Service-oriented architecture approach to MAGTF logistics support systems

Abstract

Legacy logistics systems are an antiquated technology and fall short of providing the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with modern, net-centric, expeditionary Logistics Chain Management (LCM) and Command and Control (C2) capabilities. The Marine Corps owns more than 200 logistics information systems. While some of these systems still perform critical functions, others are stove-piped, redundant, or no longer provide an adequate modern capability. Managing legacy assets and interim technologies while concurrently developing new long-term enterprise solutions is required in order to provide the Marine Corps with the necessary logistics information technology capabilities. The envisioned future end state is logistics data shared across the MAGTF, and ultimately, across the entire organization. A shared-data environment, populated by autonomic computing, will provide actionable logistics data to everyone in the MAGTF, from the warehouse to the warfighter position, in near real-time. Common systems supporting common techniques, tactics and procedures which equal significantly improved capabilities. The goal of this research is to envision a set of common information technology capabilities required to execute LCM missions without considering the current limitations provided by existing legacy or MLS2 information technology systems. This research will focus on implementing a service-oriented architecture (SOA) approach to the MLS2 and related processes that will initiate to improve support to the decision-makers and the warfighters across the enterprise. The key end state at hand is to determine a mutually exclusive and comprehensive set of common MLS2 information technology capabilities required to execute C2 for Logistics and LCMs missions.