STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Department of Military Management
DEFM314
Military Logistics
3 Credit Hours
8 Weeks
Table of Contents
Instructor Information
Course Description
Course Scope
Course Objectives
Course Delivery Method
Evaluation Procedures
Grading Scale
Course Outline
Policies
Academic Services
Course Materials
Selected Bibliography
Instructor Information
Instructor:
Email:
Table of Contents
Course Description
This course is a survey of the role of logistics in support of war fighting from ancient times to the
present. Students will analyze these war fighting efforts in terms of principles of logistics.
Table of Contents
Course Scope
Through readings and individual research, the student will gain a basic understanding of the role
of logistics in military operations and the principles of logistic support.
Table of Contents
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Course Objectives
 Discuss the history of warfare logistics
 Explain the emergence of Modern Warfare
 Understand the unique issues of overseas warfare
 Describe the logistics of Global Warfare
 Understand logistics in peace and war
 Identify principles of logistics
 Review Middle Eastern logistics
 Evaluate leadership and logistics from previous wars
 Describe continuity of change in logistics
Table of Contents
Course Delivery Method
This B.A. in Military Management course delivered via distance learning will enable students to
complete academic work in a flexible manner, completely online. Course materials and access to
an online learning management system will be made available to each student. Online
assignments are due by the last day of each week, (10pm Sunday EST), and include
Discussion Board questions (accomplished through a threaded discussion board), examinations
and quizzes (graded electronically), and individual assignments (submitted for review by the
Faculty Member). Assigned faculty will support the students throughout this eight-week course.
Table of Contents
Course Materials
Huston, James A. (1966). The Sinews of War: Army Logistics 1775-1953. Washington: Office of
the Chief of Military History.
Joint Publication 4-0: Doctrine for Logistic Support of Joint Operations. (2000, 6 April).
Available in the Course Materials section of the class and available for free download at:
http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp4_0.pdf
Table of Contents
Evaluation Procedures
Grade Instruments
Homework assignments
Points / % of Final Grade
70 / 25%
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Discussion Board Questions
One-page Abstract
Research paper
TOTAL
70 / 25%
10 / 10%
100 / 40%
250 / 100%
Homework assignments
You are required to answer weekly homework questions, found in the assignments section, with
a few paragraphs. The homework assignments will be graded based on content, understanding,
and timeliness.
Discussion Board Questions
Discussion board questions (also posted weekly) are worth a total of 25% of your grade at the
end of the course. Points will be deducted if questions are not posted in a timely manner.
Students are required to post their initial discussion board topics by 10pm EST Thursday. This
will allow for the student to respond to the posts of at least one other leaner by 10 pm EST
Sunday.
One-page Article Abstract
Each student is required to read one journal article on issues addressing Military Logistics. The
journals must be research oriented, such as those found at:
http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/periodicals/dodelecj.htm or related journals. This means the article
should be peer-reviewed, cite references, and have a bibliography at the end of the article. After
reading the article, you should prepare a one-page single-spaced abstract of the article and
provide the abstract, not the entire article, to the professor. At the beginning of your abstract
please include the bibliographic citation, in proper APA format. Your abstract should be
succinctly written in a descriptive and informative manner and not exceed one single-spaced
type-written page.
Research Paper
Each student will prepare a research paper on a Military Logistics issue of his or her choice.
However; regardless of the student preference, the professor must approve the topic. The
research paper should be 7-10 pages in length and include at least four bibliographic references
in addition to the course text. References should be listed at the end of the paper and should
follow American Psychological Association (APA) formatting. The APA web site can be
consulted for assistance. Some examples of topics are:
- Discuss fully the principles of Military Logistics. What is most important? What do
you think will become more important over the next two decades?
- Describe fully the policy-making process and the administrator’s role in military
logistics.
- Describe the major types of logistics relationships that exist today between previous
and current wars.
- Discuss the ethical problems in military logistics and the effects that it may have on
an organization.
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
- What can Commanders do to make their organizations logistically better?
- Explain the Lessons in Leadership and Logistics in organizations.
(Note: These are examples only. You should consider a research paper topic that will be of
benefit to you and your organization.)
Note to Students:
The University has a terrific Online Research Center (ORC). It is provided at no additional cost
to you and allows access to hundreds of articles and other resources. To access it, simply login
the APUS site and look to the left toolbars (before you enter the classroom). Simply click on the
ORC and the rest is intuitive! Try it – You will like it! Please use this site for your article search.
Note: There is no direct link to the ORC from the classroom.
To access the Online Research Center (ORC) from the campus, click on the top “Research
Center” tab or click on the right “Library/Online Research” link under “Resources.”
To access the ORC from the classroom, click on the link corresponding to the school in which
you are enrolled:
AMU Students: http://www.apus.edu/AMU/OnlineResearchCenter/default.aspx
APU Students: http://www.apus.edu/APU/OnlineResearchCenter/default.aspx
Table of Contents
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
Grading Scale
Grade, GPA / Percent, Description
A, 4.0 / 100 – 94, Very high quality, clearly above average work
A-, 3.67 / 93-90
B+, 3.53 / 89-87
B, 3.0 / 86-84, Above Average
B-, 2.67 / 83-80
C+, 2.33 / 79-77
C, 2.0 / 76-73
C-, 1.67 / 72-70, Below Average
D+, 1.33 / 69-67, Unsatisfactory
D, 1.0 / 66-64, Unsatisfactory
D-, 0.67 / 63-60, Unsatisfactory
F, 0.0 / 59-0, Unsatisfactory
P, NONE, Pass
I, NONE, Incomplete
DP, NONE, Dropped
W, NONE, Withdrawn
WP, NONE, Withdrawn Passing
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
WF, NONE, Withdrawn Failing
X, NONE, Audit grade: No Academic Credit awarded
Table of Contents
Course Outline
8 Week Course
Week
Topic(s)
Learning Objective(s)
Reading(s)
Assignment(s)
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
1
The Formative
Period
2
Emergence of
Modern
Warfare
3
Warfare
Overseas
To review the origins of the
history of logistics.
To understand procurement
and supply operations.
To provide a basic
understanding of warfare
overseas and the effects of
demobilization.
To provide a basic
understanding of logistical
organization and planning.
4
Logistics of
Global
Warfare
5
The Shadow of
Conflict
To identify the principles of
logistics.
6
The Uses of
Logistical
Experience,
Authorities &
Responsibilities
for Logistic
Operations &
Logistic
Principles
Warfare and
Mobility
To understand overseas
warfare and mobility of
logistics in transportation.
To discuss the importance of
logistics planning and
integration
7
Joint Logistic
Planning
Joint Theater
Logistics
Contractors intheater
8
Conclusions
To identify the conflicts of
war and peace in logistics.
Huston text
pgs. 3-121
Huston text
pgs. 125-268
Answer Questions for week one
& weekly Discussion Board
question.
Answer Questions for week two
& weekly Discussion Board
question.
Complete one-page abstract.
Huston text Answer Questions for week three
pgs. 273-397
& weekly Discussion Board
question.
Huston text
pgs. 403-569
Huston text
pgs, 575-649
Answer Questions for week four
& weekly Discussion Board
question.
Answer Questions for week five
& weekly Discussion Board
question.
Huston text Answer Questions for week six &
pgs, 655-667
weekly Discussion Board
question.
JP 4-0, Exec
Summary,
chapters 1
&2
Huston text Answer Questions for week seven
pgs, 669& weekly Discussion Board
678.
question.
JP 4-0,
chapters 3
&4
Describe the role of
contractors in the theater
JP 4-0,
chapter 5
Conclusion and continuity
of change in logistics for the
future.
Huston text
pgs, 679-689
Complete research paper.
Table of Contents
Academic Services
ONLINE LIBRARY RESEARCH CENTER & LEARNING RESOURCES
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the
updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may
NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course
textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material
of APUS.
The Online Library Resource Center is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the
electronic campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals,
and Web resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through
search engines on the open Web. In addition, the Center provides access to special learning
resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions can be
directed to orc@apus.edu.





Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University maintains a special
library with a limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors’
publication, and services to search and borrow research books and articles from other
libraries.
Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and download over 50,000
titles, which have been scanned and made available in electronic format.
Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000 journals, which are
available in electronic form and only through limited subscription services.
Turnitin.com: Turnitin.com is a tool to improve student research skills that also detect
plagiarism. Turnitin.com provides resources on developing topics and assignments that
encourage and guide students in producing papers that are intellectually honest, original
in thought, and clear in expression. This tool helps ensure a culture of adherence to the
University's standards for intellectual honesty. Turnitin.com also reviews students' papers
for matches with Internet materials and with thousands of student papers in its database,
and returns an Originality Report to instructors and/or students.
Smarthinking: Students have access to 10 free hours of tutoring service per year through
Smarthinking. Tutoring is available in the following subjects: math (basic math through
advanced calculus), science (biology, chemistry, and physics), accounting, statistics,
economics, Spanish, writing, grammar, and more. Additional information is located in the
Online Research Center. From the ORC home page, click on either the “Writing Center”
or “Tutoring Center” and then click “Smarthinking.” All login information is available.
Table of Contents
Selected Bibliography
Colby, William. Lost Victory. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc., 1989.
Joes, Anthony James. The War for South Viet Nam, 1954-1975. New York: Praeger Publishers,
1989.
Keegan, John. A History of Warfare. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993.
Manning, Robert (editor-in-chief), and Edgar C. Doleman, Jr. (author). Tools of War. Boston:
Boston Publishing Company, 1985.
Palmer, Bruce. The 25-Year War. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky, 1984.
Thompson, Julian. Lifeblood of War: Logistics in Armed Conflict. London: Brassey’s, 1998.
Van Creveld, Martin. Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton. New York:
Cambridge University Press, 1977.
Table of Contents