Logisticians
Background
In order for the military to operate successfully, the proper materials, equipment, and people need to be in the right place at the right time. In developing their plans, logisticians take into account maintenance and scheduling considerations, and cost factors. Some logisticians specialize in an area such as aviation logistics. Logisticians develop, review, and implement plans for coordinating many different variables, such as requirements for and availability of supplies, equipment, personnel, and transportation.
What They Do
Logisticians in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Coordinate transportation and maintenance schedules for the safe deployment of personnel and materials
- Coordinate with other groups to ensure the continued flow of materials and personnel
- Distribute and dispose of resources
- Negotiate and buy goods and services
- Track inventory levels, process orders, and help determine when to make purchases
- Use computers and mathematical models to predict and solve logistical problems
Physical Demands
No information available.
Special Requirements
A four-year college degree is normally required to enter this career.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to coordinate the efforts of multiple individuals or groups
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely
- Interest in solving problems
Helpful School Subjects
No information available.
Helpful Fields of Study
Helpful fields of study include:
- Business administration
- Management
- Operations research
- Public administration
- Resource allocation
- Statistics
Work Environment
Logisticians normally work in offices, although they may also work in a variety of other locations depending on their assignment.
Services offering this career:
- Air Force
- Army
- Marine Corps
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for officers.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Training consists of eight to 12 weeks of classroom exercises and practical exercises. Course content typically includes:
- Purchasing and contracting
- Resource allocation
- Transportation and personnel coordination
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian logisticians work in all types of public and private organizations from hospitals to large manufacturing companies. They perform duties similar to those of military logisticians. Civilian logisticians may also be called logistics engineers, logistics analysts, and logistics planners.
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 1,000 logisticians. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new logisticians due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, logisticians are normally assigned to a logistics unit where they use and refine their purchasing, allocation, and coordination skills. In time, they may advance to senior management positions.