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For many years, we have been witness to Logistics transformation in the guise of eLog21, from creating Regional Supply Squadrons to the newly established Global Logistics Support Center. We have seen three separate Supply, Transportation, and Logistics Plans Squadrons blended together to form the combined Logistics Readiness Squadron. This evolution has rippled into numerous legacy systems as well as the highly anticipated Expeditionary Combat Support System. With all of the varying activities involved in Logistics transformation, it makes sense to step back and look at the entire scope of logistics education.

AFIT's School of Systems and Logistics has been heavily involved in educating the Logistics Readiness Officer on these transformation initiatives. Working closely with HQ USAF/A4I, Logistics Transformation Division, we developed and fielded nine web-based courses covering supply chain management, enterprise architecture, enterprise resource planning, forecasting basics, collaborative inventory planning, strategic sourcing, balanced scorecard basics, and asset marking and tracking. All of the courses link the eLog21 campaign goals and provide an LRO at any level a basic understanding of the enormity of changes and reasons for the shifts in policy. Currently, we are developing two more web-based courses covering Supply Chain Operations Reference Model and AFSO21 in relation to the eLog 21 campaign. These courses will be available later this year.

Taking this transformation to the next level, at the end of February, HQ USAF/A4R held a Utilization and Training Workshop at the schoolhouse at Lackland to look at the basic LRO and intermediate level courses as well as focus on the layout of the complete LRO education from a brand new lieutenant to a senior leader. Col Dahl, the LRO career field manager, set down a hard and fast week-long schedule for the team members representing the MAJCOMs, the schoolhouse, AFIT and participating squadron commanders to complete outlines for two critical courses. The vision set forth for logistics education entails training and education opportunities that must enhance force development, must be purposeful and managed. The basic course must set the foundation and be critical to developing logistics readiness core competencies. Further, the intermediate LRO course should expand knowledge and shift the focus from flight to squadron level processes and bridge the gap between CGO and FGO, preparing an LRO for squadron leadership.

Once the two course outlines were completed our task became to lay out the LRO force development vision from acquisition of a new lieutenant to the senior leader. The team looked to AFIT/LS to provide an introductory web-based course to ensure all new lieutenants would understand basic universal logistics themes before attending the basic LRO course at Lackland. We are looking to adapt our web-based LOG 099 Fundamentals of Logistics to meet this requirement. AFIT/LS also fits into continuing education for LROs with our live courses that further broaden knowledge in our three basic competencies: Material Management, Contingency Ops, and Distribution.

AFIT/LS has a big part to play in the development of the Logistics Readiness Officer and we stand ready to meet the requirements to educate the logistics career field and ensure the success of the logistics education plan.