in a period of transition, the JGSDF currently has 10 divisions, 1 armored division, 2 brigades, 2 combined brigades, and approximately 156,000 active-duty personnel and 10,000 reserve personnel.

The JGSDF is composed of five regional armies, each with a varying number of infantry and armor divisions, brigades, and regiments. A regional army also has organic brigade-sized field artillery, engineer, signal, and air defense artillery elements. Typically, JGSDF units are smaller than their U.S. Army counterparts. A JGSDF division has 6,000 to 9,000 personnel compared to 10,000 to 15,000 for a U.S. Army division. Although the JGSDF does have battalions in its divisions and brigades, them are none in its infantry and armor regiments. The companies within these regiments report directly to the regimental headquarters.

The Japanese use the term "tai," or "unit," for elements that do not fit the parameters for companies, battalions, regiments, groups, brigades, or divisions. A unit can vary in size from several squads or platoons of approximately 55 personnel, as is the ease in a division logistics support regiment's transportation unit, to approximately 460 personnel, which is typical of the transportation unit of a regional army's logistics support element.

Key JGSDF logistics Components

The Japan Defense Agency (JDA), Japan's equivalent to the U.S. Department of Defense, is located in Ichigaya, a section of central Tokyo. The Ground Staff Office (GSO), equivalent to the U.S. Department of the Army, is the JGSDF's headquarters staff element in the JDA. Key components of the JGSDF's logistics structure include the GSO's Logistics Department, the Central Transportation Management Command, the Ground Materiel Control Command, and the JGSDF depot system.

The Logistics Department of the GSO is similar to the U.S. Army's Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4. The Director of the Logistics Department, a major general, reports to the Chief of Staff of the JGSDF, a general. The Logistics Department has eight divisions. The Logistics Management Division is responsible for overall coordination of logistics planning; the Ordnance and Chemical Division for maintenance, ammunition, and chemical equipment; the Communications and Electronics Division for signal and communications equipment and electronic systems, including radar and fire control systems; the Aircraft Division for JGSDF rotary-wing aircraft maintenance management; fee Quartermaster Division for supply and field service support; the Engineer Division for engineering support; the Transportation Division for transportation support; and the Materiel Research and Development Division for ground force equipment research and development. The Materiel Research and Development Division works with the JDA's Technical Research and Development Institute, which manages the design, development, testing, and production of all JGSDF equipment and materiel.

A regional army coordinates and manages the transportation of equipment and supplies within its area of responsibility. If items are to be transported beyond the regional army's area by a means other than road movement, the Central Transportation Management Command in Yokohama coordinates and manages transportation requirements. The Central Transportation Management Command manages interregional army transportation and nationwide JGSDF rail, air, and maritime transportation.

The Ground Materiel Control Command is headquartered at Jujo Station in Kita-ku, about an hour north of Tokyo. It oversees the JGSDF depot system, controls JGSDF nationwide depot support, maintains visibility of all depot stocks, and directs cross-leveling operations. The Ground Materiel Control Command ensures that controlled components, such as engines and transmissions, and intensively managed items are stocked at regional army depots. This ensures proactive support of aviation units, Hawk air defense artillery units, and other JGSDF elements that require time-sensitive, specialized repair parts support.