The United States Marine Corps Deploys Comprehensive Oracle Solution to Create a Global Combat Support System

The United States Marine Corps (www.usmc.mil/Pages/Default.aspx) (U.S. Marine Corps), one of seven uniformed services in the United States, has implemented an integrated suite of Oracle solutions to support its supply and maintenance system – connecting Marine units in the field with supporting units to more effectively track, transport and deliver support to Marine Corps Operating Forces deployed and in garrison. The U.S. Marine Corps worked with Oracle Consulting on the implementation.

The U.S. Marine Corps implemented the Oracle E-Business Suite (www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/ebusiness/index.html) , including Oracle Financial Management (www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/ebusiness/financials/053262.html) , Oracle Purchasing (www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/ebusiness/procurement/053979.html) , Oracle Mobile Field Service (www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/ebusiness/service/051364.html) and Oracle Supply Chain Planning (www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/ebusiness/scm/index.html) . In addition to its Oracle E-Business Suite applications, the U.S. Marine Corps deployed Oracle Fusion Middleware (www.oracle.com/us/products/middleware/index.html) , Oracle WebLogic Server Management Pack (www.oracle.com/us/products/enterprise-manager/039538.pdf) , Oracle XML Gateway (download.oracle.com/docs/cd/A91202_01/901_doc/appdev.901/a88894/adx17gat.htm) , Oracle Business Process Management (www.oracle.com/us/technologies/bpm/index.html) , Oracle Business Activity Monitoring (www.oracle.com/us/products/middleware/application-server/business-activity-monitoring-066589.html) , Oracle Web Services Manager (www.oracle.com/us/products/middleware/identity-management/oracle-web-services-mgr/index.html) and Oracle Advanced Queuing (www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/features/data-integration/oracle-aq-tech-wp11-2-191324.pdf) via a Federated Private Cloud.

The system – Global Combat Support System – Marine Corps/Logistics Chain Management (GCSS-MC/LCM) – provides war fighters worldwide with uniform logistics capabilities and enables other U.S. Department of Defense agencies to leverage its capabilities. In the future, by consolidating 200 legacy IT systems with Oracle, members of the Marines logistics community will have a single source of integrated information across the supply chain – enabling more informed decisions and eliminating the need to reconcile conflicting data in multiple systems. GCSS-MC/LCM also improves the U.S. Marine Corps' ability to provide supply, maintenance, engineering, transportation and health services to 200,000 Marines.

Using Oracle Supply Chain Planning, the U.S. Marine Corps has reduced requisition request cycle time by 80 percent, from three days to 10 minutes. It also has enabled Marines providing combat service support to manage inventory and services more proactively. For example, Marines are able to observe when the stock level of a specific product drops and automatically place an order to replenish it. Further, the U.S. Marine Corps has improved its ability to create timely and reliable documentation on repairs and maintenance of military equipment. This helps the U.S. Marine Corps to make necessary repairs in a timelier manner, ultimately reducing costs and ensuring proper equipment performance.

After the recent earthquake and tsunami in mainland Japan, GCSS-MC/LCM made its first appearance in a forward environment in Atsugi, Japan.  While helping the Japanese prepare for recovery efforts, the U.S. Marine Corps was able to order and receive supplies in just three days – two days faster than with the previous system.  GCSS-MC/LCM also provides the U.S. Marine Corps with a 24-hour help desk for all users, which proved invaluable in Japan.

The U.S. Marine Corps has also been named a finalist for the 2011 Carl E. Nelson Best Practices Award in the large company category by AIIM's Emerging Technology Advisory Group (EmTAG) for its GCSS-MC/LCM program.  The award recognizes the leaders, the innovators and dedicated members of the AIIM community.  The GCSS-MC/LCM program has also received recognition as a finalist for the 2011 Excellence.Gov Awards, which acknowledge and recognize government programs that use IT to advance the business of government in an effective, efficient and innovative manner. 

“Oracle Fusion Middleware and the Oracle E-Business Suite provide a scalable and highly reliable foundation for the new mission-essential U.S. Marine Corps Global Combat Support System. With Oracle, we have improved combat service support to U.S. Marine Corps operational forces by using industry-standard information technology that modernizes customer information technology and logistic chain processes,” said Dan Corbin, program manager, U.S. Marine Corps Global Combat Support System.

“Using Oracle applications and technology, the U.S. Marine Corps is able to improve combat effectiveness through an integrated, near real-time logistics system. We look forward to continuing to work with the U.S. Marine Corps to improve the readiness of our nation's forces,” said Mark Johnson, senior vice president, Oracle Public Sector.

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