Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, GA -- Commanding General of Marine Corps Logistics Command Maj. Gen. Charles Hudson discussed his guidance for 2012 in a recent series of meetings with the workforce. In each of the gatherings, Hudson began with the fundamental reason for Marine Corps Logistics Command’s existence.
“Our focus of effort everyday is the private first class or lance corporal walking point, in harm’s way,” Hudson said. “I want each of us to think about that young kid who is out there putting his life on the line every day, every time he goes outside the wire.”
Hudson then identified nine areas of focus for the coming year, all of which he stated are critical to supporting Marines forward deployed and at home stations. All of the areas fall within MCLC’s mission to provide operational-level logistics to Marine Corps forces everywhere.
Our Marine Family. Hudson strongly believes that the whole workforce, uniformed and non-uniformed, are part of the Marine family. Taking care of them and their families is a vital leadership responsibility. “Mission first, people always ... my job is to take care of our Marine family as much as possible,” he said.
Support to Operation Enduring Freedom operations to include Marine Corps Logistics Command- Forward operations. Even as Marine forces in Afghanistan begin to redeploy home, MCLC continues to provide critical in-theater logistics support. Hudson told the workforce that “Marine forces in Afghanistan have a challenging combat mission, and our steady sustainment actions enable them to focus on accomplishing it.” Support to the Operating Forces. “Not only are we sustaining Marines in Afghanistan, but we are also supporting three Marine Expeditionary Forces and their global operations,” Hudson said. He praised the work of MCLC’s three Marine Expeditionary Force Support Teams at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; and Okinawa, Japan. “They are doing tremendous things for those MEF commanders.” Hudson said that MCLC must continue to provide uninterrupted support to the operating forces so they can focus on training for and executing their combat missions.
Post-OEF Reset Coordination, Planning and Execution. MCLC has the primary role in retrograde and reset of equipment currently in Afghanistan. “We are working very intently to be prepared for that. Reset starts with MCLC (Fwd)’s actions in theater and concludes when we get equipment that has been rebuilt back out to meet a current shortfall.” Hudson expects this mission will be an area of focus for the next two and a half years. Marine Depot Maintenance Command Initiative. MCLC is in the process of consolidating the maintenance centers at Albany, Ga., and Barstow, Calif., under a single Marine Depot Maintenance Command. The objectives of consolidation include increased efficiency and decreased operating costs. Discussing it with the workforce, Hudson said, “It allows us to recapture some dollars, reduce overhead a little bit and streamline process procedures so we have the same procedures occurring at both places.” He believes this effort will preserve critical depot maintenance capability for the Marine Corps. Enabling, logistically, a “U.S. Marine Corps return to the Pacific.” Several months ago the commandant of the Marine Corps outlined a strategy to refocus the Marine Corps on the Asia-Pacific theater, post-OEF. Hudson sees several possible responsibilities for MCLC as this strategy unfolds. “First we have to source the equipment necessary for the Marine Corps to resume the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa. Then, at the appropriate time, we will source equipment for Marines training in Australia. At some point we may develop a MCLC (Fwd) presence in the Asia-Pacific theater.” Prepositioning Support. Hudson outlined several issues regarding the Marine Corps’ Maritime Prepositioning Program. He said that a reduction in the number of ships or squadrons, new ships entering service, and an evaluation of the equipment inventory in the Norway caves are issues that MCLC is heavily involved in. MPF is a critical strategic capability, according to Hudson, and he has high praise for the Marines and civilians of Blount Island Command, MCLC’s subordinate command that manages MPF out of Jacksonville, Fla.
Our Role as the Marine Corps Ground Equipment Inventory Manager. MCLC was recently tasked to become the inventory manager for all ground equipment. Hudson acknowledged this is a complex responsibility, and MCLC is working quickly to develop the capability. “The commandant of the Marine Corps owns all the equipment in the Marine Corps and he just recently tasked us formally to serve as the inventory manager, so we are taking a hard look at that. It will require considerable coordination with Marine Corps Systems Command and Headquarters Marine Corps agencies,” Hudson stated. But he believes it is an important development, as it will enable Marine Corps leadership to ascertain the status of any piece of ground equipment in the entire inventory with a single call to MCLC. Reset the Marine Corps Logistics Command Workforce. With the Marine Corps’ recent decision to lift a hiring freeze and allow commanders to manage their workforce to the payroll, Hudson believes there is an opportunity to reset MCLC’s workforce. “Because MCLC has done an outstanding job of managing the workforce in the past, we now have the chance to initiate some hiring actions to fill critical gaps,” Hudson said. Hudson offered some closing thoughts at each discussion. “We have a tremendous Marine family who are dedicated to Corps and country,” he said. “I think everyone of us here wears the eagle, globe and anchor. I am continually amazed by what we do here, the breadth of our mission set, and the diverse responsibilities we have, and the fact we are able to balance all of that.” “The most significant thought I want our workforce, uniformed and non-uniformed Marines, to know is that we have an extremely important mission at Marine Corps Logistics Command. We must accomplish that mission uninterrupted, everyday, with a great sense of urgency. The Marine walking point is depending on us, and we must not fail him.”