Robert Shadley

Maxims of Logistics:
General Principles and Doctrine (Ch.3, p.20-5)

• Initiative. "Support must be pushed forward. Logisticians cannot wait for things to happen." "The spirit of the offensive applies to combat service support as well as combat and combat support operations."(20-21)
1. "Ensure timely support, forward, and stay as close to supported units as possible without getting in their way or being destroyed by the enemy."(21)
2. Find out status of roadways, weather, enemy situation and other possible threats so they can be eliminated or minimized.
3. Good communication systems and back up communication systems to guarantee a continuous flow of information.
4. "Use jump units to keep a continuous flow of support." "Logistic units provide essentially no support when moving en masse; that’s why incremental movement is essential"(21)
• Depth. "Support must be provided from the most forward to the most rearward deployed soldiers and units. Support personnel and units are located throughout the combat and communications zones to provide logistics support and to fight as infantry if need be. Back-up support must be available to ensure continuity of operations."(22)
1. Use cover and concealment to avoid the enemy
2. Be prepared to fight as an infantry unit
3. Support must be provided at every level
• Agility. "Combat service support must be responsive and flexible. CSS units and systems must act, not react—again, show initiative. Forces will be fighting throughout the breadth and depth of the battlefield and they will need support."(23)
1. Keep operations simple
2. Be flexible
3. Be efficient when handling and managing resources
• Synchronization. "Just as combat forces must all work together, so must support forces, if the mission is to be accomplished. As pointed out in the historical example in chapter 1, the functions of logistics are inextricably related. Logistical plans and operations must also be synchronized with strategic, operational, and tactical plans and operations."(23)
1. Cooperation between the tacticians, logistician planners, and logistician operators is necessary for successful operations
2. Tactical principles also apply to logistics operations/units:
• Keep mission in sight
• Take care of soldiers
• Develop good plans
• Have sound SOPs
• Analyze risks
• Execute with vigor(24)
3. Management should be centralized where as operations should be decentralized.

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