logistics and computer simulations to provide a perspective from which the functioning and effectiveness of large scale, computer simulation military logistical exercises may be evaluated.
Military Logistics in Support of General Purpose Force Employment
At the level of military strategy, general purpose force employment refers to the application of military power in a broad, national sense (Drew and Snow, 1988, p. 81). Force development is concerned with the marshaling of the resources required for force employment. Logistics support is a part of force development. Although force development is driven by force employment, there is an interactive relationship between the two concepts (Drew and Snow, 1988, p. 85). In a realistic sense, force employment decisions are influenced by both the availability of resources, and by the ability to position those resources where they may be used effectively.
Obviously, the state of the national defense industrial base in the United States affects in significant ways both force employment and force development (Lifeline, 1988, pp. 1 5). This issue is, however, beyond the scope of this examination. For purposes of this research, resource availability is assumed, and
the examination emphasizes the concepts of logistical support for general purpose force employment.
Other than a nuclear, chemical, or biological attack delivered by missile or air craft on the continental United States, any general purpose force employment by the United States in the 1990s and beyond will undoubtedly involve an expeditionary war (Drew and Snow, 1988, p. 179). Thus, air lift, sea lift, land prepositioning, sea prepositioning, or some combination thereof will be required, and the problems and tasks involving logistics will be formidable.
The land prepositioning of personnel, together with weapons systems, equipment, and supplies would be the obvious option, but for one factor one must know where...