CALL No. 04-13: OIF CAAT II Initial Impressions Report - Health Service Support

CALL Newsletter 04-13
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
CAAT II Initial Impressions Report (IIR)

Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
CAAT II Initial Impressions Report (IIR)

Chapter 4: Combat Service Support
Topic F: Health Service Support

Subtopic 16: Class VIII Management

Observation Synopsis

Under Force XXI doctrine there is no longer a DMSO. Each forward support medical company (FSMC) is authorized a medical supply sergeant, two medical supply specialists, and a medical maintenance repairman to make up for this loss. Additionally, the FSMCs and medical platoons have been issued MC4 systems with the defense medical logistics standard support (DMLSS) module to help them manage medical supply. Although the FSMCs are authorized this, an approved supply list (ASL) has never been developed and there has been absolutely no contractor support for MC4 in the OIF theater. In one FSB, although there were assets to manage Class (CL) VIII, the division medical logistics officer (DMLO) required all medical units use the division medical supply office (DMSO) when in theater. For that particular unit, it did not appear to be the best route since the medical logistics battalion was fewer than 45 minutes away, yet the DMSO was over three hours away. Although the DMLO kept insisting they go through DMSO, the unit went around him and did what they needed to do to get supplies.

Lessons Learned

Some units never practiced doctrinal CL VIII management in garrison and always tried to make doctrine work at Combat Training Centers.
War time practices need to be used in garrison so there is a seamless transition once a unit does deploy.

DOTMLPF Implications

Organization: Develop a CL VIII ASL for the FSMCs and then manage it at the support operations officer (SPO) level just like every other class of supply.