Can Trucks Sustain the Objective Force Army?

This monograph examines the Army's future operational level logistic support in an effort to determine whether or not the Army can successfully execute its Objective Force transformation without an aerial-based sustainment and distribution system. The Objective Force is the Army's futuristic medium-weight, motorized force that will have an operational reach of 1,000 kilometers in any direction. Sustaining this force will require maneuver sustainment organizations with equal or greater combat service support (CSS) reach. Although the Objective Force exists only as a concept, its design will be guided by seven design characteristics: responsiveness, deployability, agility, versatility, lethality, survivability and sustainability. The author evaluates how well a sustainment concept might support the Objective Force with an assessment of these characteristics. The future relevance of the Army was the impetus for change and transformation efforts. The Army is becoming more strategically responsive by reducing its size and support requirements while increasing its effectiveness. The Objective Force operational environment will not allow entry into the theater through ports of debarkation and will have extended and unsecured lines of communication. The Objective Force will conduct operational maneuver from strategic distances and arrive in the area of operations ready to fight. Operations will commence without in-theater sustainment bases. During continuous operations, Objective Force units will be able to self-sustain for three to seven days without external replenishment. This will create new challenges for the Army's sustainment community. Objective Force maneuver sustainers must provide rapid and assured support throughout the theater, without relying on logistics mass. The sustainment system will be based on a high velocity distribution pipeline. Objective Force sustainers will have unprecedented situational awareness and predictive knowledge of maneuver force logist