American forces press service (Sept. 15, 2004): transportation command continues "to get things done".MILWAUKEE -- Upon receiving a high-level memorandum last year authorizing his command to reach out to improve the military's supply and transportation systems, U.S. Transportation Command's leader interpreted it in just one way. Air Force Gen. John Handy recalled today at the National Defense Transportation Association annual conference that the memo gave him the license "to get things done." The September 2003 document had come from Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. It designated TRANSCOM TRANSCOM United States Transportation Command TRANSCOM Transportation Operations Coordinating Committee (metro New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) TRANSCOM Transactions on Communications (IEEE) as DoD's distribution process owner The process owner is the person who co-ordinates the various functions and work activities at all levels of a process. This person might have the authority or ability to make changes in the process as required, and manages the entire process cycle to ensure performance . And the command, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base Scott Air Force Base (IATA: BLV, ICAO: KBLV, FAA LID: BLV) is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois near Belleville which are in the St. Louis metropolitan area. , Ill., has been getting things done. Handy noted that in mid-January, for example, a deployment and distribution operations center The facility or location on an installation, base, or facility used by the commander to command, control, and coordinate all crisis activities. See also base defense operations center; command center. was set up in Kuwait and has greatly facilitated U.S. Central Command's supply and personnel distribution systems. Improvements in communications and supply asset visibility, the general observed, enabled the recent turning back of 1,700 containers not needed by U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf Persian Gulf, arm of the Arabian Sea, 90,000 sq mi (233,100 sq km), between the Arabian peninsula and Iran, extending c.600 mi (970 km) from the Shatt al Arab delta to the Strait of Hormuz, which links it with the Gulf of Oman. . In fact, he continued, an examination of supply and transportation operations has resulted in avoiding more than $280 million in costs since January 2004. That represents a lot of savings to taxpayers, reduced headaches for military logisticians, and improved customer service for warfighters, Handy noted. This kind of transformation continues as a partnership, Handy asserted, noting that military logistics Military logistics is the art and science of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with: Today, Handy said, one challenge is to incorporate more proven private-sector business practices and technology into the military logistics and transportation systems. We're just now discovering how useful those practices can be in improving supply and transportation services to warfighters, he concluded. |
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