The army has changed their areas of specialty in the area of logistics. They used to be Transportation (to move stuff around), Ordnance (to move ammunition around safely) and Quartermaster (store stuff and issue equipment and all supplies)….. Now they qualify us all as 90A (ninety alphas) which is an all encompassing logistical qualification. But really, I have been qualified for a lot longer than that…I am all logistician all the time, and this stuff at NFH is child’s play compared to the high stress logistics I am used to working every single day at home.
A typical logistician conversation at home station goes like this (in a high operational tempo [optempo] environment)...
"Roger, HH 6, confirm - You are going to get the package and be at the SP NLT 0700. Then you will proceed to objective Pacific and loiter there until required to return to pick up your load at Objective Trinity NLT 1730 with a follow-on pickup at Fairmont at 1830 +/- 5 minutes. Class I pickup enroute at point BK which is located at TRP VV and Lampson. A second class I pickup at the TISA with a destination of Bivouac area Stanford which is your release point."
"Roger S4, good copy, but I am going to need some class III enroute and will top off and a trip to the maintenance yard at the HSC maintenance location to swap vehicles. This one has a light and the PMCS indicated it requires higher level maintenance than 10 level (operator) maintenance. Did you get the Class IX pickup you were supposed to bring to the RP after mission complete?"
"HH6 that is confirmed I picked up the Class IX and the medical required some Class VIII. Also I procured some Class VI for later if requires as an extra just in case."
"S4, did you plan to make a log run after the RP for anything else or will that be mission complete and we can send a closing report?"
"Roger HH6 (House Hold 6): that will be MC (mission complete); see you at the bivouac location and RP (release point) after I am complete at this location. I have two meetings with higher HQ and lateral units. Expect to RTB (return to base) on time. If you need a backup for that initial pickup or the follow-on location let me know and w can adjust the log run schedule."
Which is very similar to what I have been doing for years with the wife and the kids at home…
"Yes, sweetheart, please confirm that you are going to get Luke get him to school on time at 0700. Then you will go to work and stay there until school is out and pick up your son at school by 1730 and then pickup Henry at Fairmont at 1830? You will get some food at Burger King at Valley View and Lampson. Then you will get groceries at Vons and then go home?"
Yes Husband, that is my plan but I am going to need to get some gas and will stop at Shell and then swing by Carlson’s garage to swap vehicles. The van is ready for pickup and this one has a light and when I looked at it the tire pressure looked low. Did you get the parts to fix the dryer at home; you were supposed to bring that home to fix it tonight after you are done with everything else?"
"Yes dear, I picked up the dryer parts and I got some bandages for the medicine cabinet at home. I also bought some beer for later in case I get thirsty fixing the dryer."
"Husband, did you plan to make another trip after you get home for anything else or will that be it for the night?"
"Sweetie that will be it for the night. I will see you at home after I finish work. I have two meetings; one with the boss and one with some of the instructor pilots (IPs) here. I expect to be home on time. If you need me to pickup either of the boys let me know and I can adjust my schedule to make it!"
Like I said, being a loggie isn’t so hard if you have had a few kids. It is all about getting the various classes of supply to where they need to be when they need to be there! Class I, III, VI, and sometimes Class II (clothing), Class IV (building and construction materials, like to build that wall or landscape the yard), Class VII (big new things, like a car or a refrigerator.)
As someone once said, “We are all logisticians now!”
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