The United States Army's Army After Next (AAN) Battle Force (BF) maintenance support concept reduces maintenance personnel to cut the BF from its logistical tail. As this concept evolves over the coming years the question is can the maintenance support to the AAN BF remain functional and effective as in the TRADOC AAN support concept? As the Army begins to analyze and possibly implement organizational structures and procure equipment to support this concept it enters into an area of high risk. In view of the dollar cost and long range consequences for future army readiness it is appropriate that the Army take a critical look at the maintenance support concept for the AAN today. The AAN maintenance support concept is critically analyzed against the seven logistics principles of responsiveness, simplicity, flexibility, economy, attainability, sustainability and survivability contained in Joint Pub 4.0. This concept is examined against these principles to determine its compatibility with each. These principles are recognized Army wide as the keystone to logistical operations. Analysis reveals that the maintenance support concept for the AAN BF does not support the seven logistics principles. This monograph comes to four basic conclusions. First, the concept's inherent cost may be too prohibitive for its total implementation. Second, the technology described in the concept may not be available by the year 2025. Third, the concept's technological advantages may be too short lived, or even illusionary, to warrant it's cost. Lastly the reliance on technology may limit its use and over expose its vulnerabilities.

ADA 366227 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)