Radio ID Tagging Aims to Improve Military Logistics
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 14, 2004 – Across-the-board use of high-tech inventory-
tracking tags for military shipments should benefit both warfighters and the
bottom line, senior U.S. officials said here today.
That's why, starting in January, the Defense Department wants its suppliers to
start using radio frequency identification technology for shipping containers,
said Alan Estevez, deputy undersecretary of defense for supply chain
integration, at the National Defense Transportation Association's annual
conference.
By 2007, Estevez said, the department will require suppliers to apply RFID tags
to cases, pallets and all packaging of commodities shipped to all DoD
locations.
The Defense Department, he noted, simply is mirroring newer inventory-control
systems already undertaken by private-sector giants such as Wal-Mart.
The Army now has $100 million invested in radio frequency identification
technology, said Army Brig. Gen. Charles W. Fletcher Jr., commanding general of
the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command in Alexandria, Va.,
who also spoke at the conference.
Having the ability to track and account for all military inventories during
shipment around the world, Fletcher observed, would be a huge force multiplier.
"This gives us the ability to truly forecast (logistical) readiness," he
explained, noting that surveys say many of today's military logisticians don't
trust the current supply system. This is evident, he said, by the occurrence of
multiple supply requisitions during wartime, which wastes both time and money.
Fletcher said the Army also is working to integrate newer inventory- and
shipment-tracking systems with joint warfighting doctrine.
Harnessing technology such as radio frequency identification tags will improve
the military's supply system, Fletcher explained. "That supports those
soldiers, those sailors, and those Marines and airmen," he said.
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