Photo By Sgt. Zach Griffith | Col. Paul Greenwood (right), commanding officer for Combat Logistics Regiment 37, and...... read more read more
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by Lance Cpl. W. Zach Griffith
III Marine Expeditionary Force PAO
CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan -- 3rd Marine Logistics Group's Materiel Readiness Battalion became Combat Logistics Regiment 35 and Headquarters and Service Battalion became Combat Logistics Regiment 37 during back-to-back ceremonies on Camp Kinser Oct. 20 in the most recent redesignations of units within the MLG.
Several 3rd MLG units have been redesignated and restructured recently under the Logistics Modernization initiative, which is intended to streamline logistical support and command structure.
According to Col. Chris Lamson, the assistant chief of staff, G-4 for 3rd MLG, the restructuring allows for better command and control within the MLG through consolidation of commands.
Before the restructuring, the 3rd MLG commanding general managed nine battalions. Eventually, the majority of those battalions will fall under three Combat Logistics Regiments commanded by colonels. 9th Engineer Support Bn., and Dental Bn. will remain autonomous units that report directly to the commanding general.
CLR-3 will have the responsibility of directly supporting the Marine Expeditionary Force's ground maneuvering element, Lamson said. The regiment will provide such things as food, ammunition, fuel and heavy lift capabilities to the MEF maneuver element and subordinate units.
CLR-37 is responsible for the general support, including command and control, administration, communications, and security support to the MLG. They have the mission to conduct operations in advance of the MLG main.
CLR-35, the largest of the three regiments, is the "footprint" of the MLG, according to Lamson. CLR-35 provides the intermediate supply, maintenance and medical care to all III MEF units.
The restructuring is still in the beginning stages, Lamson explained. The final changes are scheduled to be complete by the summer of 2008.
Organizing the logistical units this way will allow for quicker more efficient support under the guidance of one commanding officer, Lamson said.
"For example, before the consolidation, maintenance and supply were under two different chains of command," Lamson said. "If maintenance needed a part to fix something, they had to contact supply. With the realignment, instead of two different lieutenant colonels dealing with the issue, it will be one colonel dealing with the issue and then answering straight to the commanding general."
Shortcomings in supplying units that were identified during Operation Desert Storm eventually led to the realignment initiative, Lamson said. The overall intent is to expedite the process of getting Marines on the ground what they need, when they need it.
"We are focusing on getting what our guys in the fighting holes need specifically," Lamson said.
To accomplish more expedient delivery in what officials are calling the "warehouse to warfighter" concept, the realignment walks hand in hand with more advanced shipment-tracking technology under the logistics modernization program, Lamson said.
The Global Combat Support System is a Web and satellite-based system that tracks supplies and vehicles on the battlefield.
1st Lt. Michael Vincent, aide-de-camp for 3rd MLG, served as a convoy commander in Iraq in 2005 and saw firsthand some of the technological improvements to logistical operations.
"It helps unit commanders track their inbound supplies because they can see where they are at any moment," Vincent said. "It can be especially useful to see where your supplies are and when you're going to get them."
| Date Taken: | 10.20.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 10.30.2006 09:05 |
| Story ID: | 8175 |
| Location: | CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 265 |
| Downloads: | 81 |
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