Logistics readiness returns to basics

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Matt Proietti
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Air Force logistics readiness officials are teaming to end a string of missteps in compliance and accountability by stressing a return to high standards of excellence through an enterprise-wide campaign that draws upon a back-to-basics approach to tasks.

"In the past few years, we've witnessed reduced situational awareness and a lack of focus when it comes to complying with policies and procedures and the fundamental principles of accountability.  Air Force instructions are not a suggestion," said Maj. Gen. Gary T. McCoy, director of logistics readiness for the Air Force. "We should begin by critically examining our internal processes, identify weaknesses, restore discipline and instill a willingness to enforce policies."

General McCoy said the campaign re-emphasizes points made by Acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley in his June 30 Letter to Airmen, the first he issued after assuming the role as the service's top civilian leader.

General McCoy initiated the logistics readiness "back-to-basics" campaign planning effort by sending a memorandum to logistics readiness Airmen July 30 in which he challenged them to develop an action plan that focuses on training, culture and process.

"We must tackle the difficult task of restoring the foundation upon which our credibility and mission effectiveness is built," he wrote.

Lt. Col. Eric Axelbank, head of the Air Force logistics readiness back-to-basics campaign, described three representative mistakes made in July across the Air Force as examples of things that may not have happened if not for lost focus: 

-- A unit deployment manager shipped a weapon overseas through a commercial express carrier; 
-- An empty box was shipped that was labeled to contain an aircraft part; and 
-- A weapons component was shipped using transportation forms that were filled out incorrectly.

"(These) incidents represent fundamental problems that cause us to ask, 'What did we used to do that we're not doing now?'" said Colonel Axelbank, a Pentagon staff member. "As mundane as they were, checklists existed for a good reason. We don't have the continuity, the same attention to detail.  We must refocus our efforts on the roots of our disciplines."

The colonel said logistics professionals need to reestablish failsafe checks and balances.

"Today's Airmen are incredible professionals who simply need a clearer picture of where we're going," he said. "We must all be the standard bearers of our culture of compliance and accountability."

Logistics readiness is a wide-ranging and diverse set of career fields within the Air Force with 46,200 military and civilian people assigned who work in materiel, distribution, fuels and vehicle management at units ranging from Air Force depots to deployed expeditionary logistics readiness squadrons at forward operating bases.

Colonel Axelbank said logistics officials are looking at enduring solutions, but said some initial steps are already being taken. Logistics readiness leaders from the major commands will finalize a campaign plan when they meet at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., in mid-September.

The logistics readiness campaign aims to support themes prescribed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz during a visit this week to Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB, Colo. 

"We are going to re-emphasize compliance in our routines and in our inspection processes and accountability and in our military discipline generally," General Schwartz said.

General McCoy used sports analogies to describe the campaign's focusing, saying logistics professionals "must get back to the fundamentals of blocking and tackling to be consistently successful in our core tasks."

"When professional baseball players take their eyes off the ball, they return to the basics of fielding and hitting," he said. "Our logistics readiness professionals are talented and eager to win, but accepting the second-place trophy due to errors on the field is not good enough for the greatest Air Force in the world." 

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