US Marine Corps: Logistics Plans, Policies and Strategic Mobility Division. (Government).

The Director, Logistics Plans, Policies, and Strategic I Mobility Division (LP), under the direction of the Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (I&L), formulates Marine Corps logistics plans, policies, and concepts, exercises staff supervision over joint and Marine Corps logistics matters, logistics manpower matters, logistics analysis, mobility, lift requirements, sustainability, productivity, materiel readiness, logistics information systems, security assistance, fiscal matters for appropriate division sponsored programs, and coordinates the logistics aspects of prepositioning programs.

Logistics Distribution Center (LPD)

In January 2002, the Traffic Management Branch (LFT) moved under the LP Division and became the Logistics Distribution Center (LPD). The center provides traffic management policy and guidance for Marine Corps Traffic Management Offices (TMOs). Through its two teams the center provides functional guidance and operational assistance for the effective and efficient movement of Marine Corps passengers, personal property and freight. The center also has Programs Objectives Memoranda (POM)/budget responsibility for the second destination transportation portion of freight movement. In addition, the center provides policy and guidance to the Transportation Voucher Certification Branch (TVCB), Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany, GA. TVCB is responsible for the certification for payment of most Marine Corps transportation bills and, as such, is the central repository for Marine Corps traffic management data.

The Logistics Distribution Center implements traffic management and distribution related logistics migration systems within the Marine Corps, such as the functionality of Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS) within Transportation Coordinators Automated Information Movement System (TC AIMS) II, and various other transportation reengineering issues being pursued by efforts within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Transportation Policy, the joint community and Commander-in-Chief United States Transportation Command (CinCUSTRANSCOM).

The center has technical supervisory responsibility over the Air Clearance Authority (ACA), MCLB Barstow, CA, Shipper Service Office (SSO) Travis Air Force Base, CA, and the Marine Airport Liaison at Los Angeles International Airport. The ACA clears all USMC freight moving via Air Mobility Command (AMC), channels aircraft and implements the USMC air challenge program. The SSO corrects documentation and billing problems associated with USMC import/export shipments. The airport liaison office provides portcall and emergency leave assistance for passengers not served by a Marine Corps traffic management office.

Freight Team (LPD-1)

The Freight Team (LPD-1), formerly known as the Freight Programs and Budget Section, provides USMC traffic management policy and guidance for the movement of freight worldwide and serves as the focal point in developing more efficient methods of transporting, routing, tracing, documenting and billing USMC freight movements within the Defense Transportation System. LPD-1 also develops, manages and oversees the execution of Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps (O&M, MC), and Transportation of Things (TOT POM/budget. O&M, MC, TOT funds the shipment of freight to Marine Corps forces worldwide. In addition, LPD-1 develops and submits channel freight requirements to the Air Mobility Command and Military Sealift Command. The team also develops TOT policy and procedural guidance for field activities as well as publishes transportation appropriation data for the movement of Marine Corps freight and personal property worldwide. The team also serves as the Marine Corps functional focal point for Marine Corps freight traffic management systems, the Defense Transportation Regulation (DTR) Cargo Section and conducts special studies estimating logistical support costs.

During 2001, the team worked implementation and maintenance issues associated with PowerTrack, Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS), Automated Manifest System (AMS), Transportation Management System (TMS) and Air Challenge Programs. The team represented USMC interests on numerous joint service activities involving the safe, efficient movement of freight, and worked closely with the US Transportation Command and its Transportation Component Commands on several initiatives. The team provided traffic management support to the USMC prepositioning and procurement programs. The most significant effort of the Freight Team was its involvement in the Marine Corps' Integrated Logistics Concept where the Marine Corps is improving the entire supply chain process and the Freight Team is helping to shape future USMC logistical support to war-fighting Marines. The objective is to "train as we fight" by supporting forward forces using the most optimal processes and applying these same processes to units in garrison. This initiative is shifting the focus of LPD and USMC Traffic Management Officers into a much broader role of distribution managers.

Personal Property and Passenger Team (LPD-2)

The Personal Property and Passenger Team (LPD-2) develops traffic management policy and programs for the movement of passengers, provides guidance to the Marine Corps on passenger travel issues, and develops Marine Corps policy and procedures for the implementation of Joint Federal Travel Regulations entitlements for transportation and storage of personal property.

In addition, the section has overall cognizance of the Marine Corps Commercial Travel Office (CTO) program, participates in DoD's effort to reengineer travel, and assists with numerous deployment support issues. Since 1995, the passenger section has been actively involved with the Defense Travel System (DTS) project and LPD is a pilot site for this initiative. The team represents the Marine Corps on numerous working groups associated with this project, to include the Commercial Travel Office Working Group, Data Authentication Group and also serves as the alternate Configuration Control Board member. In a separate effort directed at streamlining the current Commercially Billed Accounts process, the Passenger Team integrates the Marine Corps Automated Government Transportation Request (AGTR) capability with data feeds from the Commercial Travel Office (CTO), Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) and Bank of America (BOA) into a shared data environment which will provide a means for automated reconciliation of BOA's electronic monthly bill. LPD-2 also recommends individual training standards for Marines performing contingency traffic management functions, to include traffic management functions in forward deployed (in theater) environments supporting sustainment cargo and passenger operations (including In Transit Visibility (ITV)/Total Asset Visibility (TAV) issues).

LPD-2 also manages the Marine Corps portion of the DoD Personal Property Program, which includes household goods, mobile homes and privately owned vehicle movement and/or storage. LPD-2 serves as the Marine Corps representative for the Transportation Operational Personal Property Standard System (TOPS) Joint Development and Steering Committee, DoD Full Service Move and the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) Reengineering Teams. In addition, this team also provides functional advice for the development of qualified personnel in the Marine Corps traffic management military occupational specialty to include training, schooling and assignments.

Logistics Operations and Sustainment Center (LPO)

The Logistics Operations and Sustainment Center (LPO) provides the mechanics for dealing with operational issues and related logistics support activities, and a means of providing feedback to appropriate organizations on the effectiveness of their actions at the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) level.

Strategic Logistics and Mobility Team (LPO-3)

The mission of the Strategic Logistics and Mobility Team (LPO-3) is to enhance the strategic mobility of Marine Corps Forces. This includes influencing decisions regarding strategic lift programs, Joint procedures and policies governing strategic mobility, systems related to strategic mobility (e.g. TAV/ITV) and Marine Corps policies and procedures related to strategic movement of MAGTFs. This team ensures that the Operating Forces have necessary policies and procedures regarding Strategic Lift in order to permit these Forces to readily deploy in accordance with applicable Operations Plans (OPLANs) time frames and footprints. To this end, LPO3 engages in the policies and procedures related to planning for, obtaining and exercising this Strategic Lift capability in coordination with higher, adjacent and subordinate Force headquarters as appropriate.

In 2001, LPO-3 and LPD-1, the Transportation Domain Team, were deeply involved in the Systems Realignment and Consolidation! Categorization (SRAC) initiative which is an ongoing HQMC I&L-chartered effort to categorize and consolidate the systems supporting USMC logistics domains of transportation, supply, maintenance, engineering and health services. The USMC SRAC effort clarified a strategy to complete migration from the current multiple systems supporting unit deployment and traffic management to fewer joint transportation systems. As the first functional area of logistics to be "SRAC'd", the team applied experience gained during the OSD-led joint effort, and helped define the process being applied by the SRAC Core Team to the other logistics domains. This migration will realize a cost avoidance for the Marine Corps of two to four million dollars over the next four years. LPO-3 assisted III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) in procuring a lease on a high-speed vessel to transport personnel and cargo of a com bat loaded infantry battalion. LPO-3 also worked with MTMC to establish a special billing rate that reflects services that are provided by Marine Corps units at specific MTMC controlled ports.

Key Personnel

Mr. F.M. Schutz

Freight Team (LPD-1)

[phone], DSN 225

fax [phone]

[e-mail]

Major Fred Hyden, USMC

Personal Property and Passenger team (LPD-2)

[phone], DSN 225

fax [phone]

[e-mail]

LtCol Gary Lambertsen USMC

Strategic Mobility and Transportation Team (LPD-3)

[phone], x145 DSN 225

fax [phone]

[e-mail]

Brigadier General Robert C. Dickerson, USMC

Director, Logistics, Plans, Policies and Strategic Mobility Division

[phone], DSN 225

FAX: [phone]

[e-mail]

Ms. Susan C. Kinney

Deputy Director, Logistics, Plans, Policies and Strategic Mobility Division

[phone], DSN 225

fax [phone]

[e-mail]

Colonel Samuel Ferguson, USMC

Head, Logistics Operations and Sustainment Center

[phone], DSN 225

fax [phone]

[e-mail]

Mr. F.W. Frank

Acting Head, Logistics Distribution Center

[phone], DSN 225

fax [phone]

[e-mail]