Logistics In Marine Corps Operations, Appendix B

The most important part of integrating anything into a plan is the logistics portion of that plan. What is

logistics? According to the definition on the internet, it is "the detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies". According to Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication (MCDP) 4, "Logistics", it defines it as "the science of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of forces. Logistics provides the resources of combat power, positions those resources on the battlefield, and sustains them throughout the execution of operations”. Within Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication (MCDP) 1-0, Marine Corps Operations, Appendix "B" portion of this book it provides the warfighting functions that

encompasses all military activities performed in the battlespace. Within those functional areas of command and control, maneuver, fires, intelligence, logistics, and force protection are similar as they all are in the Motor Transportation Operation field.
Inside the Motor Transportation Operations field, it incorporates many different levels of planning, from within the motor pool to the off-loading.

It is a vital part of warfighting, to the means of maneuvering in an environment of complication, disorder, and ambiguity in order for that command to achieve the mission. Command and Control are the "exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces to accomplish a mission". That depicts that there is someone in charge of and in control of a planning of movement or a military operation in place. Then there has to be an arrangement of personnel and equipment and facilities to conduct his strategy, as a Motor Transportation Operations Chief, that is exactly the necessary function needed before the commencement of any planning, the 5 W's. That operations chief needs to know his Marines level of technical proficiency and understands what tactical vehicles will be necessary to design his plan of action for the combat service support mission. Even though the mission statement and the intent to the mission will be driven towards providing the tasks and its purpose behind the mission, within those lines of tasking, the commander's intent describes the purpose of the assigned task. A clear understanding of the intent becomes the basis for the unity of effort and the exercise of

initiative.
The following warfighting function is Maneuver, (MCDP) 1-0 defines maneuver "the employment of forces in the operational area through movement in combination with fires to achieve a position of advantage in respect to the enemy in order to accomplish the mission. The MCDP 4, "Logistics", states Maneuver warfare as "the practice of maneuver warfare has fundamental implications on the way a force is organized, moved, managed, and supplied”.

Maneuvering to and from with tactical vehicles in a strategic manner with logistics requires that the focus of effort and the proper planning to be precise and a continuation of the tempo to achieve those gains. Being able to maneuver throughout the battlespace tactfully does assist in the tactical advantage as a combat service support element to the commander's concept of operation. As Operations Chiefs, we have to be mindful of the full extent of the operation so that, at any given time and place, our juniors’ subordinates can understand what's needed to be done to keep it pushing forward. Then we have "Fires" it states in MCDP 1-0 that “is used with a maneuver to help shape the battlespace, setting conditions for decisive action”. Another proficiency that is required as an Operations Chief, that understanding of what tactical vehicles and what their capabilities are needed to defend that tactical patrol movement with its essential weapon system, whether its heavy machine gun mounted vehicles or command and control up-armored vehicles. Tactical patrols have to be able to defend its self in a hostile environment and keep its momentum to support the forward forces. Whether the logistics'

is at the company level or at the regimental level, organization and equipment have to be efficient as well as effective. While we must have, the required capabilities needed, we must always remain conscious of the limited transportation assets. Then there is intelligence, which "provides the commander with an understanding of the enemy and the battlespace and identifies the enemy's centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities". As a Convoy Commander for a tactical patrol movement in the battlespace area, intelligence is one of the main dynamics that is needed to move tactfully and efficiently without possibly running into a hostile environment. One of the important portions in the 5-paragraph order is the enemy situation, that is generated by that patrol leader, patrol leaders seek that intel from their Company Operations Center (COC), the patrol brief is generated and the intelligence is briefed down to the lowest level with all areas of possible hostile acts informed and its immediate action drills needed to execute. All members in that tactical patrol must know and understand the importance of intelligence. The information that is given to us by our intelligence department may not be exact but it's a baseline "for the preparation to deal with the uncertainties of war and adapt to changing conditions in the battlespace. Operation chiefs must build flexibility into these load plans by being able to provide several ways to support those shortfalls or unanticipated circumstances. In the force protection warfighting function, it states “measures taken to preserve the force's potential”, so in other words protecting ourselves in a case of hostile acts to slow our progression. Another major factor we play is our security within our tactical patrols. Our tactical vehicles are equipped and have mounted weapon systems with Marines' behind them that are fully proficient enough to cover down on those sectors of fire and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver with positive identification following all protocol that was directed during the patrol brief. Patrol leaders or Assistance patrol leaders are the ones that ensure that those procedures and commander intents are followed and all hostile activities encountered are reported up through the proper chains to ensure accuracy and commander's critical information requirements (CCIRs) are filtered to the commander to ensure mission accomplishment. As a Motor Transportation Operation Chief, warfighting functions come all hand to hand with the tempo and rhythm of the unit, there are procedures and great planning involved in all steps of logistics, successful logistics requires both effectiveness and efficiency. Some things will come up short and achieve greater results on the other end, we have to find the balance between effectiveness and efficiency. Unfortunately, there can never be too much or not enough, trying to strive for the more accurate approach and be prepared to make accurate requirement forecast and then be able to adapt and innovate if this occurs due to weather, enemy action or unforeseen circumstances. Logistics is the heart in the transportation operation field, we are looked at differently than just operators, we try to strategize all and encompass all command and control requirements, to include the types of vehicles and the personnel needed to accomplish the mission. Inside MCDP 1-0 it states "The key advantage of using warfighting functions is they allow the commander and his planners to look at all aspects of the battlespace and not leave anything to chance if it is within their capability to coordinate, control, influence, and synchronize". The exact mindset that is needed to build those manifests and those tactical patrols of vehicles necessary to set-up all the command and control assets, to include the recovery assets. One of our mottos is being able to be self-sufficient and having the unit provide all sources organically, without having to utilize outside resources, but still having the ability to incorporate it into the plan. That effective Motor Transportation Chief needs that experience, training, and the education to contribute to the logistics system, more importantly, his Marines are the key to success and the execution of a tactical patrol throughout those battlespaces.
As indicated, logistics is an essential statement of intent and the detailed guidance required to focus on the logistical efforts, it's also a necessity that those thoughts are integrated throughout the planning process, that operation plans are supportable, and that the logistical tactical patrol will produce and sustain the unit's combat power and that they are developed in coincidence with those operation plans. The attention to detail is no easy task, but in the logistics mindset we all have to be a master of detail, we have to be able to resolve small problems and the possibility of those occasions that convert into bigger problems. As a Marine leader, we practice those qualities and implement logical solutions, Leaders deal with these same matters daily whether its junior Marines, money, equipment, ammunition, fuel, food, water or medical supplies, it's the piece of the puzzle that is put together to create bridges for future bridging. Professional military education is that adhesive that never weakens it's a process of continuous progression of development. We as Operations Chief, master the techniques and procedures through trials and errors but come to the realization that there is an intent behind it all, through proper training and understanding the procedures of planning and all the warfighting functions play the significant role in combat operations within the art of science and war.