Planning and Investing for Logistics Support of Marine Expeditionary Forces in the 21st Century

Abstract

Naval Expeditionary Forces (NEFs), including the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), will play an increasingly important role in the U.S. National Military Strategy (NMS). Future NEF roles will be shaped by the demise of the Soviet Union, advances in weapons technologies, mounting fiscal and resource constraints, and the rise in requirements for U.S. involvement in regional crises. Designing the right MAGTF to respond across the spectrum of conflict requires a keen understanding of readiness and sustainment issues and their associated costs. This thesis calculates the tooth-to-tail ratios of MAGTFs and uses them as a measurement of a force's readiness and sustainment capabilities. This thesis considers the readiness and sustainment requirements for particular MAGTFs performing various roles as outlined in the current NMS. The force structures of current notional and future MAGTFs are performing various roles as outlined in the current NMS. The force structures of current notional and future MAGTFs are developed and analyzed and compared in terms of representative capital value and operating and support costs associated with raising and maintaining a specific MAGTF capability. The results provide one approach to designing an investment strategy for future MAGTFs in an era of constrained resources.