Synchronizing Global Distribution Planning By General William M. Fraser, III, USAF, (former) Commander, United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)
I
n January 2014, the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy signed the DOD Global Campaign Plan for Distribution (GCP-D) 9033. USTRANSCOM is now able to accomplish its Unified Command Plan (UCP) mission to synchronize distribution planning in order to establish an effective and efficient Global Distribution Network (GDN), and ensure distribution support to the greater Department of Defense (DOD) mission. Many ask the question, “What does it mean to “synchronize” the planning process…and why is it important?” Additionally, “How should USTRANSCOM execute its synchronizer role? Who benefits from this synchronized planning process and what benefit is gained from participating in the process?” In the following paragraphs, I will address each of these questions and describe how GCPD 9033 will accomplish its annual mission to systematically improve and synchronize distribution planning. The term “synchronization” has multiple definitions and each definition is based on the situation. Joint Publication 1-02 defines “synchronization” as: “The arrangement of military actions in time, space, and purpose to produce maximum relative combat power at a decisive place and time.” The challenge now is to determine how this definition pertains to deployment and distribution, and applies to the associated planning
8 |
Defense Transportation Journal
|
June 2014
process. GCP-D 9033 can be thought of as a musical score for an orchestra, where the timing of the notes made by the multitude of instruments are what produces music out of the potential chaos of uncontrolled and unsynchronized sounds from the individual instruments. In the Global Distribution Synchronizer (GDS) case, the GDN is the complex entity that includes infrastructure, conveyances, C4 systems, access and agreements. Using these “instruments,” USTRANSCOM in support of the other Combatant Commands has the role to serve as the conductor that synchronizes the “musicians” together for a common goal to deliver harmonized music. USTRANSCOM synchronizes resolution of multiple distribution and deployment issues across the global theater to achieve a resilient and sustainable GDN. For USTRANSCOM, synchronization of planning also means coordinating individual actions of members of the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise (JDDE), working in unison and following a common framework to achieve a common goal…a synchronized planning process that interconnects our combatant commands and their distinct distribution requirements. Delivering a repeatable, predictable and flexible process is critical to our ability to successfully synchronize global distribution and deployment and must be performed routinely.
In the Global Distribution Synchronizer (GDS) case, the GDN is the complex entity that includes infrastructure, conveyances, C4 systems, access and agreements. Using these “instruments,” USTRANSCOM in support of the other Combatant Commands has the role to serve as the conductor that synchronizes the “musicians” together for a common goal to deliver harmonized music. USTRANSCOM synchronizes resolution of multiple distribution and deployment issues across the global theater to achieve a resilient and sustainable GDN.
