USTRANSCOM Commander: Logistics is vital to securing US’ strategic advantage
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command, testifies before the House Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee March 28, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy photo)

USTRANSCOM Commander: Logistics is vital to securing US’ strategic advantage

BY JONATHAN STEFANKO, U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — For the United States to maintain its strategic advantage, we must invest in our military logistics, Air Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost told the House’s joint subcommittee today on “Posture and Readiness of the Mobility Enterprise-TRANSCOM and MARAD.”

Van Ovost, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), testified alongside retired Rear Adm. Ann Phillips, administrator of the Maritime Administration, on the posture and readiness of the mobility enterprise and the challenges ahead.

One such obstacle is the aging fleet of large roll-on/roll-off ships, which the military would use to deliver 90% of its vehicles and equipment during a conflict.

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The Military Sealift Command Bob Hope-class large, medium speed roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306), transits the English Channel. Benavidez is operating in the Atlantic Ocean in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jordan R. Bair)

“My highest concerns lie in reductions in capacity and readiness in both sealift and air refueling,” Van Ovost said. “We are a generation late in recapitalizing a ready sealift fleet to meet our national objectives.”

The average age of the 44 roll-on/roll-off ships the military uses to surge from the U.S. is 44 years old. In fact, 17 of the 44 ships are 50 years or older.

“I greatly appreciate your [Congress] support for stabilized funding towards our sealift recapitalization effort, and I am heartened by the current progress on the first five ships,” Van Ovost said.

Along with expanding its sealift capabilities, USTRANSCOM also concurred with the Air Force on the need for more advanced air refueling technologies.

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New Hampshire-based KC-46A aircrew refuel a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet off the coast of Maryland, July 1, 2020. This marked the first time the aircrew utilized the KC-46A centerline drogue system to refuel an aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Zach Fisher)

“In the air, the air refueling fleet is the backbone of rapid global mobility — and is our most stressed capability,” Van Ovost said. “TRANSCOM supports the Air Force’s continued efforts toward ... the next generation air refueling system to ensure our capacity and readiness remain credible to cover simultaneous global requirements.”

Van Ovost ended her statement to the subcommittee by addressing USTRANSCOM’s Global Household Goods Contract (GHC), which she called the command’s “flagship transformational effort.”

USTRANSCOM is gaining momentum on its efforts to begin a phased launch of personal property shipments moving under the GHC in September of 2023.

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A household goods inspector performs an inspection of a household goods pack-out performed by movers recently in Hawaii. They all are practicing social distancing and wearing facemasks in accordance to policies. (Daniel Mayberry)

“Just as we are engaged globally in supporting the DOD’s operations ... we owe it to our members and their families to ensure they have the best relocation experience we can provide,” Van Ovost said.

USTRANSCOM exists as a warfighting combatant command to project and sustain military power at a time and place of the nation’s choosing. Powered by dedicated men and women, TRANSCOM underwrites the lethality of the Joint Force, advances American interests around the globe, and provides our nation's leaders with strategic flexibility to select from multiple options, while creating multiple dilemmas for our adversaries.


Editor's note -

Read the full opening statement at:

Watch the hearing at:

Really ? Logistics huh? What needs to be said ; if we don’t improve our readiness WRT logistics we are going to get our ass handed to us. The hearings mean nothing to the elected. It has to be mashed into their faces. Perhaps just another thought stop tying our lift capability heading to Europe. Stand on your hind legs General. Respectfully submitted of course

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Robert Boehnlein

LifeWave Distributor Presently running a rescue operation for a close friend and dealing with Texas squatter laws Patriot | Supply Chain Management Expert | Defense Contracting | Lieutenant Colonel US Army (Retired)

1 年

This is just part of the problem. We need to address the fuel it’ll take to propel these transports and our own president Biden and his continued attack on the very industry that manufactures the fuels that we need.

J.T. Shim, PhD, MBA

Consultant and coach! Developing top leaders!

1 年

SUPER BOWL: RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITY? Possibly a live demonstration of in-inflight refueling as part of a flyover during opening ceremony followed by triple sonic booms of the 3 SR-71s at quarter time with aeriel footage of highlights from SR-71s at half time then REOs doing traffic reports to help motorist get home after the game might notch up the cool factor into the stratosphere, help recruit personnel for tanker ops…and support Congressional funding???? I fully recognize that this would require a monumental lift to put on a show of this magnitude…and would attract a chorus of complaints for the noise, damage and questions about tax payers’ dollars. But like the culmination of the Manhattan Project, it’s a show of force! It sends a signal, “Do you really want to mess with a military that can do this for fun?! Imagine what it can do when it’s provoked!” https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/ed-davidson-744b016_technology-aviation-aircraft-activity-7044483813808230401-BGfU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios BTW, I don’t think we can afford to wait until Super Bowl 71–the pilots’ skills will have atrophied too much. Parts suppliers may have gone out of business and it may be impossible to resurrect all skills needed.

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J.T. Shim, PhD, MBA

Consultant and coach! Developing top leaders!

1 年

Unlike Dunkirk, civilians can’t just pinch hit to provide ad hoc inflight air refueling?? One of my specific concerns is AF1 will not have in-flight refueling capability because it has never been used, and it’s expensive capability. Are we moving into a less-dangerous operating environment? I think not. Never used life insurance doesn’t justify dropping it. I have not read details but it strikes me as common sense feature not to eliminate.

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