With Great Change Should Come Great Planning

U.S. strategists have refocused a majority of our nation’s attention onto the happenings within the Pacific region. As a rising global economic heartland, China and the surrounding countries receive a significant portion of attention. By adding in potential national security threats, it leaves America with only one logical response, ever rising interest.

C-2A Aircraft

Given the nature of the area, the United States has seen fit for the Navy and Marine Corps to take the brunt of traffic within the region. Their use of floating sea bases highlights the need for mobility and flexibility within the Pacific environment, but do these abilities come at a cost? One can imagine that supplying not only an increasing number of people in the Pacific, but individuals out at sea and potentially in changing locations. The military logistics necessary for such an operation is extensive.

For the past fifty years, the United States Navy has been utilizing the C-2A Greyhound. This propeller driven airframe is capable to land on and take off from an aircraft carrier, and does so often to distribute supplies executing their mission of carrier onboard delivery. From a single aircraft carrier, the planes are able to hit smaller warships and shore bases to transfer and deliver supplies.

Unfortunately, the fleet of C-2A’s are reaching their end of their lifetime within the next decade. There is potential to renovate the planes with new wings and engines to extend their lifetime to beyond 2040, but the Navy has recently considered procuring the V-22 Osprey as a replacement aircraft to accomplish the mission.

The V-22 Osprey

Benefits of switching to the Osprey are significant and include the versatility to land on almost any ship in the Navy with their vertical launch capability, increased range, and increased cargo space. The versatility of the Osprey to accomplish other types of missions also increases its attraction as the fiscal situation continues to worsen.

However, what would the effect be on the logistical situation within the Pacific. Utilizing the GTSR concept, the changes will be quite significant. The need to first procure and build an entire fleet of Ospreys may be too large of an undertaking for the Navy now. Add in the need for properly trained pilots and maintenance crews, which will require serious time investments, and the likelihood drops even more. Different transportation networks will need to be evaluated and developed not only for the actual missions of the Osprey, but also for needs such as sending out spare parts in order to fix the aircrafts. The needs for sustaining the Osprey will be drastically different as a newer aircraft, as well as a more complex one. The sustainment of the C-2A’s has been proven repeatedly to be possible given their long term of service. Will the Osprey be able to perform as well?

Adding to the GTSR needs of the new aircraft is the concept of a logistical snowball. Clear examinations will be necessary to determine potential consequences of procuring the new aircraft. Buying the V-22’s will bring more individuals as pilots and maintenance men, greater need for training, a new repair parts distribution system, and other potential needs. This may create an even greater logistical need than what is currently being faced.

Will the efficiency and versatility of the Osprey be enough to attract the navy during times of fiscal scarcity?

Knock Knock, China...It's 'Murica

Following World War II, The United States left the Philippines in order to give back the nation that had been hosting them for the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). With Japan defeated and the Cold War looming on the footsteps for the Americans, it was a better decision to pull back and establish our  military forces somewhere else. Years later, the United States Government, along with the Department of Defense, is planning to push large numbers of troops back to some of the bases within the Philippines, which have not been occupied in approximately 20 years. Their purpose? Among other reasons, these forces are being sent in order to retain close proximity to the mighty powerhouse that is China.

Sierra Madre Ship in Second Thomas Shoal

Washington's move came through agreement with the Philippine government on March 14th and was a major production in accordance with the pivot in the Asia-Pacific Region. Recently, China has had disputes with Manila (part of the Philippines) and instead of simply allowing possibly violent acts to continue, they are arming themselves with allies that could potentially deter any further Chinese violence. The dispute between the two nations currently resides over a scuttled ship in the Second Thomas Shoals. This all began when a Philippine ship entered the South China Sea (where this boat has been stranded for 20 years) and attempted to board and resupply it. Government officials within the two nations are having trouble coming to an agreement on whether or not it was a breach of territory.

So, where does this leave the United States? Is this something that we want to delve into? What pro's and con's erupt from possibly redeploying troops to some of the bases within the Philippine Islands?

Clark Air Base, 1989

 
Strategically, Washington completely accepts and plans on taking advantage of this opportunity to increase American Influence within the Asia-Pacific Area. The pivot-hold that can be gained in the Philippines is incredibly important to American interest and also gives support to the Philippines with respect to their own nation's sovereignty against possible outside threats. In the G-T-S-R model, all four components are increased for the United States. By occupying key areas on the Philippine archipelago such as:  Manila, Clark, Palawan, Cebu, Nueva Ecija, and La Union, the ability for generation of force will be greatly magnified. Transportation within the region will require a large naval force and will need to be supported by control of surrounding waters. The United States retrieval of Subic Bay, a naval base established in WWII, will allow for a great naval foothold where supplies can be shipped in and out of. The sustainment and redeployment efforts will also receive much appreciation just because of how centrally located the Philippines are within the Indian Ocean and other notable seas nearby.

Subic Bay - Philippine Islands

The bottom line is simple. The United States is supporting one of its allies by re-allocating forces in order to support an overall good. In doing that, they are also expanding their national power by regaining land that outstretches common U.S. boundaries. The position in the Asia-Pacific region will require some initial work in order to get all of the necessary supplies where they are needed but after this initial "push" of supplies the region will be able to supply, sustain and continue to redeploy. With the support of the Philippine government, the United States can avoid having any growing pains such as they did during Vietnam when they had to deal with a foreign nation who was in fact very apprehensive in the U.S. utilization of their port in Saigon. Cooperation is crucial to the success of this foreign "base," for the Americans.

Looking to the future, the innovation of establishing a base that can operate in foreign waters gives great power to the United States. However, this power could be conceived as problematic when it comes to foreign relations with China. How will China respond to the U.S. involvement? How long will the United States remain in the Philippines? These questions will be answered in the coming weeks and months when further planning is established and when initial movement is enacted. We will look to see the reaction of China and other surrounding countries as these events unfold.