Sustainment in the Army 2020: Using the Army's Sustainment Principles to Identify and Mitigate Risks Associated with Organizational Change

Abstract : The United States Army is going through a force structure change because of a decreased operational tempo and fiscal constraints emplaced by the Budget Control Act of 2011. This change is referred to as the Army 2020 and in this new structure; the sustainment capabilities within the ABCT are being reduced. The capabilities to conduct water purification, bulk fuel delivery, and provide transportation are being moved from the Brigade Support Battalions to the Combat Service Support Battalions located within the Sustainment Brigades. This reallocation of assets created an increased reliance on units operating outside the command and control of the division. The primary purpose of this study was to identify the risks associated with these organizational changes and provide DOTMLPF recommendations to reduce risk and enhance capabilities of the sustainment force. The research identified qualitative differences between the Army's current modular force and the Army 2020 construct using the Army's sustainment principles as evaluation criteria. To validate the qualitative findings, the researcher conducted a quantitative analysis of the reduction of fuel assets within the BSB. To further validate the outcome of this model the researcher created an experiment using the operational parameters established in 3rd Infantry Division's operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom I to establish the control variables, the change in fuel capabilities as the independent variable, and the effect on operational endurance as the dependent variable. This provides a definitive example of the impacts of the Army 2020 changes in sustainment force structure. The results from this study show assigning the sustainment brigades and CSSBs to the division negates several of the negative impacts of the Army 2020 changes. It also proposes changes at the BSB staff level to increase efficiency in operations.

[1]  Harald Gleissner,et al.  Logistics: Basics ― Exercises ― Case Studies , 2014 .

[2]  Courtney L Abraham.  Army Modularity and Command Relationships: Who's My Boss? , 2011 .

[3]  Judith .QBell Judith Bell,et al.  Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers , 1993 .

[4]  Joseph L Walden.  Velocity Management in Logistics and Distribution: Lessons from the Military to Secure the Speed of Business , 2005 .

[5]  Steven M Elkins.  Synchronizing Sustainment Operations , 2008 .

[6]  J. Coyle,et al.  The management of business logistics , 1976 .

[7]  Peter F. Drucker.  The Economy’s Dark Continent , 2012 .

[8]  Kevin M. Woods,et al.  On Point: The United States Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom , 2005 .

[9]  A. Mercer.  Marketing logistics and distribution planning , 1972 .

[10]  V. Hanson.  The Western Way of War , 1991 .

[11]  Stefanie Müller,et al.  The roots of logistics : a reader of classical contributions to the history and conceptual foundations of the science of logistics , 2012 .

[12]  John L. Romjue,et al.  The Army of Excellence: The Development of the 1980s Army , 2014 .

[13]  J. Creswell.  Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches, 2nd ed. , 2007 .

[14]  Eric Peltz,et al.  Sustainment of Army Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom: Major Findings and Recommendations , 2005 .

[15]  Adam Talaber.  Options for Restructuring the Army , 2005 .

[16]  Bernard L. Moxley,et al.  Class III (Bulk) Distribution Successes: What Can Be Learned? , 2012 .

[17]  E. Taylor-Powell,et al.  Analyzing Qualitative Data , 2003 .

[18]  Edward L. Andrews.  The Army of Excellence and the Division Support Command , 1986 .

[19]  Daniel J. Hughes.  The Iraq War: Strategy, Tactics, and Military Lessons , 2005 .

[20]  H. C. O'neill,et al.  History of the Second World War , 1951 .

[21]  D. Silverman.  Interpreting qualitative data : a guide to the principles of qualitative research , 2011 .

[22]  John E Peters,et al.  A Review of the Army's Modular Force Structure , 2011 .

[23]  John W. Creswell,et al.  Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research , 2006 .

[24]  Lynée Lewis Gaillet,et al.  The Role of the Researcher , 2014 .

[25]  Robert H. Scales,et al.  CERTAIN VICTORY: The U.S. Army in the Gulf War , 1993 .