Breaking the Logistics Branch Paradigm: Should the U.S. Army Combine the Current Logistics Officer Branches of Ordnance, Quartermaster, Transportation, and Medical Service into One Branch

摘要

This monograph asks if the U.S. Army should combine the current logistics officer branches from the Ordnance, Quartermaster, Transportation, and Medical Service Corps, into one branch. Currently, officers in the existing logistics branches, and those MSC officers who volunteer to become multifunctional logisticians, do not formally receive multifunctional training until the third phase of the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course (CLC3). This monograph examines how these officers are trained today, what their responsibilities are in supporting current CSS doctrine, and what their roles will be in participating in future operations. The author is able to draw conclusions and make logical recommendations in researching these three areas by applying the following criteria: Officer versatility, support of current doctrine, support of future operations, and simplicity in training and assignments. This monograph concludes that the U.S. Army should combine the Ordnance, Quartermaster, and Transportation officer branches, along with the MSC officer specialties of Health Services Operations (67A77) and Health Services Materiel (67A78) into a single logistics officer branch.