Survey of Current US Army POL Doctrine, Procedures, Personnel, and Equipment for the Supply and Inland Distribution of Bulk POL

The Army is responsible for inland distribution of bulk POL to all Services. The Army's forecasted requirements for POL have increased significantly. Under Airland Battle and Army 21 concepts, POL requirements will increase further. Eighty to ninety percent of POL units assigned responsibility for POL supply are in the Reserve and/or National Guard structure. Most of these units are undermanned, under trained and have critical shortage in POL vehicles and equipment. This study identified 19 specific problem areas and suggests corrective action to resolve some of the more critical problems. The second half of the report focuses on POL supply in the forward area of the battlefield. It provides a simplified methodology for computing and/or estimating fuel requirements based on the percentage of cross-country versus secondary road travel a tank battalion may experience in a particular operation. Potential areas for future US Army Human Engineering Laboratory effort are also identified.