Defense Primer: Department of Defense Pre-Positioned Materiel (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Dec. 12, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IF11699 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Maureen Trujillo, G. James Herrera |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
-
Premium Revised Aug. 23, 2024 (3 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Dec. 23, 2022 (2 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Nov. 26, 2021 (3 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Dec. 9, 2020 (3 pages, $24.95)
add
|
Summary:
As part of its global posture, the Department of Defense
(DOD) maintains stocks of mission-essential equipment,
supplies, and munitions deemed sufficient to attain and
sustain strategic objectives in contingency plans. To
facilitate rapid deployment of U.S. forces during the initial
phases of operations, some of this materiel is pre-positioned
at or near points of planned use in specialized facilities (i.e.,
ashore) and dedicated ships (i.e., afloat).
Pre-positioned war reserve materiel (PWRM) reduces
demand for strategic airlift and sealift assets by locating
heavy and bulky materiel closer to the theater of operations.
It sustains warfighters while supply lines are established
and the industrial base surges production. PWRM may also
be used to signal U.S. intentions. Materiel stored overseas
may demonstrate commitment to allies and partners or
enhance the deterrence of potential adversaries. As stated in
the Army Operations Field Manual (FM 3-0), a robust
PWRM inventory is essential to providing credible support
to partner forces during a crisis. Accordingly, enhanced prepositioning of equipment, munitions, fuel, and materiel is a
core focus of both the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI)
and Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI).
During Operation Desert Shield in 1990-1991, PWRM
enabled the delivery of Marine Corps armored units to the
Persian Gulf one month before the arrival of other armored
units shipped from the United States, according to the
Congressional Budget Office. In 2022, DOD PWRM
equipped U.S. forces supporting the NATO Response Force
following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The effectiveness of large PWRM stocks, however, also
makes them potential priority targets for adversary longrange weapons in conflict scenarios. Responding to such
challenges, DOD’s Joint Concept for Logistics envisions a
“comprehensive array” of large and small PWRM stocks
that can be selectively accessed and quickly shifted between
theaters of operations, even in contested environments. In
2023, DOD officials began referencing the incorporation of
prepositioned stocks into a “Global Positioning Network”
to enable persistent campaigning in the Indo-Pacific.
