WebLINK-International.

The Unified Commands have emphasized that the United States very rarely acts on a unilateral basis. Today's operations are conducted as part of an international coalition. The Unified Commands have thus identified the requirement that information systems recognize the international character of military operations. To this end, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has deployed an international version of a logistics information tool - WebLINK-International. This initiative supports DLA's strategic objective of support to the warfighter and customer support.

The Defense Logistics Agency has designated the Defense Logistics Information Service located in Battle Creek, Michigan as the program manager for WebLINK-International. The system provides a single point of entry to multiple logistics information systems for visibility of the supply pipeline for international customers. The international logistics community have asked the following questions. Where is my stuff? What is the status of my requisitions? Whom do I call?

Features and Capabilities

WebLINK-International https://www.link.dla.mil was released in fourth quarter of fiscal year 2001. The WebLINK-International is a scaled down version of the Logistics Information Network (LINK). While LINK has fifteen data feeds, the International Version has five data feeds. The data feeds are summarized below.

* Defense Automated Addressing System Center (DAASC) Inquiry system provides information on Department of Defense Activity Address Codes (DODAAC), Routing Identifier Codes (RIC), and Military Assistance Program Address Codes (MAPAC);

* The Defense Reutilization & Marketing (DRMS) system gives visibility of excess stock available from Defense Reutilization and Marketing Offices (DRMOs) located worldwide;

* The Logistics Information Processing System (LIPS) provides requisition, supply status, and shipping status information for all requisitions processed through the Defense Automatic Addressing System (DAAS);

* The Logistics Remote Users Network (LOGRUN) provides descriptive information about items of supply in the Federal Government Inventory, and contractors who do business with the Department of Defense; and

* The Standard Automated Material Management System (SAMMS) gives visibility of inventories and requisitions processed by the Defense Logistics Agency Inventory Control Points.

Who Can Use the International Version?

Foreign liaison, exchange officers and other security assistance representatives from countries with foreign military sales (FMS) cases for equipment are eligible to use the International version.

Sponsorship and Security Requirements

Foreign liaison, exchange officers and other security assistance representatives with a need to know must have authorization from their U.S. government sponsor. Foreign embassy personnel who reside in the United States will be sponsored by their respective embassies and will route their access requests through the Headquarter DLA command security office. System access requests are required for each person requiring access. Either the U.S. government sponsor or the national embassy must provide a letter on their official letterhead which includes the following information:

* An explanation of why the access is needed, citing related agreements, contracts or other arrangements that necessitate access to WebLINK; and

* Background information of each person requesting access.

A more detailed explanation of the security requirements can be found at https://www.daas.dla.mil/sar/fna_link.html

How to Use WebLINK-International

WebLINK-International resides on the unclassified network. There are no restrictions requiring the use of a military account. All that is needed is a 128-bit browser. Queries are process by using the following steps:

* You select a database, build your queries, and submit them to the LINK server.

* The server signs onto the database, retrieves the data you requested, and builds response files for you.

* To get your response, click on the responses box unless you checked the Receive responses via e-mail box on the sign-in page. The server will now provide you with all the responses that have been processed. You should receive responses within an hour. If you experience delays in receiving your request, we have a LINK help desk, [e-mail] or commercial phone [phone], DSN 932-4303 which can help you with your problems.

WebLINK has special features built in. It allows for automatic queries, for example, requisition status for hot items every morning at 0800. WebLINK-International can run these queries and have them e-mailed to you every morning. WebLINK-International also has the ability to run batch queries and allows you to download the results in a spreadsheet.

Future Enhancements

The WebLINK-International team is working diligently to improve the interactivity of their product. Our first priority is to replace the current fast batch process with interactive access to the data sources. Two additional capabilities are planned for future release, submission of supply assistance requests, and submission of supply discrepancy reports. We will also work with the military services to identify additional data sources to make WebLINK-International your one stop shop for international logistics needs.

About the Author

Lieutenant Jon Ulrich, is a U.S. Navy Supply Officer and has been assigned to the Defense Logistics Information Service since August 2001. His previous duty assignments include Supply Officer, USS HAYLER (DD-997), and Supply Officer, Combat Logistics Group Two, Detachment Earle, New Jersey. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Point Loma Nazarene College.