Is It Time to Extend the CinC's Directive Authority in Logistics.

摘要

The directive authority of the Commander-in-Chief (CinC) with respect to logistics limited during peacetime. During crisis and war the CinC exercises full directive authority over all assigned resources. The lessons of DESERT SHIELD/STORM offer a testimony to the validity of joint logistics doctrine. But, the future environment with the factors of reduced forward deployed forces, the demands of a forward presence mission through force projection coupled with a reduced force structure mitigate a reexamintation of current doctrine. Through a review of current joint logistics doctrine and DESERT SHIELD/STORM lessons learned and an analysis of the impact of the re environment on the key logistics elements (transportation, materiel supply, at service support (CSS) force structure and facilities) an assessment on the need to extend or expand the CinC's authority can be made. The goal of any extension of the CinC's peacetime authority in logistics is to ensure continuity of control as the transition to crisis or war takes place. While the military services retain the traditional role of providing and sustaining forces to the CinC, the demands of the future environment require the CinC to be more involved in the peacetime decisions which can limit his wartime options.