From a life cycle product support perspective, you might be wondering why this should matter to me. Think about it from a Facilities and Infrastructure Integrated Product Support (IPS) Element perspective. As the report indicates, “military installations rely on nearby communities for commodities and infrastructure, such as electricity, access roads, and telecommunications”, not to mention shared port, railway, or airfield infrastructure And from a supply chain risk management perspective, consider the implications of a major natural disaster on organic or commercial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and supply chain management facilities and infrastructure.

As the report states, “Department of Defense (DOD) domestic installations report extensive and varied use of community infrastructure and support services—such as roads, bridges, electricity, water, and medical facilities—that are vulnerable to disruptions from climate change and extreme weather. For example, 62 of the 63 installations (98 percent) that responded to GAO's survey report relying on communities for electricity, access roads or bridges, and telecommunications.”