In an era where the pace of Naval operations is accelerating and the battlespace is increasingly contested; logistics has become more than a support function - it is a strategic capability. With resounding support, Navy Supply Corps School (NSCS) has responded decisively to this reality by replacing the outdated Introduction to Expeditionary Logistics (IEL) course with a new, forward-looking program: Introduction to Maritime Logistics Planning (LogPlans). This transition marks a significant shift toward preparing Navy logisticians to think, plan and lead at the Operational Level of War (OLW) - from the very outset of their careers.
This transformation was not driven by a single mission, platform or region, but by a broader and more enduring goal: establish a new cultural norm within the Supply Corps. One that embraces proactive planning, critical integration with warfighting staffs and a shared responsibility for enabling maritime power. The modern fleet requires logisticians who are not only tactically competent but fluent operationally; staff members who can contribute meaningfully to campaign planning and ensure that logistics are fully embedded in the fight from the beginning.
Fleet feedback made this need abundantly clear. Active duty and reserve stakeholders consistently expressed that the previous IEL course no longer aligned with the real-world challenges faced by logistics officers. The theme of IEL was “down and in” tactical logistics, while the identified training need was for “up and out” operational logistics. It was built to prepare Sailors for land-based expeditionary Individual Augmentee (IA) assignments, rather than equipping them with the tools and mindset required for planning in distributed, contested maritime environments. Over time, the requirement changed; as do we. LogPlans is doctrine-driven, fleet-informed and deliberately structured to cultivate the capabilities the Navy needs now and in the future.
LogPlans is also designed to be taken early in a logistician’s career, when foundational habits and professional identities are still forming. This deliberate timing ensures that students gain exposure to the Navy Planning Process (NPP) and can develop the language, logic and discipline of operational planning before stepping into roles where these skills are essential. From the outset, they are taught to think beyond the unit level and to consider how logistics shapes operations, affects the battlespace and influences outcomes.
However, any time is a good time to attend.
Capt. Sean Hewitt, Commanding Officer of Navy Reserve NAVSUP Operations and one of the key developers of the course says, "The course is most effective around the O-3 level, when officers begin expanding their knowledge beyond the tactical. While Reservists may not hold Operational Level of War billets until O-5, the course was designed with O-3s in mind to benefit both active and reserve components.”
Central to the course is student engagement with NTTP 5-04.1, Navy Planning Logistics, which is the doctrinal framework that integrates logistics into the operational art of warfare. Three key concepts from NTTP 5-04.1 form the backbone of the curriculum: 1. Operational reach, which determines the force's ability to project and sustain combat power; 2. Sustainment planning, which focuses on anticipating needs and aligning resources to mission phases; and 3. The development of a Concept for Logistics Support (COLS), which defines how logistics supports the commander’s campaign objectives from shaping to post-conflict.
Importantly, this is not a passive, lecture-based course. LogPlans culminates in a hands-on, immersive practical exercise, where students simulate participation in an Operational Planning Team (OPT). They apply doctrine and critical thinking in real-time to develop and brief a complete COLS under time constraints and with peer collaboration. This exercise not only reinforces planning principles but builds the essential skills of time-pressured teamwork, creative and critical thinking, and operational-level briefing and communication which skills that are vital to success on fleet and joint planning staffs.
LogPlans represents a deliberate shift - a redefining of what it means to be a Supply Corps officer in the 21st-century Navy. It is a commitment to relevance not tied to a specific mission set, but to a broader mindset: that logistics is not just support - it is strategy.
This course is a foundational step toward building a corps of logisticians who see themselves not as merely responders, but as engaged enablers of operational success.
In its infancy, LogPlans was reviewed as valuable by several students. A U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps captain said LogPlans offered “great insight for real-world logistics and planning.” He added, “Coming from the medical side, it was great to see the bigger picture.”
And this is only the beginning.
LogPlans is designed as a living curriculum, one that will continue to evolve in step with the operational environment and the needs of the fleet. NSCS remains committed to refining and enhancing the course based on ongoing feedback and emerging challenges, ensuring that it remains both current and ready.
While developed by the Supply Corps, LogPlans is not limited to supply officers. The course is highly relevant to Navy Senior Enlisted logisticians, whose leadership and planning responsibilities continue to grow as careers progress. Moreover, Navy Line Officers — Surface Warfare Officers, Aviators, etc. — can benefit from understanding how logistics integrates with operational design and decision-making. Officer and Senior Enlisted logistics professionals from all services will find value in learning how the Navy plans sustainment in a joint maritime fight.
The course runs over a two-week period and is conducted in-residence at NSCS in Newport, Rhode Island — a locale steeped in naval heritage and dedicated to professional excellence. This immersive setting fosters focused learning and peer engagement, helping students build lasting connections with fellow logisticians from across the force.
For those interested in shaping the future of naval logistics, Introduction to Maritime Logistics Planning is available in the Catalog of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC) library under CDP: 07MS / A-8B-0055.
The foundation is set. The standard is rising. The culture is shifting. The Navy needs its logisticians to think and act differently. The call to service has never been clearer. We look forward to seeing you in our classroom.
