Annual Report 2004-05

Outcome Three: Army Capabilities

Capability Performance Information

Output 3.8 Capability for Operational Logistic Support to Land Forces

The operational logistic support to land forces capability contributes to the strategic tasks of defending Australia, contributing to the security of our immediate neighbourhood, supporting our wider interests and undertaking peacetime national tasks. It provides supply, transport, and health functions in support of combat operations. The operational logistic support to land forces capability provides forces at high to medium readiness. Small elements of the capability are held at high readiness to support the high readiness units in other outputs. The capability is grouped in the Logistic Support Force which is a brigade-sized organisation comprising Regular Army and Army Reserve units located throughout Australia.

	Performance Targets	Performance
	Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Partially Achieved. The capability provided significant support to forces deployed on operations throughout the reporting period in all theatres. Additionally, a substantial number of logistic personnel deployed to support relief operations in Sumatra, and to provide training for elements of the Iraqi Army. As a result of the continued support to operations and personnel shortfalls in critical trades, the capability was unable to meet all preparedness requirements as directed in the military response options and will require remediation in 2005-06.
	Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Partially Achieved. Operational deployments, limited exercise opportunities, and personnel deficiencies in a number of key trades affected the achievement of all training requirements.
	Logistic Support Force and its integral logistic support units including: - two logistic force headquarters; - two signals squadrons; - a petroleum company; - a recovery company; - two regular Army and one Army Reserve force support battalions; - a deployed forces support unit; - three health support battalions; and - a psychology unit.	This target was partially achieved. The logistic support capability had insufficient personnel and equipment to achieve all of the tasks required of it. A reduced yet credible level of capability was maintained.