Robert Johnson on: Why are there no heavy US Army units in Afghanistan?

01/25/2010
By Robert Johnson U.S. Army Soldiers from 1st platoon, delta company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment conduct a mounted counter indirect fire patrol in Sabari, Afghanistan (Courtesy Photo: Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan, Coalition Outpost Sabari, Afghanistan, 01/15/10)To be Tracked or to be Wheeled: A False Debate? There is a debate…

Afghan Ops and the Logs Bite of the DOD Apple

01/03/2010
A Surge in Cost Per Troop The President has committed to a major new phase of the Afghan campaign.  Although called a “surge,” it is much more of an expansion of the engagement.  And with that expansion comes a significant demand for new resources to deal with the most neglected…

Preparing for Withdrawal from Iraq

12/28/2009
[caption id="attachment_3167" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="ISTFF Status of Funds"][/caption] One of the major budgetary challenges for 2010 and 2011 will be providing for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and the training and support for Iraqi security forces. These costs will be variable, notably they depend upon events and are…

The U.S. Double-Dare: Plus Up and Withdraw

12/07/2009
With the announcement of President Obama's Surge policy in Afghanistan and the addition of 30,000 extra-troops in a six-month framework, a key question was on the lips of many participants of Defense Logistics, the annual cross-service Logistics conference organized by Worldwide Business Research in Arlington, Virginia from November 30th to…

The Maintainers at the Heart of the Osprey Enterprise

11/28/2009
[caption id="attachment_2584" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="The V22 Maintenance Team"][/caption] Crafting the Osprey Enterprise: The Role of the Maintenance Team New Plane, New Capability, New Support Concept The Osprey is a new plane, a new capability, and provides a new contribution to the MAGTF and to the joint forces. It is not…

Meeting the Logistics and Sustainment Challenge: Towards a New Bargain Between Industry and Government

11/23/2009
Building a Stable and Effective Public-Private Partnership In a recent interview Sldinfo conducted with Lou Kratz, Vice President, Logistics and Sustainment, Lockheed Martin Corporation, the core significance of shaping an effective partnership between industry and the Department of Defense was underscored.  Indeed, Lou Kratz laid out an approach towards shaping a new…

European Air Transport Fleet: Fleet or Framework?

11/22/2009
By Dr. Hilmar Linnenkamp, Former Deputy Chief Executive, European Defense Agency   On November 17th 2009, the European Defence Agency’s Ministerial Steering Board noted a Letter of Intent (LOI) on the establishment of a European Air Transport Fleet (EATF). The LOI was signed by 14 Member States of the EDA. Among…

French Land Forces Support:Looking For the Best Business Models

11/15/2009
IN THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE This article follows one published in the September-October 2008 Issue of Military Logistics International and  entitled “In the Eye of the Hurricane: French Army Support on the Move” [See pages 29 to 34]. The latter described the broad range of reforms under way within the…