Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 (Logistics) Lt. Gen. Aundre Piggee, briefed Defense Logistics Agency Aviation leaders about the Army’s mission and goals Feb. 8 during the organization’s Senior Leader Conference held on Defense Supply Center, Richmond, Virginia.
Piggee laid out the current “State of the Army” and the key missions and allotment of soldiers. He pointed out that of the 11 active duty Army divisions, six are currently deployed right now. There are also three National Guard divisions currently deployed, which is the most National Guard divisions mobilized since operation Desert Shield.
“We have more than 183,000 soldiers supporting combat commands in over 140 countries and six continents,” said Piggee. “We’re worldwide.”
Piggee explained that the missions range from training and assisting Afghanistan and Iraq forces to rotating forces to Korea and Europe, while also meeting the increasing demand for land forces.
“The logistic forces set the theater,” said Piggee. “That’s our biggest challenge, not only to make sure we have the right soldiers, but the right type of logistical units with the right assets in place to give those soldiers that are the tip of the spear the capabilities to execute warfighting tasks and to be successful.”
In order to meet this demand, Piggee outlined the Army’s logistics lines of effort, focusing on Army readiness, which includes training, manning, equipping, leading, and developing the Army for the future while taking care of soldiers and their families.
“Those are our focus areas and all of our efforts should be to accomplish or improve on one of those priorities. That’s either readiness, looking towards the future, or taking care of our soldiers. That’s what we are asking you to do. Identify what that structure could be,” said Piggee.
One of the ways that Piggee is looking forward is the concept of “set to theater.” Piggee explained that “set to theater” means aligning the right units with the right force structure, with the right supply chain and organizations and structure in place so a unit can sustain an engagement for the first 30 days until they get replacement stocks pushed by the U. S. Transportation Command.
He explained that DLA is a critical player in the success of Army initiatives to anticipate demand, proactively plan depots, and use National Item Identification Numbers to create better supply plans and improve logistic retention levels.
“Readiness is the Army’s number one priority,” said Piggee. “I consider DLA part of my team. That’s how we work together. I’ve held every member of my team accountable and I think that’s how we have been successful in the past and will be successful in the future. It’s one team, one fight.”
As Piggee briefed DLA Aviation senior leaders, he stressed one factor in particular - the relationship the Army and DLA has is an important one to current and future Army missions.
“I cannot express how important DLA Aviation and the DLA as a whole is to the Army mission,” said Piggee. “From the U.S. Army I want to thank you for what you’ve done, what you do every day, and the support you will provide us in the future.”