FORD ISLAND, Hawaii - Military logistics leaders and stakeholders from across the Pacific theater met at Pearl Harbor April 11 for an event designed to improve coordination, synchronization and assessment of sustainment requirements for future contingencies in the region.
The daylong event, called a theater sustainment rehearsal-of-concept (known as ROC) drill, took place at Ford Island's Pacific Warfighting Center. It was sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command and hosted by U.S. Army Pacific and the 8th Theater Sustainment Command.
"You are the professionals at this business," said USARPAC commander Gen. Vincent Brooks during opening remarks. "Our task is to make this time count and look at the challenges that are out there. My challenge (to you) is to take these things and wrestle with them."
Brooks noted that the drill should provide a better understanding of sustainment capabilities as well as responsibilities in the theater.
As the day progressed, different agencies took turns around a large floor map as they discussed how to "set the theater" in the event of different contingencies and operations. Face-to-face interaction allowed multiple stakeholders to identify problems and propose solutions on-the-spot.
"It has been an excellent team effort across 40 agencies," said Maj. Gen. Stephen Lyons, 8th TSC commander. "It takes a community effort."
Sharing information in this forum allowed different agencies to identify gaps and assist U.S. Pacific Command in formulating priorities for the future. It also helped all stakeholders build a common understanding of requirements to improve sustainment operations overall.
"All attendees gained a better understanding of the complex challenges that currently exist and are moving forward to further plan and lead change," said Maj. Jason Berdou, 8th TSC Commander's Initiative Group. "By placing the specific senior logisticians from across the joint community with enterprise partners that have industrial ties in the same room, USPACOM and supporting agencies gained the much-needed momentum and synergy to discuss and capture key takeaways that will pave the way on creating solution sets for the future."
He said the event was very beneficial because general and flag officers from different services do not often get to interact as a group due to geography, space, and time differences.
In addition to key generals and admirals in the room, approximately 250 service members from all the services ranging from operations, logistics, and planning fields also attended the TSR, with additional external locations tied in by VTC and computer.
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