NATO Logistics Handbook October 1997

Chapter 4: Determination of Logistic Requirements and Logistic Support Bi-MNC Reporting 414. New force structures in NATO and the changes in its security environment since 1990 necessitated the revision of the logistic information exchange requirements within ACE and ACLANT. In addition, logistics lessons learned from Implementation Force/Stabilization Force (IFOR/SFOR) commitment and new logistics policies and concepts for joint and/or combined missions for both MNCs to include possibly non-NATO nations highlighted the need for an updated reporting system. 415. Common efforts with SACLANT were undertaken to harmonize the ACE Reporting System with the Maritime Reporting System (MARREP). In logistics, as a first result of the revision of AD80-50, Volume 6, Logistics Reporting and MARREP, Chapter 4 the new Bi-MNC Reporting Directive (Bi-MNC REPDIR), Volume V, Logistics Reports is effective since 1st January 1997. The classification of the directive is NATO UNCLASSIFIED/PfP RELEASABLE to meet the upcoming information exchange requirements. 416. Volume V of the Bi-MNC Reporting Directive is reflective of the mandatory reporting requirements to be fulfilled for logistics management: The reporting system must provide timely and real time data to overcome the gap between "as of" and submission of routine logistics reports. The reporting system must be flexible for use in any operation. Logistics reports must be available prior to TOA to allow for proper planning by the NATO commander. The reporting system must be adaptable by Partnership for Peace (PfP) non-NATO nations. 417. The new logistic reporting system is intended to facilitate the flow of information between all levels of command within NATO and with MODs and national headquarters. Its procedures and formats are applicable to all services - Air, Army, Maritime - in peace, crisis, war and operations other than war, and also allow easy adoption by non-NATO nations, when required. The reduced number of report formats and titles is to cover the information from all logistic functional areas, including medical and movements, by using the same formats for the same or similar information requested at different command levels. Mission tailored and streamlined reporting on a need-to-know basis will provide visibility of the mission related logistics situation for the commander, reduce the overflow of information and gain more effectiveness of the reporting system. 418. The majority of the logistics reports in Volume V are to provide an assessment of logistics capabilities and concerns to a NATO Commander, or to exchange information with nations for logistics management by the Bi-MNC Logistics Coordination Centre (Bi-MNCLCC). A special report in Volume V is the so-called LOGUPDATE, which is in general replacing all former statistical reports like logistics paragraphs in DPQ responses from nations or PSC unit level information. The benefit of the LOGUPDATE depends on the installation of the communication links between the NATO and national headquarters in support of LOGBASE, the MNC core database. LOGBASE with its modules ACROSS, ADAMS and LOGREP is planned to be populated with all the logistics related data of formations assigned to NATO plans by nations. This will be done via the LOGUPDATE report and by using the revised Reportable Item Code (RIC), where applicable. The RIC system is harmonized between the tri-services to operate all items, equipment and assets in LOGBASE and to facilitate reporting mission related items. REFERENCES MC 55/3 Readiness and Sustainability Factors MNC Stockpile Planning Guidance for Land and Air Forces MNC Stockpile Planning Guidance for Maritime Forces Bi-MNC Reporting Directive, Volume V, Logistics Reports