Dominant Logistics
Vol. IV: Understanding and Developing Active Capacity
At the heart of what I have dubbed Dominant Logistics is a theory that dictates the logic of the concept - Active Capacity. Active Capacity is about much more than logistics; it is about designing a force specifically to ease the burden of sustainment when the force is called into action. It is about restructuring units in such a way as to optimize our use of materials to lessen the logistics load.
Stockpiles of Static Assets
The end of World War II and the start of the Cold War initiated a process in American military logistics where we stockpiled massive quantities of materials. This was not without good reason - a single nuclear strike could easily wipe out entire formations that would need to be reconstituted. The only way to accomplish this task was to keep large stocks of materials that could be used to form new military formations as others were vaporized in mushroom clouds.
Luckily, we never had to test this concept as it flew in the face of a single, rather obvious problem. The stockpiles themselves were easy targets for any enemy, enabling a foe to easily cripple the U.S. military and gain a significant advantage in any war of attrition. Unfortunately, the end of the Cold War did not bring an end to this nonsense.
To this day, the United States maintains massive stocks of all types of war materials. Thousands of tanks and armored vehicles sit in yards scattered throughout the world corroding and collecting dust. An entire Air Force base, often referred to as the "Grave Yard", is operating to hold retired aircraft of all types going back to the dawn of the jet age. Many naval yards are filled with the inactive reserve ships that we continue to hold onto, regardless of the fact that there isn't a navy on the planet that could even attempt to challenge the U.S. Navy.
As the Cold War ended, an effort was undertaken to justify this incredible waste of valuable resources. What was once referred to as attrition reserves was reborn as "prepositioned" stocks. With a little bureaucratic manuevering, this waste of money became what many honestly believe to be a strategic asset. The reality is that these "resources" are nothing more than a massive drain on the services and the DOD budget. Even with thousands of tanks held in "prepositioned stocks", when the Army recently rolled into Baghdad, the materials largely came from stateside garrison locations, not our vaunted "resources." With all our massive stockpiles, including many in the Middle East, it still took roughly a full year to move a relatively small force into position to attack Iraq.
Defining Active Capacity
Active: adj; marked by present operation, transaction, movement, or use
Capacity: noun; the facility or power to produce, perform, or deploy
In its simplest form, Active Capacity is the process of developing the ability to perform militarily and keeping that ability in constant operation or use. This means limiting procurement to those items that are needed, no more and no less. It means structuring forces with the means to perform any task as it arises, not after months of retraining and preparation. It means maintaining the ability to adapt to changes in activity on the fly. In short, it means actually being prepared for war in reality and not just on paper.
Active Capacity takes many forms throughout the force and is by no means limted to logistics; in reality most aspects of Active Capacity have little relationship to conventional logistics practices. For example, an easy step in the right direction is to design a reversible field uniform for ground forces where one side is desert camoflauge and the other is conventional camoflauge; this would eliminate the need to reissue uniforms when deploying to different regions of the world. Another fundamental aspect of Active Capacity is to use multi-use systems instead of single-purpose systems; an example of this is replacing existing SHORAD systems with designs that can be used against ground targets as well as aerial targets.
A critical aspect of Active Capacity that must be understood is that it is based upon the reality that much of the materials used by the military are not always needed, but will be needed on occasion. Some items are always needed, regardless of the activity the force is engaging in. Other materials and systems are only needed for specific types of actions. Active Capacity is the practice of basing the active elements of the force around those items that are always needed and keeping those items that are only occasionally needed in reserve. Perhaps the best way to draw this picture is to take a walk through each of the services and highlight some of the practices that should be implemented and how these practices will bring a significant benefit.
Army
Reversible Smock Uniforms - A smock-type uniform should replace the standard BDU and be available in two reversible designs. One design would feature woodland and desert patterns while the other will consist of urban/winter and a solid bright color for peacekeeping. Each ground soldier should be issued four of each design type.
AC Aspect - Every ground soldier has the appropriate uniforms necessary for any deployment, regardless of time of year, location, or mission. Transitions in climate and mission type can also be accomodated.
Tracked Support Vehicles - The medium classes of trucks should be replaced by a PLS-equipped tracked support vehicle in all tactical units.
AC Aspect - Support vehicles can be used as combat vehicles if necessary. Logistics forces are also using vehicles compatible with ground combat forces and can perform sustainment operations under all types of conditions, regardless of terrain, season, or location as they are no longer limited to operating primarily on roads.
Log Packs - The basic soldier's ruck should be replaced with a log pack that contains the soldier's food, water, ammunition, and personal hygiene items. Log packs will be exchanged every two days and a field pack will be available for when ammunition isn't required.
AC Aspect - Ground forces will no longer be reliant upon field kitchens and ROWPU equipment for sustainment. Troops will no longer be forced to acquire personal hygiene items for field operations. More food options can be made available as time-in-storage will be known. Additional quality of life materials can be provided without burdening the logistics structure.
Palletized Systems - In accordance with the use of tracked support vehicles, we should develop palletized systems for delivery of sustainment materials and for specific field roles.
AC Aspect - Quantities of log packs can be pre-assembled and waiting for use with long shelf-life products so sustainment goods are ready for war. Large tentage systems can be replaced with hard shelters for better protection and quality of life in extended operations. Vehicles can be converted to different roles and missions rapidly to adapt to changing requirements ie, a vehicle may use an artillery pallet in a combat configuration but rapidly be converted to a cargo vehicle or engineering vehicle as the mission evolves.
Replace Transportation companies with Transportation Assault Battalions - Every Army division should have a transportation unit assigned that is equipped with vehicles designed for amphibious assault missions. Existing HETS should be retained but the amphibious vehicles should be added.
AC Aspect - Army divisions will no longer be limited to operating via land and air. Given that the vast majority of Army systems can only deploy effectively by sea, amphibious capabilities are required to avoid being locked into predictable deep water ports. Army will no longer be limited to operating in areas with substantial bridges. Lighter units and support units will have armored vehicles available to assist in force protection in rear areas.
Escort Vehicles - All conventional SHORAD systems will be rreplaced with multi-role Escort Vehicles that combine enhanced sensors and communications in an armored combat vehicle with medium caliber guns and missiles.
AC Aspect - Signal capabilities are integrated into the overall combat force and data bandwidth is enhanced. Heavy fire support available to rear units and support operations without compromising integrity of primary combat elements. More capable and useable air defense system that serves useful roles in all operations and not just combat ops.
All Tactical Vehicles Larger Than HMMWV Tracked Instead of Wheeled
AC Aspect - Fewer engineering and recovery assets required to support the force. Vehicles can operate in any terrain without additional materials (snow chains) or failure prone add-ons (CTIS). Fewer required battle damage repairs as tracks are not susceptible to damage from small arms and shrapnel.
Small Arms Based on a Common Design - A common design should be used as the basis for the standard issue rifle, the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
AC Aspect - Units can use parts from issued rifles to repair primary MG assets without outside support. Fewer training requirements as all small arms share common training requirements and parts. Fewer parts required to keep arms operational in the field.
Issue Crew Served and Non-Standard Weapons based on Assigned Vehicles - Each combat or command vehicle should be issued a 30mm autocannon while all other vehicles should be issued a GPMG. Every vehicle should be issued a 12 gauge shotgun while each driver and vehicle commander should be issued a .45 caliber sidearm.
AC Aspect - Every vehicle has sufficient firepower to defend itself. Units have additional weapons available to adjust unit capabilities to missions on the fly. An additional stock of weapons will be available to combat units within their supporting formations.
These changes combine to give us ground forces that require less logistical support while enhancing capabilities as well. For example, any war scenario must ultimately address the issues of peacekeeping and nation building after the war is over. Currently, this requires us to deploy additional forces and equipment whereas these concepts would significantly reduce this need. These ideas also make our existing forces more flexible as they can rapidly change between high intensity, low intensity, and urban conflict with resource that will be organic to the unit.
Navy
Replace Nimitz Carriers with LHDs - Three of the existing supercarriers shoulld be replaced by a total of six LHDs, bringing the ultimate total of LHDs to 18 ships.
AC Aspect - Most peacetime missions can be performed by LHDs at less cost than modern supercarriers. Greater quantity of ships available to meet expanded missions. LHDs can support sealift and amphibious assault missions. LHDs can provide command and control facilities, communications facilities, medical facilities, and troop support facilities for deployed forces.
Bring Back Battleships - In the near term, two Iowa battleships should be returned to service while efforts should be undertaken to develop a new class of battleships with a projected fielding of seven vessels to replace two of the current supercarriers.
AC Aspect - Unlike aircraft, battleships can operate in any weather. Battleships are also able to survive massive combat damage while remaining functional. Battleships have fewer operating costs than traditional aircraft carriers but can perform many missions equally well while also being able to perform missions that carriers can't, such as surface fire support missions.
Develop Flying Ships - Mid-size combat ships are needed that can be deployed faster than conventional vessels.
AC Aspect - Flying ships can deploy in a fraction of the time of conventional ships and can also transit land masses without the need for canals. This design is also more survivable against many modern threats such as high speed cruise missiles and diesel-electric submarines.
Use LTAs for Sensor Systems - Lighter Than Air ships should be developed to expand the range of sensors for modern naval missions.
AC Aspect - LTAs cost a fraction of traditional aircraft for operations and can loiter over areas for greater periods of time. For modern needs like ASW and missile defense systems, LTAs can greatly expand on our capabilities while simultaneously reducing our operating requirements.
These changes would give us a Navy that can fill many of the support roles necessary for actions abroad. For example, an expansion of the capital ships in the fleet will make critical capabilities like command and control and medical support available in more locations, reducing the need for deploying these assets to support urgent missions. We also will have greater fire support, amphibious assault, and sea lift capacity by making these changes.
Air Force
Develop High-Speed, Long-Range Bombers - Supercruising heavy bombers can make operations from stateside locations militarily practical
AC Aspect - Forward deployed sites are vulnerable to terrorist and other attacks and also require extensive logistical support for fuel, parts, and munitions that are manufactured in CONUS. Operating from CONUS would eliminate these problems while also adding an element of surprise as foreign forces would be unable to adequately track our movements. High-speed capability makes this exercise practical in operation.
Develop Fighter Self Deployment Systems - Systems that either tow fighters over long ranges or allow the fighters to fly unmanned for deployment should be developed and fielded ASAP
AC Aspect - Self deployment of major systems reduces wear and tear on personnel while a towing system would also reduce wear and tear on the actual fighter aircraft. Towing would also significantly reduce fuel requirements for transporting substantial forces abroad and enable conventional fighters to engage in very long range missions.
Develop Multi-Role Large Aircraft - Conventional large transport aircraft should be modified to serve multiple roles including bombing, refueling, and fire fighting. A new AWACS design should combine existing AWACS and JSTARS capabilities.
AC Aspect - Large aircraft are too expensive to purchase in quantity for single roles. By including peace time mission support roles, larger quantities can be justified enhancing deployment and support capabilities. Aircraft can also then be switched between roles to accomodate changing mission requirements.
These changes combine to enhance our ability to engage enemies while operating from CONUS as well as improving our ability to rapidly send tactical forces abroad. It also enables us to expand our large aircraft fleet to enhance our transport capacities while also addressing critical homeland defense issues.
Summary
These are just a fraction of the ideas that make up the overall theory of Active Capacity. In short, making these changes will greatly reduce the amount of logistical support necessary to support forces engaged in all types of actions abroad, whether it be war, peacekeeping, or humanitarian missions. If we are ever going to achieve our goals of having our forces deployed to action in a short time frame, these are the types of changes that must be made.