ASC's LOGCAP support comes to an end in Iraq

By Galen Putnam, ASC Public AffairsApril 11, 2014

ASC's LOGCAP support comes to an end in Iraq
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Food service is a crucial service provided by LOGCAP. Under LOGCAP, 88.6 million bags of laundry have been cleaned, 1.2 billion meals prepared, 239.7 million patrons visited MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) facilities, 471.7 million pounds of mai... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ASC's LOGCAP support comes to an end in Iraq
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fire protection is an important service provided by LOGCAP. Under LOGCAP, 88.6 million bags of laundry have been cleaned, 1.2 billion meals prepared, 239.7 million patrons visited MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) facilities, 471.7 million pounds ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ASC's LOGCAP support comes to an end in Iraq
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Bil Gurung, an employee of KBR subcontractor Prime Project International, begins his shift at the Main Laundry Facility at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Under LOGCAP, 88.6 million bags of laundry have been cleaned, 1.2 billion meals prepared, 239.7 million... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ASC's LOGCAP support comes to an end in Iraq
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- The program in Iraq that sustained the U.S. military and later the U.S. Department of State, has come to a close.

"Now that the Department of State has had the opportunity to put systems in place to provide for their sustainment needs, LOGCAP IV [Logistics Civil Augmentation Program IV] ended its support to the Department of State March 31," said Matt Sannito, acting program manager for LOGCAP.

LOGCAP IV was implemented in January 2012, to achieve a seamless transfer from the Department of Defense to the DoS's Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq mission. The last U.S. military units departed Iraq in December 2011. The DoS mission started in January 2012.

Established in 1985, the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program was developed as a means of leveraging civilian resources in order to provide a broad range of logistics and support services to U.S. and allied forces. This capability supports the military during wartime, contingency, peacekeeping, humanitarian and training operations.

LOGCAP first went into Iraq during the summer of 2003.

"When the war in Iraq began, the military entered the conflict with some basic capabilities in the organic force structure, utilizing troop capabilities to provide basic sustainment and base life support," Sannito said. "But as time went on it was determined that troops would be better served performing critical combat missions with the logistics side of operations handled separately.

Typically, the DoS relies heavily on host nation support for sustainment and logistics. They tend to operate in generally stable countries that can provide the support they need. In Iraq, they were faced with a new government. The infrastructure for commodities and basic sustainment needs was not well established.

"Given their structure, combined with what was still a very dynamic and volatile theater, the Department of State took a look at DOD and LOGCAP capabilities," Sannito said. "They needed the reliability of the DOD network with its various safeguards, such as ensuring that the fuel was tested properly, food and water inspection was to standard and that force protection needs were met."

LOGCAP evolved through four iterations during its eight-plus years in Iraq. During that time the program accounted for the following:

• 27.7 billion gallons of water produced

• 8 billion gallons of fuel issued (bulk/retail)

• 1.2 billion meals prepared

• 471.7 million pounds of mail handled

• 239.7 million Morale, Welfare & Recreation facility patron visits

• 268.5 million tons of ice produced

• 175.2 million miles driven in support of forces

• 88.6 million bags of laundry cleaned

"There are some things that LOGCAP could do that very few, if any, other programs or capabilities could," Sannito said. "LOGCAP's ability to provide support with ease, fluidity and flexibility made it a uniquely capable program."

Under LOGCAP, contractors from the private sector provide a broad range of logistics and support services to U.S. and allied forces during combat, peacekeeping, humanitarian and training operations. LOGCAP is managed by Army Sustainment Command, headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill.

Related Links:

Rock Island Arsenal Homepage

Army Sustainment Command homepage

Army Sustainment Command Facebook page

Army Sustainment Command Flickr page

Army Sustainment Command You Tube page