Book excerpt: As the army organizes to fight in the 21st Century, logisticians will need the capabilities to keep pace with the high technology weapons of the modem battlefield. The maneuver forces will be smaller, more lethal, more dispersed and highly mobile. The support structures of this future division will integrate the logistic capabilities of the combat battalions, consolidating the functions of supply, maintenance, and medical support into the structure of the brigade's Forward Support Battalion. The consolidation of assets will allow increased capability while realizing the benefits of reduction in redundant functions. This, coupled with technology enhancements, will make the logistic structure more capable, forward looking, and give it an ability to keep pace with the mobility of the combat units. This monograph examines the question of the implications of Force XXI logistics on the maneuver commander. The monograph accomplishes this assessment by comparing future doctrine to current doctrine. This allows us to develop a useful framework in which to apply technologies to increase the functions and characteristics of logistical operations. It also permits evaluation of the differences in the current versus future doctrines to analyze the impact of these changes on the brigade. Next the monograph compares the current logistic structure at brigade level to the future brigade logistic structure. This permits observation of the differences and assessment of the impact on the brigade. The paper then assesses capabilities of the two organizations in order to identify the shortfalls in logistic support and the increased benefits of technology on those shortfalls. Finally, the monograph comes to a conclusion on the impacts of Force XXI logistic technology on the maneuver brigade.