The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Analysis Center (DAC) Sustainment Division (SD) recently visited Baltimore, Maryland to tour the Motor Vessel (MV) Gary I Gordon, a Ready Reserve Vessel Large Medium Speed Roll On Roll Off ship. The vessel is currently contractor maintained for the government while not activated. The SD conducts staff rides to battlefields and various locations, which help facilitate analysis through professional development. Drawing parallels to this ship tour, analysts in the SD work with Army Prepositioned Stocks (APS) stored on ships. While analysis can be performed with data, having real-world visual experiences, if possible, provides analysts with a perspective on what they are conducting analysis on. In the case of APS, the visualization of what the SD analysts see on the ship provides real-world perspective regarding storage space, tiedown capabilities, and care of supply in storage. In addition, the SD has a Power and Energy team that works with Army Watercraft, given the increased emphasis on watercraft-providing logistics in the case of potential future conflicts. DAC is in the process of evaluating watercraft fuel and energy consumption models, as well as expanding simulation capabilities to address future operational environments. Gaining insights into contemporary military vessels and exploring their historical operations through staff rides, enhances analytical accuracy and aids in bolstering readiness and making informed acquisition decisions.
