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50 <a href="http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette">www.mca-marines.org/gazette</a> M a r i n e C o r p s G a z e t t e • M a y 2 0 0 9 IDEAS & ISSUES (LOGISTICS) N aval logistics integration (NLI), a Navy-Marine Corps initiative endorsing logistics interdependency in tactics, techniques, and procedures supporting naval expeditionary and special operations forces, was codified with the publication of Secretary of the Navy Instruction 4000.37, Naval Logis- tics Integration, on 31 December 2007. Over the past several years we have wit- nessed remarkable initiative and tremendous success across the NLI stakeholder community, and with such success NLI has undergone dramatic transformation in its focus of effort. Many of the early initiatives, which fo- cused primarily on optimizing afloat procedures, have already been imple- mented through the promulgation of an NLI playbook, training, and various logistics policy changes. An article coauthored by several NLI champions, entitled “Naval Logistics Integration— Optimizing Support to Naval Expedi- tionary Forces,” and published in the Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, March/ April 2007 issue, provides an excellent read on early NLI successes. The article addressed NLI’s continuing success through a refined focus of effort on four key areas. NLI Executive Board Guidance In early June 2008 the NLI execu- tive board cochairs, then-RADM Michael J. Lyden (OpNav N41) and BGen David G. Reist (Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) Logistics Plans), met with VADM Michael K. Loose (Deputy Chief of Naval Opera- tions (DCNO) N4 (Fleet Readiness and Logistics)) and MajGen Edward G. Usher (Deputy Commandant, In- stallations and Logistics (DC I&L)) to discuss NLI focus areas for the next 12 to 18 months. DCNO N4 and DC I&L noted that the structure of NLI was very good and applauded the many efforts targeting combat effectiveness, adding that we must now simultane- ously look to where efficiencies can be recognized in both Navy and Marine Corps programs. Subsequently, the ex- ecutive board, a 10-member flag-level group representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) interests, selected four initia- tives as focus areas for 2009 based on their preeminence for enhancing over- all combat effectiveness and potential for significant return on investment. Success in these key efforts will provide significant benefits to our expedi- Naval Logistics Integration Refocusing efforts in 2009 by LtCol Randy Hodge, USMC(Ret), CAPT Grisell Collazo, USN & CDR Kerry Pearson, USN >LtCol Hodge is an NLI support contractor for the Office of the Chief of Naval Op- erations (OpNav N41). He retired from the Marine Corps in 2005 after serving 24 years on active duty in various supply and logistics officer billets. >>CAPT Collazo is currently serving as Branch Head, Logistics Operations and Policy (OpNav N413) and as the Navy’s Cochair, NLI Senior Board. >>>CDR Pearson serves as Assistant Branch Head, Logistics Operations and Pol- icy-Programs (OpNav N413P) and is the Navy’s NLI action officer. Costs of maintaining and managing Class II items can be reduced by streamlining Class II life cycle management. (Photo by Cpl Mike Escobar.)
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