The concept of a Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) was first envisioned during
the late 1970’s. The initial program established in 1979 was called the Near Term
Prepositioning Force (NTPF). NTPF used existing operational force equipment and
supplies to load on available ships belonging to the Military Sealift Command (MSC).
These ships were based in Diego Garcia and initial equipment and ship maintenance
was done in Naha, Okinawa and Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines. The Marine
Corps immediately recognized the advantages of forward deployed prepositioning equipment
during the critical early stages of crisis response and seized the opportunity to
revolutionize combat readiness.
In March 1983, the Commandant directed Marine Corps Logistic Base, Albany to acquire
the assets for the MPF program. MSC leased thirteen ships for the MPF program. The
ships were formed into three Maritime Prepositioning Squadrons (MPSRONs). MPSRON
1 and 2 were loaded in Wilmington, North Carolina and MPSRON 3 was loaded in Panama
City, Florida. The ammunition for all three squadrons was loaded at Military Ocean
Terminal, Sunny Point, North Carolina.
The key to successful employment of a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) that
falls in on the Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) Program or Marine Corps Prepositioning
Program – Norway (MCPP-N) equipment is the availability and readiness of the prepositioned
equipment and supplies. BICmd works closely with the supported expeditionary force
commander to exceed ISO 9001 goals of 98% attainment, 98% readiness, and 98% data
accuracy of the prepositioned combat capability sets. BICmd’s focus will always
be on the combat readiness, visibility, and attainment of prepositioned equipment
and supplies.