Guangzhou MAC organizes field support drill

A comprehensive logistics support drill under information-based condition was launched in midsummer on a drill ground in east Guangdong province. Upon the start of the drill, the information of support needs such as fuel replenishment, food supply and ammunition transportation flooded the logistics command center of a mechanized infantry division under the Guangzhou Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The reporters noticed it only took less than 20 minutes for various support groups to allocate required materials in place precisely after they received the information.

According to Dai Huan, chief of staff of the Headquarters of the Joint Logistics Department under the Guangzhou MAC who was also on the scene to supervise the operations, due to the sudden occurrence and a trend to quick completion of future wars, the future logistics support features emergency-response characteristics. It is necessary to achieve high efficiency of emergency support by means of quick planning, quick decision-making and quick dispatch in a bid to fulfill emergency support missions in the shortest time possible.

The reporters saw at the division's logistics command center that the center is capable for accurate support of rationing amounts of fuel and artillery shells by quantitative analysis of the supply situation of the ammunition and fuel amounts for each tactical aspect against the possible "enemy" situation encountered by the troop units at various levels.

"The logistics support force is also prone to losses, and even severe losses," said Yu Shuzhong, chief of staff of a logistics sub-department under the Guangzhou MAC which participated in the drill. "Therefore, we have established logistics reserve troop units with various specialties to directly supplement the troop units for implementing support missions in the form of personnel and equipment integration, so that the logistic capability suffering losses can quickly recover," he added.

According to Yu, they also adopt military and civilian integration, organize special emergency rescue and repair forces, and reserve complete sets and spare parts of logistic equipment so as to enhance the logistics support regeneration capacity.