Should a Joint Logistics Command Be Developed to Support Contingency Operations

Should the United States military develop a Joint Logistics Command for future contingency operations Recent contingency operations clearly indicate U.S. force projections in support of national policy will be joint operations. The study in this paper reviews the recent history of support to joint operations. It discusses future contingency operations, logistical requirements, and contingency force composition. Flexibility, duplication and consolidation of logistical support to the Theater Commander is discussed in light of economy of logistical effort while sustaining the forces. In this study, the assumption was made that the industrial base and transportation systems would provide sufficient logistical sustainment to the selected theater of operation. The problem then becomes the type organization required to provide command and control for reception, storage, onward movement, and continued sustainment of joint theater forces. This paper concludes that the creation of a Joint Logistical Command for contingency operations, which would combine all Service logistical components under a single logistical operator, would make the best use of limited theater resources.