WEBVTT 00:18.829 --> 00:21.430 Welcome to DLA Dialogues , the podcast 00:21.430 --> 00:23.486 where we dive into DLA's mission and 00:23.486 --> 00:25.670 mindset . I'm your host Jake Boyer . 00:26.030 --> 00:27.919 I'm excited about today's episode 00:27.919 --> 00:29.974 because we have our first ever guest 00:29.974 --> 00:32.197 from outside the agency . Joe Brooks is 00:32.197 --> 00:34.310 an SES and the executive director of 00:34.310 --> 00:36.421 the Regional Sustainment Framework in 00:36.421 --> 00:38.477 the Office of the Secretary of War . 00:38.477 --> 00:40.366 We're also joined by Doctor Colin 00:40.366 --> 00:42.477 Williams , DLA's very own historian . 00:42.477 --> 00:44.810 Gentlemen , thanks for joining me today . 00:44.810 --> 00:47.369 Thank you . Joe , to start off , what 00:47.369 --> 00:49.369 exactly is the Regional Sustainment 00:49.369 --> 00:51.430 Framework or RSF ? For those who 00:51.430 --> 00:53.652 haven't heard about it , what is it and 00:53.652 --> 00:55.652 why is it important ? It's quite an 00:55.652 --> 00:57.874 honor to be on with all of y'all . Um , 00:57.874 --> 00:59.819 DLA is very close to me . I , uh , 00:59.819 --> 01:01.930 spent many years working there . Um , 01:01.990 --> 01:04.046 the mission is incredible , uh , the 01:04.046 --> 01:06.212 people are incredible , and , uh , the 01:06.212 --> 01:08.268 resources are also incredible . So , 01:08.268 --> 01:10.157 big thanks to everyone involved . 01:10.230 --> 01:12.119 Regional sustainment framework is 01:12.119 --> 01:14.341 simply put , Making sure our warfighter 01:14.341 --> 01:16.674 has what they need , where they need it , 01:16.674 --> 01:18.786 and when they need it . Um , over the 01:18.786 --> 01:21.209 last , I don't know , 30 years , we've 01:21.209 --> 01:23.650 become very centralized in our approach 01:23.650 --> 01:25.483 to sustainment , our approach to 01:25.483 --> 01:27.817 logistics , our approach to maintenance . 01:27.817 --> 01:30.094 Now , there are efficiencies from that . 01:30.169 --> 01:32.010 There are benefits for security 01:32.010 --> 01:34.410 purposes to being so centralized , but 01:34.410 --> 01:36.849 there are significant downsides . And 01:36.849 --> 01:39.016 so what regional sustainment framework 01:39.016 --> 01:41.016 aims to do is to complement what we 01:41.016 --> 01:43.238 already have in terms of centralization 01:43.238 --> 01:45.127 with capabilities forward . Those 01:45.127 --> 01:47.699 capabilities To maintain , to sustain , 01:48.360 --> 01:50.249 broadly speaking , to conduct the 01:50.249 --> 01:52.120 logistics forward will allow our 01:52.120 --> 01:53.731 combatant commanders and our 01:53.731 --> 01:56.040 warfighters to have assets and 01:56.040 --> 01:58.620 capabilities to sustain the fight 01:59.360 --> 02:01.639 closer to the point of need . And what 02:01.639 --> 02:04.470 that means is greater readiness , 02:04.680 --> 02:07.940 greater availability . It also means 02:07.940 --> 02:10.020 more options for the combatant 02:10.020 --> 02:12.242 commander . Now the combatant commander 02:12.242 --> 02:14.770 doesn't have to send an item back to 02:14.770 --> 02:17.669 the United States . To get that , uh , 02:17.679 --> 02:19.901 item repaired , to get that item , uh , 02:19.901 --> 02:22.068 refit , they can do it forward with an 02:22.068 --> 02:24.235 ally and a partner . The other benefit 02:24.235 --> 02:26.290 is something called burden sharing . 02:26.290 --> 02:28.290 Burden sharing can be anything from 02:28.290 --> 02:30.990 cost sharing to access and to , um , 02:31.320 --> 02:33.487 assistance . And so we're working with 02:33.487 --> 02:36.100 partners to identify those efficiencies , 02:36.160 --> 02:38.199 um , so we can do that maintenance 02:38.199 --> 02:40.310 forward and share a little bit of the 02:40.310 --> 02:42.532 cost , share a little bit of the burden 02:42.532 --> 02:44.720 with them . So it's an outstanding 02:44.720 --> 02:46.720 ability , outstanding way for us to 02:46.720 --> 02:48.776 take advantage of increasing defense 02:48.776 --> 02:50.553 expenditures worldwide with our 02:50.553 --> 02:52.831 partners and allies . And also , again , 02:52.831 --> 02:55.169 find those efficiencies that will also 02:55.169 --> 02:58.470 promote readiness . Colin , you're our 02:58.470 --> 03:00.910 logistics historian . What were some of 03:00.910 --> 03:02.466 the moments in history when 03:02.466 --> 03:04.688 partnerships really defined how America 03:04.688 --> 03:06.743 fought our wars , especially when it 03:06.743 --> 03:08.688 comes to being able to support and 03:08.688 --> 03:10.854 sustain our forces ? Well , you can go 03:10.854 --> 03:13.188 back in time to the American Revolution , 03:13.188 --> 03:15.354 and right now we are commemorating the 03:15.354 --> 03:17.521 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary 03:17.521 --> 03:20.110 War . People don't know just how 03:20.110 --> 03:22.509 dependent the United States was on 03:22.509 --> 03:25.139 France during the conflict . Dependent 03:25.139 --> 03:27.809 for finances . For diplomatic 03:27.809 --> 03:30.250 recognition , for weapons , both 03:30.250 --> 03:33.250 muskets and artillery . In the last few 03:33.250 --> 03:35.417 years , we depended on the French army 03:36.089 --> 03:39.419 and in The last major conflict of the 03:39.419 --> 03:42.089 war , last major battle , which was 03:42.089 --> 03:44.145 Yorktown , we depended on the French 03:44.145 --> 03:47.059 navy . Throughout the whole conflict 03:47.059 --> 03:49.300 though , we depended on the French for 03:49.300 --> 03:51.500 gunpowder , and we didn't make much 03:51.500 --> 03:53.667 gunpowder in the United States for the 03:53.667 --> 03:56.130 eight year long conflict . So what we 03:56.130 --> 03:59.839 used , we took from the British or 04:00.259 --> 04:03.179 we were given to by the French . Now we 04:03.179 --> 04:06.259 jump forward 140 or so years in time to 04:06.259 --> 04:08.740 the First World War . And again , we 04:08.740 --> 04:11.580 are dependent on France . We didn't 04:11.580 --> 04:13.413 want to fight this conflict . We 04:13.413 --> 04:15.524 weren't prepared to fight it . And we 04:15.524 --> 04:17.636 learned once we were forced to get in 04:17.636 --> 04:20.200 it , that it took more time to develop 04:20.260 --> 04:23.720 a defense industrial base than to draft . 04:24.890 --> 04:28.390 Train and deploy overseas men . So what 04:28.390 --> 04:30.446 does this mean ? This means that the 04:30.446 --> 04:32.446 weapon that most servicemen used in 04:32.446 --> 04:35.059 France was a British Enfield rifle . 04:35.940 --> 04:37.899 When we got our troops to France , 04:38.170 --> 04:41.709 France gave us artillery pieces , gave 04:41.709 --> 04:44.190 us tanks , gave us airplanes , not only 04:44.190 --> 04:46.709 gave us this equipment , but taught us 04:46.989 --> 04:49.660 how to use it and how to maintain it . 04:50.630 --> 04:52.852 Now we jump forward just one generation 04:52.852 --> 04:55.019 into the future and this is the Second 04:55.019 --> 04:57.019 World War . Due to some things that 04:57.019 --> 04:59.186 President Roosevelt had done , we were 04:59.186 --> 05:01.352 ready for this conflict . At least our 05:01.352 --> 05:03.463 defense industrial base was humming . 05:03.463 --> 05:07.250 And so because of a lot of factors , we 05:07.250 --> 05:09.489 became the arsenal of democracy . We 05:09.489 --> 05:11.656 weren't . Dependent on other nations , 05:11.730 --> 05:14.589 other nations were dependent on us . So 05:14.589 --> 05:16.700 based on that , Colin , what are some 05:16.700 --> 05:18.700 of the big lessons we keep learning 05:18.760 --> 05:20.371 about these partnerships and 05:20.371 --> 05:22.593 maintenance and support ? When you look 05:22.593 --> 05:25.970 at the Cold War , the post-Cold War , 05:26.269 --> 05:28.325 and the current threat environment , 05:28.325 --> 05:30.230 we're moving from dependencies to 05:30.230 --> 05:33.190 partnerships . And you can see this , I 05:33.190 --> 05:34.857 think , in 3 areas . One with 05:34.857 --> 05:36.910 commodities , another with weapons 05:36.910 --> 05:38.910 systems , and the third with what I 05:38.910 --> 05:40.899 call logistics services . With 05:40.899 --> 05:44.549 commodities , think food and fuel . So 05:44.549 --> 05:46.438 I'll give you a few examples . In 05:46.438 --> 05:49.839 Vietnam , more than half of the fuel 05:49.839 --> 05:52.480 that our service members used came from 05:52.480 --> 05:55.549 3 contracts that DSA used to be known 05:55.549 --> 05:59.489 as Defense Supply Agency . with fuel 05:59.489 --> 06:01.899 contractors in the region , in Eastern 06:01.899 --> 06:04.489 Asia . And so this does a lot of the 06:04.489 --> 06:06.156 same things that the regional 06:06.156 --> 06:08.267 sustainment framework is trying to do 06:08.267 --> 06:10.378 today . Trying to supply at the point 06:10.378 --> 06:12.489 of need . We're talking about weapons 06:12.489 --> 06:14.711 systems . We , the first thing you need 06:14.711 --> 06:16.656 to do is you have to have the same 06:16.656 --> 06:18.711 weapons systems as your allies . And 06:18.711 --> 06:20.600 we've been trying to push this in 06:20.600 --> 06:22.767 America for quite some time . Think of 06:22.767 --> 06:24.767 the F-16 , which is a fighter jet . 06:24.767 --> 06:26.711 Other fighter jets , F-15 for some 06:26.711 --> 06:29.670 reasons , the F-35 . It's not just 06:29.670 --> 06:31.948 America that uses these weapon systems , 06:31.948 --> 06:34.059 it's some of our partners and some of 06:34.059 --> 06:36.281 our allies . We talk about cataloging . 06:36.281 --> 06:38.559 This is something we've been doing for , 06:38.559 --> 06:40.503 for quite some time , but the most 06:40.503 --> 06:44.100 difficult services are MRO maintenance , 06:44.559 --> 06:47.519 repair , and overhaul . And we're 06:47.519 --> 06:49.690 getting to a point today based on the 06:49.690 --> 06:51.968 lessons we learned in this progression . 06:51.968 --> 06:53.801 Through the regional sustainment 06:53.801 --> 06:55.746 framework where we can have allies 06:55.746 --> 06:58.260 close to the point of need repair our 06:58.260 --> 07:00.204 equipment , and this is one of the 07:00.204 --> 07:02.427 brilliant things about the program that 07:02.427 --> 07:04.820 Joe was leading . DLA was doing RSF 07:04.820 --> 07:07.100 before it was a thing . DLA does 07:07.100 --> 07:10.390 tremendous work through . Uh , Allied 07:10.390 --> 07:12.950 cross-servicing agreements , axes in 07:12.950 --> 07:14.950 transferring fuel currently and has 07:14.950 --> 07:17.172 been doing it for quite some time . You 07:17.172 --> 07:19.228 mentioned weapons system commonality 07:19.228 --> 07:21.283 and how important that is . Uh , DLA 07:21.283 --> 07:24.059 does about 1.2 billion in terms of FMS 07:24.059 --> 07:26.230 trade . That commonality , again , 07:26.350 --> 07:28.350 you're right to point it out , it's 07:28.350 --> 07:30.510 essential , but I feel like we really 07:30.510 --> 07:32.288 need to take a moment to really 07:32.288 --> 07:34.288 acknowledge all the DLA has done to 07:34.288 --> 07:36.359 date to ensure that um , The 07:36.359 --> 07:38.526 fungibility of readiness , the , the , 07:38.526 --> 07:41.839 uh , the ability for us to be ready and 07:41.839 --> 07:44.006 have our partners be ready at the same 07:44.006 --> 07:47.429 time . It's , it's absolutely huge . So , 07:47.529 --> 07:49.585 so you both started poking at this a 07:49.585 --> 07:51.807 little bit , Colin , with your aircraft 07:52.279 --> 07:54.390 comments , and you , Joe , brought up 07:54.390 --> 07:56.723 FMS or foreign military sales . So if I , 07:56.723 --> 07:59.057 if we can take it that way for a moment , 07:59.057 --> 08:01.112 um , Not just from a readiness , but 08:01.112 --> 08:03.335 from an economic perspective . How does 08:03.335 --> 08:05.390 what we do with our foreign military 08:05.390 --> 08:07.612 sales , how does that kind of tie in to 08:07.612 --> 08:09.779 the RSF ? One thing that FMS is aiming 08:09.779 --> 08:12.480 to do is to basically ensure that we 08:12.480 --> 08:14.702 have greater interoperability . What we 08:14.702 --> 08:17.119 want to do here is we want to make sure 08:17.119 --> 08:19.279 that our partners are flying similar 08:19.279 --> 08:21.223 aircraft , driving similar tanks , 08:21.230 --> 08:23.341 sailing similar ships , using similar 08:23.341 --> 08:25.563 weapons systems and platforms . Because 08:25.570 --> 08:27.681 what that enables us to do is through 08:27.850 --> 08:30.250 earlier I mentioned AXCA , FMS , direct 08:30.250 --> 08:32.417 commercial sales , tons of authorities 08:32.417 --> 08:35.609 exist for us to be able to transfer 08:36.090 --> 08:39.760 equipment . And necessary supplies to 08:39.760 --> 08:41.760 the warfighter , no matter who that 08:41.760 --> 08:43.816 warfighter is , if it's an ally , if 08:43.816 --> 08:46.038 it's a partner , if it's a US soldier , 08:46.038 --> 08:48.038 sailor , serviceman , to be able to 08:48.038 --> 08:50.316 transfer that , um , when they need it , 08:50.316 --> 08:52.482 as they need it , where they need it . 08:52.482 --> 08:55.119 And so , again , the essentialness of 08:55.119 --> 08:57.739 the the the the criticality that is of 08:57.969 --> 09:00.859 foreign military sales , absolutely 09:00.859 --> 09:02.692 central to the point of regional 09:02.692 --> 09:04.692 sustainment . I'll add that this is 09:04.692 --> 09:06.915 incredibly difficult and history proves 09:06.915 --> 09:08.915 this . So in the latter part of the 09:08.915 --> 09:11.359 1970s , Germany and America got 09:11.359 --> 09:13.760 together and tried to co-design a main 09:13.760 --> 09:16.739 battle tank . It didn't work out too 09:16.739 --> 09:20.700 well , but the idea was , was , was 09:20.700 --> 09:22.922 well thought through . So if we went to 09:22.922 --> 09:25.340 war with the Soviets in Europe , we'd 09:25.340 --> 09:27.880 have Germany and America using the same 09:27.880 --> 09:30.780 tanks . Both of them could be repaired , 09:31.020 --> 09:33.659 not just at the front line , but the 09:33.659 --> 09:37.510 depot level by German mechanics . This 09:37.510 --> 09:40.349 could have been transformative . In the 09:40.349 --> 09:43.070 end , the Germans built what's called 09:43.070 --> 09:45.710 the the Leopard II , which was a kick 09:46.150 --> 09:48.869 tank . And the Americans built 09:48.869 --> 09:50.980 something called the Abrahams , which 09:50.980 --> 09:52.869 is also kick , but was completely 09:52.869 --> 09:55.099 different . As we move forward and 09:55.099 --> 09:57.432 start looking at these new problem sets , 09:57.432 --> 09:59.655 one thing that you brought up is what's 09:59.655 --> 10:01.488 the biggest challenge that we're 10:01.488 --> 10:03.655 running into ? And perhaps the biggest 10:03.655 --> 10:05.821 challenge that we're also running into 10:05.821 --> 10:07.655 is getting that agreement . What 10:07.655 --> 10:09.932 regional sustainment framework is hope , 10:09.932 --> 10:12.043 uh , is , is preparing us for is that 10:12.043 --> 10:15.109 contingency where we have a conflict 10:15.109 --> 10:18.869 where that the figurative pie expands 10:18.869 --> 10:22.460 so rapidly . That there is no amount 10:22.460 --> 10:24.760 of existing supply that can satisfy 10:24.760 --> 10:26.960 demand . And so we have to be able to 10:26.960 --> 10:29.016 partner . Our allies are starting to 10:29.016 --> 10:30.793 realize this . Our partners are 10:30.793 --> 10:32.960 starting to realize this . Industry is 10:32.960 --> 10:35.182 starting to realize this , that we have 10:35.182 --> 10:37.349 to be ready for that rapidly expanding 10:37.349 --> 10:39.760 pie of demand in time of crisis . And 10:39.760 --> 10:41.704 so regional statement framework is 10:41.704 --> 10:43.927 aimed And ensuring that not only we are 10:43.927 --> 10:46.093 prepared , but our allies are prepared 10:46.093 --> 10:45.929 in a way that is both fiscally 10:45.929 --> 10:48.580 responsible , but also responsible for 10:48.580 --> 10:50.747 the soldiers and sailors and marines , 10:50.747 --> 10:53.250 airmen , the warfighter . Because that 10:53.250 --> 10:55.417 warfighter can't be stuck with a piece 10:55.417 --> 10:57.639 of busted kit forward . They have to be 10:57.639 --> 10:59.750 able to repair that . They have to be 10:59.750 --> 10:59.739 able to have that . And by the way , 10:59.809 --> 11:01.865 they can't necessarily wait for that 11:01.865 --> 11:03.909 transit time . Our adversaries are 11:03.909 --> 11:05.742 developing capabilities and have 11:05.742 --> 11:07.520 developed capabilities that can 11:07.520 --> 11:09.687 intercept our lines of communication . 11:09.687 --> 11:11.909 Lines of communication , what does that 11:11.909 --> 11:11.309 mean ? I know I used a big word there , 11:11.390 --> 11:13.900 a big phrase . Basically our transit . 11:14.109 --> 11:16.331 They can intercept the planes and ships 11:16.331 --> 11:18.553 that are carrying our equipment back to 11:18.553 --> 11:20.720 the United States to get repaired . So 11:20.720 --> 11:22.831 we have to be able to anticipate that 11:22.831 --> 11:24.665 threat . And that's why regional 11:24.665 --> 11:26.776 sustainment is so important . We need 11:26.776 --> 11:28.831 to be able to sustain forward . What 11:28.831 --> 11:31.200 Joe's talking about is not just an idea . 11:31.419 --> 11:33.780 He's registering success right now . 11:34.179 --> 11:36.068 And if you want to brag about the 11:36.068 --> 11:38.235 agreement that Korean Air and Lockheed 11:38.235 --> 11:40.380 Martin just made for the repair of 11:40.380 --> 11:43.340 F-15s and F-16s in the Republic of 11:43.340 --> 11:45.507 Korea . Well , they've been doing that 11:45.507 --> 11:47.618 for quite some time . Korean Airlines 11:47.618 --> 11:49.729 has been a leader in that field , and 11:49.729 --> 11:51.840 they're seeing a lot of success . For 11:51.840 --> 11:53.951 instance , the F-16 now has 4000 more 11:53.951 --> 11:56.173 hours in theater , because they're able 11:56.173 --> 11:58.507 to do that repair forward . That's huge , 11:58.507 --> 12:00.618 4000 more flight hours . That's a lot 12:00.618 --> 12:02.673 more rain for the warfighter . We've 12:02.673 --> 12:04.618 been working very closely with the 12:04.618 --> 12:06.562 Koreans , Japanese , and others to 12:06.562 --> 12:08.562 ensure that we have that ability to 12:08.562 --> 12:10.729 repair , um , our watercraft forward . 12:10.729 --> 12:12.840 And so just last year , we managed to 12:12.840 --> 12:15.179 repair , um , a , uh , logistics 12:15.179 --> 12:17.123 support vessel , an army logistics 12:17.123 --> 12:19.290 support vessel . And we managed to cut 12:19.290 --> 12:21.235 off over a month of transit time . 12:21.235 --> 12:23.512 That's not including any time in queue , 12:23.512 --> 12:25.735 that's just a month of transit . By the 12:25.735 --> 12:25.460 way , when that ship is transiting , 12:25.580 --> 12:28.599 it's vulnerable . It's non-taskable . 12:28.919 --> 12:31.919 It's , it's out of the AOR . We're able 12:31.919 --> 12:34.141 to repair it inside the AOR so that the 12:34.141 --> 12:36.086 combatant commander still has that 12:36.086 --> 12:38.599 asset on the field . And is able to get 12:38.599 --> 12:41.450 it repaired quicker . At or below the 12:41.450 --> 12:44.049 same costs . We're , we're seeing 12:44.049 --> 12:47.109 tremendous benefits in terms of , uh , 12:47.119 --> 12:49.119 repair of components . So we always 12:49.119 --> 12:51.341 think about these platforms and weapons 12:51.341 --> 12:53.508 systems as , and by the way , I mean , 12:53.508 --> 12:55.730 we're all guilty of it . Fighter planes 12:55.730 --> 12:57.675 are really cool . So we , I mean , 12:57.675 --> 12:59.675 they're very interesting , um , the 12:59.675 --> 13:01.786 tanks as well , ships , but sometimes 13:01.786 --> 13:03.952 it's the things that make those , uh , 13:03.952 --> 13:06.119 weapon systems actually capable . Um , 13:06.119 --> 13:08.450 we take for granted how important it is 13:08.450 --> 13:10.450 that our weapon systems can talk to 13:10.450 --> 13:12.617 each other . Well , we partnered , one 13:12.617 --> 13:14.728 of our first Pathfinders was actually 13:14.728 --> 13:16.672 on something called MIDS jitters , 13:16.672 --> 13:18.617 Multi-information Display System , 13:18.617 --> 13:20.783 Joint tactical Radio . Um , and , uh , 13:20.783 --> 13:23.006 mids jitters is one of those items that 13:23.006 --> 13:25.172 allows us to talk to each other in the 13:25.172 --> 13:27.228 battle space , allows us to talk not 13:27.228 --> 13:29.394 only to our own forces , but to allied 13:29.394 --> 13:31.561 forces . Well , we were seeing large , 13:31.561 --> 13:34.090 uh , queue times just from transit . We 13:34.090 --> 13:37.090 cut off , I think it was 420 days off 13:37.090 --> 13:39.239 of the ability to test that equipment 13:39.239 --> 13:41.350 to make sure it's battlefield ready , 13:41.409 --> 13:43.242 um , and get it repaired . We're 13:43.242 --> 13:45.298 working with Australia on that right 13:45.298 --> 13:47.409 now , but we're able to cut that time 13:47.409 --> 13:49.465 down dramatically . Again , 420 some 13:49.465 --> 13:51.820 days . That's incredible . And that 13:51.820 --> 13:54.042 allows us to be able to communicate and 13:54.042 --> 13:56.042 have that assured communication and 13:56.042 --> 13:57.876 integration forward . One of the 13:57.876 --> 14:00.098 challenges we've run into with regional 14:00.098 --> 14:01.931 sustainment framework , which is 14:01.931 --> 14:04.219 reasonable , is , well , some items are 14:04.219 --> 14:06.900 very sensitive and sensitive in 14:06.900 --> 14:09.067 multiple ways , but sensitive in terms 14:09.067 --> 14:11.011 of security . Uh , we want to have 14:11.011 --> 14:12.956 those items maintained back in the 14:12.956 --> 14:15.011 United States for security reasons . 14:15.011 --> 14:17.233 That's understandable . However , a lot 14:17.233 --> 14:18.956 of times they're finding power 14:18.956 --> 14:20.844 inverters . Pumps , alternators , 14:21.330 --> 14:23.679 common use items , they're the source 14:23.679 --> 14:26.099 of failure forward . If we can work 14:26.099 --> 14:28.043 with our partners to repair them , 14:28.043 --> 14:29.821 which we are doing right now in 14:29.821 --> 14:31.710 countries like Qatar , we can get 14:31.710 --> 14:33.809 higher levels of readiness . Right 14:33.809 --> 14:35.976 there , forward . Regional sustainment 14:35.976 --> 14:38.142 framework is really about finding that 14:38.142 --> 14:40.142 healthy medium , where we're taking 14:40.142 --> 14:42.142 advantage of our capabilities , but 14:42.142 --> 14:44.365 also those of our allies and partners , 14:44.365 --> 14:46.587 raising our readiness together and also 14:46.587 --> 14:48.698 controlling costs together . Um , but 14:48.698 --> 14:50.920 that's what we're going for right now . 14:50.920 --> 14:53.253 This has just been a great conversation , 14:53.253 --> 14:52.409 guys , and we're gonna get to the 14:52.409 --> 14:54.631 lightning round here in just a moment . 14:54.631 --> 14:56.849 But before we do , what is one thing 14:56.849 --> 14:59.016 each of you , and then we'll go to Joe 14:59.016 --> 15:01.182 first , would like our viewers to take 15:01.182 --> 15:03.460 home from this conversation ? You know , 15:03.460 --> 15:05.516 a lot of times we see logistics as a 15:05.516 --> 15:07.682 trade space . Um , and by the way , we 15:07.682 --> 15:09.905 do this in our own lives . I mean , how 15:09.905 --> 15:11.516 many times have you seen the 15:11.516 --> 15:13.849 maintenance required pop up on your car ? 15:13.849 --> 15:16.016 I said , you know what , I can , I can 15:16.016 --> 15:18.127 wait another month . Well , with your 15:18.127 --> 15:20.238 car , there , there are lives in it . 15:20.369 --> 15:22.536 Uh , not only yours , but the lives of 15:22.536 --> 15:24.591 the drivers around you . You have to 15:24.591 --> 15:26.702 maintain that vehicle . So as much as 15:26.702 --> 15:28.980 there's this kind of sentiment of , oh , 15:28.980 --> 15:31.036 I can put this off , you know in the 15:31.036 --> 15:32.758 back of your head , I probably 15:32.758 --> 15:32.559 shouldn't . I probably need to get 15:32.559 --> 15:34.615 those new tires . I probably need to 15:34.615 --> 15:36.670 get that oil changed because I don't 15:36.670 --> 15:36.049 want to get stranded . I don't want to 15:36.049 --> 15:40.000 have an accident . With the 15:40.000 --> 15:42.270 sustainment of forces forward , it's so 15:42.270 --> 15:45.400 easy for us to forget that real lives , 15:45.760 --> 15:47.593 our soldiers , our sailors , our 15:47.593 --> 15:49.649 marines , our airmen , our guardians 15:49.649 --> 15:51.559 forward , they all depend on this 15:51.559 --> 15:54.080 equipment . And so it's easy for us to 15:54.080 --> 15:56.358 say , well , that's a trade space . No , 15:56.358 --> 15:58.524 it's not . It's not a trade space . We 15:58.524 --> 16:00.747 need to invest in our sustainment . Our 16:00.747 --> 16:02.858 sustainment is how we ensure that not 16:02.858 --> 16:05.024 only we're able to fight tonight , but 16:05.024 --> 16:04.859 tomorrow , that we're able to get back 16:04.859 --> 16:07.080 up and strike back when the adversary 16:07.080 --> 16:09.869 knocks us down . We're we're going to 16:09.869 --> 16:11.925 face some challenges in the years to 16:11.925 --> 16:13.925 come . And the best way to confront 16:13.925 --> 16:16.109 those challenges is to be ready . And 16:16.109 --> 16:18.789 sustainment is part of that . An 16:18.789 --> 16:20.900 essential part and a part that is not 16:20.900 --> 16:23.011 as much of a trade space as sometimes 16:23.011 --> 16:26.690 we We may think it may be . We have 16:26.690 --> 16:28.634 to prepare , we have to be able to 16:28.634 --> 16:30.857 invest in our own sustainment . And our 16:30.857 --> 16:34.580 allies realize this too . Colin , I 16:34.580 --> 16:37.500 have a philosophical comment . You 16:37.500 --> 16:40.479 study the past sometimes because it 16:40.479 --> 16:43.200 rhymes with the present , but you also 16:43.200 --> 16:45.260 sometimes study the past because it 16:45.260 --> 16:48.340 shows an evolution , and that's where I 16:48.340 --> 16:50.340 think we're leading to when we talk 16:50.340 --> 16:52.062 about the regional sustainment 16:52.062 --> 16:54.500 framework . Why ? Well , one , because 16:54.500 --> 16:56.679 we do have common weapons systems with 16:56.859 --> 16:59.580 many of our allies and partners . Why ? 16:59.979 --> 17:02.146 Because if you go back in time , yes , 17:02.219 --> 17:04.275 there was maintenance . I'm sure the 17:04.275 --> 17:07.040 Greek Hopolytes , 4.5 centuries before 17:07.040 --> 17:09.151 Christ had some sort of maintenance , 17:09.219 --> 17:11.386 but over time , maintenance has gotten 17:11.386 --> 17:14.400 more complex . Depot level maintenance , 17:14.560 --> 17:17.719 particularly more specialized weapon 17:17.719 --> 17:20.040 systems more complex and fewer in 17:20.040 --> 17:22.300 number . America doesn't have too many 17:22.560 --> 17:24.616 aircraft carriers , doesn't have too 17:24.616 --> 17:26.760 many B-2 bombers , and so the 17:26.760 --> 17:29.199 maintenance becomes all that more 17:29.199 --> 17:32.239 important to maintain firepower , to 17:32.239 --> 17:35.160 maintain readiness . Another thing you 17:35.160 --> 17:37.160 got to look at , and this is what I 17:37.160 --> 17:39.271 really think uh history leads to what 17:39.271 --> 17:43.270 Joe was just talking about . We spent 17:43.270 --> 17:45.349 blood , sweat , and tears defending 17:45.349 --> 17:48.790 Australia during World War II . We're 17:48.790 --> 17:50.734 reaping the benefits of that now . 17:51.020 --> 17:53.939 Australia is , is a partner . After 17:53.939 --> 17:56.780 World War II , we helped rebuild Japan 17:56.780 --> 18:00.310 and Germany , potential partners . 18:01.260 --> 18:04.939 Hugely potential partners . We 18:04.939 --> 18:07.939 fought for South Korea in the Korean 18:07.939 --> 18:11.640 War . We stayed in Korea . Korea was 18:11.640 --> 18:13.719 almost a pre-industrialized nation . 18:14.020 --> 18:16.369 Now it's an Asian tiger . We can depend 18:16.369 --> 18:19.170 on that . It has an amazingly complex 18:19.229 --> 18:22.540 and intricate economy . You can go on . 18:22.709 --> 18:25.800 I think our protection of Kuwait during 18:25.800 --> 18:27.744 the first Gulf War , we're reaping 18:27.744 --> 18:29.744 benefits from that . So some of the 18:29.744 --> 18:32.689 allies we need to help maintain forward , 18:33.109 --> 18:36.349 this is a consequence of our decisions 18:36.349 --> 18:39.849 in the past to defend freedom . So As 18:40.310 --> 18:42.643 an historian , as an American historian , 18:42.643 --> 18:44.977 that just , that just rings at my heart . 18:45.489 --> 18:47.489 I think , uh , that's the comment I 18:47.489 --> 18:49.545 want to make . It all comes around . 18:49.545 --> 18:51.656 All right , so we always like to wrap 18:51.656 --> 18:53.656 these discussions up with kind of a 18:53.656 --> 18:55.545 lightning round , some rapid fire 18:55.545 --> 18:57.545 questions . I'm gonna set the rules 18:57.545 --> 18:57.130 here since this is our first time with 18:57.130 --> 18:59.352 two guests . When I ask the questions , 18:59.352 --> 19:01.686 Colin , you're gonna go first . Got you . 19:01.686 --> 19:03.852 Oh , you're gonna wait for Colin . All 19:03.852 --> 19:05.963 right . Sounds good . You agree ? The 19:05.963 --> 19:08.241 pressure's on . All right . First step , 19:08.241 --> 19:10.297 what are you reading these days ? Oh 19:10.297 --> 19:09.890 gosh , I'm reading a lot of things 19:09.890 --> 19:12.469 right now . I'm reading a biography of , 19:12.969 --> 19:15.989 uh , Ida B . Wells , uh , uh , a famous . 19:17.260 --> 19:20.500 Writer , someone who was a journalist , 19:21.040 --> 19:22.818 and she's writing about all the 19:22.818 --> 19:24.929 different problems that America faced 19:24.929 --> 19:27.151 at the turn of the century , but she is 19:27.151 --> 19:29.579 focused on the lynching problem , at 19:29.579 --> 19:31.640 least that's what the book is . So 19:31.640 --> 19:33.807 that's the , the biography I'm reading 19:33.807 --> 19:35.918 right now . I'm reading some military 19:35.918 --> 19:38.140 histories published by the Green Book 19:38.140 --> 19:40.307 Series published by the US Army Center 19:40.307 --> 19:42.473 of Military History . I'm also writing 19:42.473 --> 19:44.696 a book . I spent a lot of time not just 19:44.696 --> 19:46.807 reading , but writing . I'm writing a 19:46.807 --> 19:49.500 book about How New York transformed 19:49.890 --> 19:52.099 during the American Revolution from an 19:52.280 --> 19:56.000 incoherent colony to what we call the 19:56.000 --> 19:59.859 Empire State . Joe , uh , American 19:59.859 --> 20:02.300 Ulysses , uh , about Ulysses S . Grant , 20:02.380 --> 20:04.660 um , excellent , excellent biography , 20:04.739 --> 20:07.140 a transformative leader , um , and , uh , 20:07.420 --> 20:09.420 you know , very important figure in 20:09.420 --> 20:11.531 American and international politics . 20:11.531 --> 20:13.531 Um , I'm reading How Big Things Get 20:13.531 --> 20:15.449 Done . I'm also reading , um , 20:15.819 --> 20:18.050 rereading Freedom's Forge , which is , 20:18.060 --> 20:20.500 uh , largely about how we prepared for 20:20.500 --> 20:22.500 World War II . It's , it's , it's a 20:22.500 --> 20:24.722 phenomenal book . If anyone hasn't read 20:24.722 --> 20:27.056 it , please , it's worth multiple reads . 20:27.056 --> 20:29.389 Um , Siddhartha by Hermann Hess as well , 20:29.389 --> 20:31.611 um , it's just another fantastic read , 20:31.611 --> 20:33.667 um . But those , those are the books 20:33.667 --> 20:35.889 I've been reading lately . Alright , on 20:35.889 --> 20:38.000 to the next question . Colin , what's 20:38.000 --> 20:40.479 your superpower ? What do you do better 20:40.479 --> 20:41.590 than anybody else ? 20:44.689 --> 20:47.770 When I write something , I edit , and 20:47.770 --> 20:50.010 then I edit it again , and then I edit 20:50.010 --> 20:52.829 a 3rd time . So I think my superpower 20:52.829 --> 20:55.569 is to delay submissions of work until I 20:55.569 --> 20:58.329 have it exactly the way I want it . Joe , 20:58.729 --> 21:00.396 what's your superpower ? Oh , 21:00.396 --> 21:02.451 enthusiasm has , has been cited more 21:02.451 --> 21:04.729 than once . Uh , I think everybody in 21:04.729 --> 21:06.896 this room knows that . Yeah , no , I , 21:06.896 --> 21:08.951 I , I tend to get very excited about 21:08.951 --> 21:10.951 what I get to work on . Uh , it's a 21:10.951 --> 21:13.007 real pleasure to do the kind of work 21:13.007 --> 21:15.173 that we do , um . And it kind of fills 21:15.173 --> 21:17.285 you with purpose , uh , which is also 21:17.319 --> 21:20.719 very helpful . Um , one other thing I 21:20.719 --> 21:23.369 think You know , and I'm trying to get 21:23.369 --> 21:25.536 my kids into playing music right now . 21:25.880 --> 21:28.560 I did a lot of , uh , music . I'm , I'm 21:28.560 --> 21:31.199 a drummer , and I learned from that the 21:31.199 --> 21:33.280 ability to play jazz , the ability , 21:33.290 --> 21:35.401 and what I mean broadly by that , not 21:35.401 --> 21:37.479 just the style , but the ability to 21:37.479 --> 21:40.020 improvise , the ability to take a 21:40.020 --> 21:42.680 situation and make something of it . Um , 21:42.719 --> 21:44.830 I think that's very essential , and I 21:44.830 --> 21:47.280 think it kind of has helped me out 21:47.280 --> 21:49.510 quite a bit . All right , to land the 21:49.510 --> 21:51.677 plane with this last question . What's 21:51.677 --> 21:54.680 your kryptonite ? Told us what's great . 21:54.989 --> 21:57.270 What's your weakness ? Well , you know , 21:57.349 --> 22:00.150 um , sometimes it's , it's , uh , 22:00.349 --> 22:02.571 planning . It can be a little bit of my 22:02.571 --> 22:04.793 weakness , um , you know , as much as I 22:04.793 --> 22:07.239 like to improvise , sometimes it's , uh , 22:07.819 --> 22:10.430 being as thorough of a planner . Um , 22:10.500 --> 22:12.444 it's something I've obviously been 22:12.444 --> 22:14.333 working on and , and , you know , 22:14.333 --> 22:16.667 managed to make it work , but it's , uh , 22:16.667 --> 22:18.944 it's not a natural inclination . I , I , 22:18.944 --> 22:22.689 um , And part of me really does 22:22.689 --> 22:26.369 enjoy , um , the thrill of getting 22:26.369 --> 22:28.609 involved in a situation and and 22:28.609 --> 22:30.776 appreciating the situation for what it 22:30.776 --> 22:32.887 is , not necessarily what you thought 22:32.887 --> 22:36.609 it would be . Um , so . OK , Colin , 22:37.050 --> 22:39.050 I think I understand history pretty 22:39.050 --> 22:41.160 well , military history . I got that 22:41.160 --> 22:43.530 down . Talk about political history or 22:43.530 --> 22:46.010 cultural history or social history , 22:46.329 --> 22:48.551 but when it comes to economic history , 22:48.569 --> 22:50.680 it befuddles me . I haven't been able 22:50.680 --> 22:54.609 to , uh , To convey 22:54.609 --> 22:58.310 how economics affects societies 22:58.729 --> 23:00.969 with the conviction that I need to in 23:00.969 --> 23:03.319 the past , and that's something that 23:04.430 --> 23:07.310 That weakens my interpretation . OK . 23:08.050 --> 23:10.217 Well gents , thank you so much both of 23:10.217 --> 23:12.217 you for being on the show today . I 23:12.217 --> 23:13.939 think it's been a really great 23:13.939 --> 23:15.994 conversation for DLA Dialogues . I'm 23:15.994 --> 23:18.328 Jake Boyer . Until next time , remember , 23:18.328 --> 23:20.217 learning is a superpower . Use it 23:20.217 --> 23:20.209 wisely .