When Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force deployed to mainland Japan in support of Operation Tomodachi, they took with them relief supplies, humanitarian aid and equipment to help the Japanese recovery efforts. In addition to these things, they brought the newest component to support the Marine Corps’ long legacy as the U.S. military’s quick reaction force.
After being used in garrison by III MEF for roughly a year, the Global Combat Support System-Marine Corps, a transformational, web-based, near real-time logistics system, made its first appearance in a forward environment with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Atsugi, Japan.
“This system worked in the forward environment exactly the way it does in garrison; no changes,” said Master Sgt. Nicholas R. Bluma, maintenance management chief, Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, 1st MAW, III MEF. “It really is the common-sense approach to logistics.”
Bluma personally used the GCSS-MC during the deployment and was pleased with the effectiveness of the system.
“As long as (operators) have the training, connectivity and electricity it does work,” he said. “The transition from garrison to deployed is seamless.”
1st MAW was not the only unit to successfully utilize the system during Operation Tomodachi, according to Eric Gray, Headquarters Marine Corps, Installation and Logistics Department, Logistics, Plans, Policies, Strategic Mobility Division liaison officer to III MEF.
“The 3rd Marine Logistics Group was deployed to Sendai Airport, where they worked in very austere conditions at the heart of the disaster area,” said Gray. “They too learned that the system worked just as well deployed as it did in garrison.”
GCSS-MC was designed based on commercial logistics and supply software using industry-best practices, and has been modified to fulfill the unique requirements of the Marine Corps. The system eliminates supply and maintenance paper trails while streamlining accountability, maintenance and supply procedures for all ground equipment, according to Gray.
“This system operates in near real-time. So, as soon as the request is submitted, the originator knows whether or not that request is filled out correctly. If it isn’t, the system immediately notifies the originator,” said Gray. “Everything is (common access card) enabled, so you know when a request was originated, viewed or edited and by whom. Everyone sees the same thing, and we have 100 percent visibility.”
Since system procedures are uniform no matter who is using it, proper training for GCSS-MC allows for greater streamlined communication between units.
“The fact that everyone is utilizing a single system means that local (standard operating procedures) will have minimal variance from unit to unit,” said Gray. “This eases the process for those who use the system in a forward environment; things need to be as smooth as possible while on the battlefield.”
GCSS-MC allows maintenance and supply requests to be processed at least two days faster than the older systems the Marine Corps used.
“One Sunday night around 10 p.m. (while on mainland Japan), one of our generators went out,” said Bluma. “Using GCSS-MC, I ordered a replacement part. Within a few hours, that request had been sent stateside, and the item I ordered was sent forward from Pennsylvania to California. That within itself is proof that using this system in a forward environment gets the needed supplies to the war-fighters quicker than ever before.”
Another benefit GCSS-MC provides is a 24-hour help desk, which is available to all users.
“One of the minor issues we encountered while forward was a seeming inability to connect with our fiscal officer through the system,” said Bluma. “I called the GCSS-MC help desk, and they had the problem resolved in 30 minutes. They were well-trained and very professional during the whole thing.”
Over the next few years, the GCSS-MC is scheduled to replace current logistics systems across the rest of the Marine Corps.
“The successful use of the GCSS-MC during Operation Tomodachi proved the deployed capability of this transformational logistics system to serve the needs of the Marine Corps in the 21st century,” said Gray. “I and II MEF, along with the Reserves Supporting Establishments, should begin implementation of this system in September of this year.”