Do you think that Army Materiel Command is ready to assume responsibility for Class VIII, Medical Materiel?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 21:02:12 -0400

Caught a glimpse of a HQDA OPORD transferring all Medical Logistics assets to AMC effective 01 OCT 2018? I know the 90A think Logistics is Logistics and that Medical is not special. I began my Officer career in a Sustainment Brigade, home of the 90A. Now that I’m a 70K (MEDLOG) and have some broader experience in Medical Materiel Management, I’m concerned about how this change will affect my career field and if AMC is ready for the vast responsibility of managing the complex world of Medical Logistics. Thoughts from my 90A our there? Any 70K with some input?

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Oct 4 at 2018 9:22 PM

LTC Stephan Porter — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 21:22:19 -0400

Absolutely! They are nit just doing it blind, they are assuming control over the commands responsible for it. We will have to educate and make cogent, sensible arguments about why we do things. Ultimately, they notion that we are so very different will evaporate.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 4 at 2018 10:10 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 22:10:57 -0400

Yes - after all the Army used to do it before they got sidetracked by "cost considerations" then found out that the (lower) prices would keep rising till there was a negative saving as things became single order - sorry the patient died - don't need it now deals.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 4 at 2018 10:20 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 22:20:33 -0400

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member They got a big surprise when they ripped DOLs away from IMCOM circa 2012. They might be older and wiser.

There is an advantage to pooling the risk....although, I think DLA would be better postured and more in line with AMC's logic of DLA is the supply partner, AMC is the laying hands on stuff.

Risk pooling...if they manage all the stocks they can ensure no one goes zero balance and shift stock regionally to ensure the best use of the stock. They could also bulk buy at the national level and see savings without risking effectiveness. My history with this is the quality and stockage levels varied by whoever your 70Ks were and money the command would throw at it (or not). MES kits were not an issue unless you were on the patch chart or you got ganked on a CI. Sometimes you find out your C Co doesn't have squat and you have to rebuild. Others have too much. Then there is stock rotation as medical supplies, as opposed to A5 cards or transfer cases, expire.

Did the OPOrD say who owns the stock at what level? Is it like any other SSA where AMC owns it until it is issued to a unit...when they pay for it? Will the reps go through GCSS-A or through the Medlog sTAMIS? Will C Co still run the medlog section independent of the SSA?

When SARSS-O came and Then the change to the AWCF, AMC controlled the stock in SSAs...on paper. At the end of the day, the SSA was unit run for the unit (BCT). The reason why AMC wanted DOL was for the SSAs. IMCOM wisely said it's all or nuthin'.

What could suffer is Medical Officer Initiative. I know my C Co Commander in Afghanistan used to be a Med O in one of our BNs. He was carefully monitoring MEDEVAC and would know what they needed replenished. He would kit up a thoughtful speedball of class VIII and put it on the outbound bird going to get the causality. The medic would exchange the patient for class VIII. If they have to mother may I out of an AMC SSA, this may become an issue in the short run. It can be worked out.

Whose managing blood and blood products?

I would say the 70K is safe, as long as you and your peers provided value added on why and where items are stocked. AMC will want efficiency. Your units will want effectiveness.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2018 11:16 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 23:16:18 -0400

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member I recommend you doing a Right Sear Ride at either NTC or JRTC and observe how units prepared in terms of CLVIII, CLS, MES, how they conduct resupply, and just what is the medical LIS from MC4 to wholesale and determine for yourself the State of medical readiness within a BCT. And yes, logistics is logistics. Distribution operations may be your actual focus and area of concern. v/r

Response by LTC John Griscom made Oct 5 at 2018 7:41 AM

LTC John Griscom — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 07:41:56 -0400

We had problems during the Vietnam era with medical logistics being considered the same as routine supply. Medical logistics should always be a "stovepipe" system. The argument being you can deadline a vehicle, but you can't deadline a patient waiting for supplies to arrive.
In Korea in 1966, we had 50% of our requisitions delayed or lost due to computer system failures.
I could order emergency non-standard medical supplies in Vietnam and have them in hand in less than 48 hours

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 5 at 2018 8:12 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 08:12:40 -0400

Medical supplies are commodities like any other. They have handling instructions same as everything else. Of course AMC will need to get some folks who know about such things but I don't think that will be an issue.

Response by LTC Roy Mullis made Oct 29 at 2018 1:06 PM

LTC Roy Mullis — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 13:06:16 -0400

Being a retired career logistician with over 32 years experience. Working from the division, installation and DOD level commands with medical supply is a lot different than handling other classes of supplies that are not life and limb issues. My experience with DLA, in getting medical items through customs for the Iraq war and later in Afghanistan was invaluable in that I already understood the commodity, had already been overseas for numerous deployments and the misunderstanding of others that did not understand the urgency needed to push the item forward. AMC is not accustomed to dealing with this type of cargo as its is different than fuel, food or bullets. Hope all goes for those that are on the receiving end of wounds and injuries.