An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | Oct. 2, 2017

Marines talk aviation logistics during two-day conference

By Leon Moore DLA Aviation Public Affairs

The Marine Corps has arguably the most well-known motto in the world, Semper Fidelis, or Semper Fi for short. These simple, but powerful two words mean "Always Faithful" in Latin.

When it comes to the Global War on Terrorism, these “Always Faithful” Leathernecks take it to the enemy by land, sea, and through the air.

Exerting this air superiority falls on the shoulders of the Marines who fly and maintain aircraft, such as the AV-8B Harrier, F/A-18 Hornet, V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor, H-1 Venom/Viper light attack, CH-53 Super Stallion heavy lift helicopters, and KC-130 Hercules aircraft.  

Keeping Marine aircraft up and flying without being impacted by Supply was the central theme during the Marine Aviation Logistics Offsite held Sept. 19-20 in the Lotts Center on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. This was the second year for the gathering.

Marine Col. A. J. Manuel is the Marine Aviation Logistics lead at Defense Logistics Agency Aviation.     

“We had both aviation supply and our aviation ordnance communities came together to talk about the supply world and how it relates to readiness,” said Manuel.

During this two-day offsite, the larger group broke down into smaller groups of senior enlisted, officers, and ordnance personnel to discuss supply readiness goals for fiscal 2018:

·  Execute retail supply modernization plan.

·  Incorporate retail demand planning and forecasting at Marine Aircraft Wings and wholesale activities.

·  Put greater emphasis on meeting fleet demand and controlling the rate of consumption and cancellations in order to reduce Non-Mission Capable Supply.

·  Achieve greater collaboration and balanced retail and wholesale inventories at the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons.

·  Execute second round of deliberate supply chain reviews during FY18.

·  Conduct turnover of Marine weapon systems program managers at DLA this coming summer. 

 “In order to reduce our negative impact on readiness, we recognize we need to do more planning up front and taking that planning signal and giving it to DLA to buy ahead of need,” said Manuel.  

Manuel went on to say, “It’s about keeping the warfighter ready and safe.”