01/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2025 13:22
The key to winning wars against the great powers in the future will require people with the ability to think at the scope and scale of global conflict, the fifth Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Defense Logistics Agency leaders Jan. 13.
The scope and scale of warfare DLA must prepare for differs from the regional conflicts from over the past decade, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black said.
"We have to reflect back on World War II and the Cold War period to ensure that we have the best warfighting postures and reporting structures in our operational logistics plans," he said. "We also have to begin to think more about the things we don't currently exercise, or things our doctrines don't currently address."
As the SEAC, Black is responsible for advising the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters involving joint and combined total force integration and utilization, as well as health of the force, including military families, veterans, and retirees, and joint development of enlisted personnel.
Black visited DLA to learn more about the agency's strategic plan and its support to the warfighter, allied nations, and its whole of government partners.
Black expressed interest in a deeper dive into the agency's ability to work with industry and the defense industrial base to mass produce everything from critical weapon systems to military clothing and medical supplies in the event of a short notice surge.
Black informed the leaders that they have not had to think like this in decades, but the current Great Power Competition requires a mindset shift to be ready to win a war-not combat, conflict, battle, or actions other-than-war, but a true, congressionally-declared war.
"In acts of war, what are the things that DLA needs to stockpile, build up its logistics, manpower, technologies and capabilities in mass to ensure we don't have to wait for the demand surge like we did at the start of our involvement in World War II?" Black asked.
Black challenged the audience to rethink successes that has gone unchallenged since the fall of the Soviet Union.
"Today, the efficient military organization that we have in the defense of our Nation is more optimized for counterinsurgency and, coupled with a struggling industrial base, would be stretched to dominate at scope and scale," he said.
Black posed several questions about the agency's current contracting processes to better understand its current challenges and to get the leaders thinking about the way ahead.
In response to a critical weapon systems and military uniform challenges question, DLA Senior Enlisted Leader Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Alvin Dyer highlighted how the lack of commonality and standardization across the services, along with existing policies, creates a challenge for industry and the defense industrial base to mass produce materials and equipment at scale for wartime demand.
"In terms of the military uniforms, the problem is not soley about acquiring the patterns or testing the material to mass produce the uniforms, the issues also lie in the variances in how the uniforms are made and look in terms of pockets, zippers, etc.," he said.
To ensure clarity on the agency's concerns, Black responded that the visit is helpful for advising the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in reaching a solution.
"We have to define commonality across the various supply chains and continue to work with the defense industrial base to gain insights and best practices to ensure that DLA has the necessary requirements from the services forecasted to mass produce to the scale of war," he said.
DLA Senior leaders also presented additional challenges to Black to take back to the Joint Staff and to advocate in Congress on the agency's behalf in the areas of human resources, data interoperability, securing data rights and financial constraints.
DLA's Information Operations Program Executive Officer James Johnson discussed how the agency is modernizing its information technology and legacy systems to increase operational efficiency, predict future requirements and optimize supply chains, increasing warfighter readiness.
"Data interoperability and creating data decision advantage is not just for DLA but postures us to support the services and the Joint Force better," Johnson said. "We need logistics standards to help us identify legacy systems that are not up to standard."
During his visit, Black recognized several employees for outstanding service with coins. The SEAC coin is unique, shaped as the Marine Corps' version of the SEAC rank insignia, which Black is the first to wear.
Employees recognized were:
Black concluded his visit with an All-Hands question-and-answer session with employees of the agency. Topics ranged from Great Power Competition to a historical perspective of the American and other great powers' ways of war, as well as the use of artificial intelligence in logistic planning and forecasting.