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To: Axhandle
To call the world of logistics “the painful world of logistics” is redundant, but I continue to use the “painful” modifier just to ensure that nobody forgets just how . . . [bad] being a logistician [is]. I am an infantry officer and I am in an infantry company. But, as the executive officer, my day is full of examining document control registers, reviewing maintenance and inspection worksheets, ordering repair parts, forecasting supply needs, ensuring that supplies are not wasted, ensuring that property is accounted for, ensuring that equipment is maintained, spot checking maintenance of equipment and serviceability of supplies, inventorying supplies on hand – I could go on. It is not the job that I envisioned when I joined the Army.
That encapsulates nicely the attitude of Nathaniel Greene during the Revolutionary War. But putting General Greene in charge of logistics was a saving move by George Washington during the winter of Valley Forge, and it made Greene a superb planner. Greene finally got his big chance when the South had been just about completely lost to the British, and it looked like that would continue and progress north - dooming the Revolution.

Green assembled a modest force and was able to tempt Cornwallis into abandoning his supplies in order to be able to pursue Green rapidly in an effort to quickly put an end to the threat Cornwallis respected in Greene. Having gotten his logistical ducks in a row, Greene was able to retreat as rapidly as Cornwallis could advance, and to cross rivers expeditiously.

As a result Cornwallis' force became attenuated enough that Greene was able to make a stand in a defensive position and inflict heavy casualties. Greene withdrew to the south, and Cornwallis went to the coast where he could expect to get resupplied by the British Navy. But Washington - and the French Navy - got to Yorktown before the British Navy did . . .

Three southern states gave Greene plantations in appreciation of his success. So if you're stuck handling logistics, maybe there is hope for career advancement after all.


2 posted on 05/03/2005 2:17:06 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters but PR.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion
"I have no desire to get promoted or to get some coveted job that makes me competitive for some higher position. I am simply hoping to stay down here on the line, where the mission is accomplished."

But thanks for an interesting post.

3 posted on 05/03/2005 7:30:41 PM PDT by Axhandle
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