Army considers new command for logistics management
Connecting state and local government leaders
To better manage logistics processes in the Army, service brass are considering a plan that would transform the existing Army Field Support Command at Rock Island, Ill., into the Army Sustainment Command.
To better manage logistics processes in the Army, service brass are considering a plan that would transform the existing Army Field Support Command at Rock Island, Ill., into the Army Sustainment Command.
In concept, ASC would be a centralized location for soldiers to turn to for total lifecycle management, contingency contracting, and supply and maintenance management, officials said. ASC would retain some existing Army Field Support Command functions, such as field support, management of Army prepositioned stocks and the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program.
'The Army has encountered challenges in providing a force reception capability to support combat forces during the early stages of a conflict. Limited communications, shortages of trucks and ground transportation assets, and limited asset visibility have also hindered our distribution system,' explained Gregory L. Kee, the Army's deputy G-3 for future operations.
'DOD and the Army have recognized these shortfalls and have been working aggressively to fix these problems,' Kee added.
Kee is responsible for analyzing, integrating and assessing new concepts, strategies and future technologies into the Army Materiel Command. He spoke at a recent luncheon sponsored by the American Council for Technology and its sister organization, the Industry Advisory Council. Afterward, he elaborated on the Army's plans for the Sustainment Command.
Although Kee said the plan is still in its infancy, he added that technology figures prominently in tying all of the logistics pieces together. Kee said that through the Single Army Logistics Enterprise Architecture, the Army is developing an enterprise architecture to standardize end-to-end processes.
'You can't do all of this without the technology. With standardized business practices and integrated supply information, we expect to improve our distribution system,' he said.