Force Sustainment;

The Navy's ability to move and sustain U.S. forces overseas by strategic sealift is another unique role. Equipment, ordnance, and supplies needed to conduct any sizeable projection of joint military power must move by sea. During the 1990-1991 Gulf War, nearly 95% of all material, supplies, and equipment sent to the combat theater — and returned to the United States once peace was restored — was carried in ships. Sealift is vital to Army and Air Force regional operations, as these services are almost totally dependent upon the "steel bridge" of sealift ships to deliver everything a modern fighting force requires to accomplish its missions. Similarly, the Marine Corps Assault Follow-On Echelon (AFOE) is carried exclusively by sealift. Forward-deployed and prepositioned ships continue to be an essential alert force, constituting a valuable tool for deterrence as well as for an initial ground assault. Follow-on surge sealift ensures timely deployment of U.S.-based units, while sealift sustainment forces will resupply deployed forces for as long as needed.

The Navy's ability to protect sea lanes and ports of debarkation, and thus to ensure the unfettered flow of supplies and equipment, is a critical factor in the success of an expeditionary operation. As the number of U.S. bases overseas continues to decline, reliance on sealift will expand commensurately. The continued ability to move and sustain forces in forward areas increasingly will be a critical gauge of the Navy's ability to meet joint overseas commitments.

Tomorrow's Navy-Marine Corps Team will continue to be called upon to sustain a meaningful presence in important world regions. Force sustainment encompasses the comprehensive and responsive logistic support system that includes air and sealift, replenishment ships, mobile repair facilities, and advanced logistics support hubs. This capability underpins the Navy's future ability to operate worldwide. Assets and capabilities that provide the ability to move and sustain naval and other U.S. forces at great distances from America's shores include:

· Combat Logistics Force (CLF) ships

· Strategic sealift ships and assets (both MSC and commercial assets)

· Forward Logistic Support Sites (FLSS)

· Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS)

Under the Large Medium-Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) program, the Navy is building or converting a total of 19 heavy sealift ships, which will preposition Army heavy combat equipment in forward areas and provide additional surge sealift capability in time of crisis. The Navy is also pursuing the Maritime Prepositioning Force-Enhanced (MPF-E) program, which will add three ships to the current force of 13 MPF ships. These ships will expand the capabilities of the current Maritime Prepositioning Squadrons, adding a fleet hospital, Seabee battalion assets, expeditionary airfield, MEF headquarters, and additional sustainment.

Through the National Defense Features Program, the Navy is paying to install militarily useful features on commercially owned and operated merchant ships. In return, ship operators agree to make these ships immediately available for Defense Department use in a contingency.