How is the article not very encouraging?
From my experience, logistics is not war-gamed in the traditional sense. In 1973 I was part of a high-level logistics exercise at HQMC in Quantico. It concentrated on all levels coordinating with each other with problems thrown in so they had to make adjustments. The exercise was about the logistics of supporting the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions in an amphibious assault of N. Vietnam.
The finale was held on the basketball court with the floor taped off for different landing and support zones and with different types and colors of wooden ship miniatures. There were no field exercises to my knowledge.
During the Gulf War, the Marines called out-of-retirement Colonels who had extensive experience during the VN war supervising the logistics of getting equipment from the US to VN, and acted as "consultants" to logistics units that had never performed such operations in war time. I would assume they'd do it again if needed.
I met ret Col Tim Barrick and attended some of his presentations. He also goes out in the field during war games and exercises in addition to supervising the War Lab.
My son who is a Marine SigInt Operator until 2017, just returned from 18 months in Ukraine as a Legion volunteer with Spec Ops units. He met Col Barrick and wants him to review the training simulations because he helped pioneer the development and use of drones and EW while working with the highest levels of Ukrainian intel. The fact that he's willing to listen to a junior enlisted Marine means he's not a know it all.
High-level simulations and wargames often give the wrong feedback and results because it may make some high-ranging officers look bad.
I can't find much on high-level simulations in the lab for logistics but the units themselves are always conducting exercises in the US and overseas. They are making adjustments to support Force 2030.
Col Barrick developed a board wargame that is being used by mid-level officers:
Video: YouTube link
Assassin's Mace: link
Littoral Combat – lessons learned by war gaming: link
Personally, I would not worry about the Marine logistics. However, they should worry about the Sealift Command: link
The journalist should have interviewed Col Barrick.
Wolfhag
