Personnel and Logistics

Abstract

Personnel and logistics (the P & L area as it has become known) are not in some ways obvious bedfellows. Logistics is in itself a comparatively new term. The top official military committee covering the main elements which comprise logistics — supply, maintenance, repair, storage, movements and accommodation — is still known as the Principal Administrative Officers Committee (PAOs). Two of the major elements of the logistics spectrum group themselves much more naturally with other organisational areas rather than with the personnel field; in-service supply, maintenance and repair have close affinities with the Procurement Executive’s functions; accommodation issues link directly with the Property Service Agency’s responsibilities for the construction and maintenance of all defence buildings. The responsibilities of the Principal Personnel Officers (PPOs) for the Serviceman and Servicewoman have a greater internal coherence, covering as they do all aspects of recruitment, basic training, postings and promotions, and all the supporting services, such as medical, dental, chaplaincy, pay and physical fitness, needed to keep the personnel effective. Admittedly the PPOs look to the PAOs to provide them with the material essentials such as food, clothing, accommodation and equipment.