Sense and Respond Logistics: The Future of Marine Corps Combat Service Support

摘要

For the past 230 years, the Marine Corps has distinguished itself as the world's premier amphibious force with the ability to deploy anywhere in the world in less than seven days. More recently, the global war on terrorism has required that this ability be 'broadened to decisively defeat growing and diverse threats.' Because of this realization, Sense and Respond Logistics is the only tool that can effectively support the Marine Corps' expeditionary capability in the future. Sense and Respond Logistics is a concept that will revolutionize the supply chain and move the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense (DoD) away from the classic forms of logistics. It will do this by leaning heavily on an information technology network that will connect all of the units in a specific theater. Within the network each unit, or node, will be able to act as both a consumer and a supplier. The classic forms of logistics (i.e., Mass-based Logistics and Just-in-Time Logistics) have shortfalls that make them incompatible with the needs of the Marine Corps. By giving commanders real-time information with regard to their assets, Sense and Respond Logistics will revolutionize logistics capability. It also will help the battle commander achieve his ultimate goals of accomplishing the mission and taking care of his troops.