Joint Force Quarterly
Abstract
This paper identifies a critical vulnerability in U.S. defense sustainment strategy and proposes a solution: the Civil Reserve Sustainment Readiness Program (CRSRP). The CRSRP focuses on bolstering Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities. Given the intensifying great power competition and the increasing likelihood of a contested conflict in the Indo-Pacific, the current Organic Industrial Base (OIB) lacks the surge capacity and agility necessary for rapid, distributed sustainment. Drawing on historical lessons from World War II and contemporary analysis of OIB limitations, this study details how the CRSRP would leverage public-private partnerships, incentivize commercial sector participation, and utilize digital tools like the VIGOR (Visualized Integration of Government and Organic Readiness) platform to enhance readiness visibility and accelerate mobilization. Key recommendations include enacting a new Title VIII to the Defense Production Act, implementing governance reforms, and establishing legal frameworks to address intellectual property and data-sharing concerns. The CRSRP offers a strategic force multiplier, enabling the Department of Defense to seamlessly integrate commercial infrastructure and expertise with military sustainment, thereby bridging the gap between industrial production and operational endurance. Ultimately, this paper argues that 21st-century national security hinges not only on the ability to generate combat power but also on the capacity to sustain and regenerate it, making the CRSRP a vital component of future U.S. warfighting readiness.
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