Say hello to the LO – because the Royal Navy Supply Branch is now known as the Logistics Branch, bringing the Logistics Officer (LO) into being.

The move, announced by Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral James Burnell-Nugent and put into effect from the beginning of this month, is part of the Navy Board’s Personnel Change Programme, which seeks to maximise efficiency.

One of the recommendations in last year’s Commander-in-Chief Fleet-sponsored study into the competences required for the Navy of the future was the need to rename the RN Supply Branch to reflect its role - and the name switch has now been confirmed.

The official Joint Service definition of ‘logistics output’ outlines logistics as the process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient flow and storage of material, services and information, and there has long been a feeling that this broader term does more justice to the range of tasks carried out by personnel in the old Supply Branch.

‘Services’ in the definition covers all administration services, such as financial, legal, secretarial and personnel.

At rating level, the Branch embraces Chefs/Caterers, Stores Accountants, Stewards and Writers, and will continue to deliver the core functions that form the broad basis of the new Logistics Branch.

There are no plans to change any rate titles or badges associated with these specialisations.

Officers in the Branch are broadly-based logisticians, covering all aspects of operational logistic support (except the so-called ‘float and move’ responsibilities of the Engineering Branch), as well as personnel administration.

The term ‘Supply’, although having a long and proud tradition within the Royal Navy, has not dated well, and has little relevance outside the Service. Neither is it well-understood in the Joint or MOD civilian environment, let alone by the increasing number of external civilian organisations with whom the Navy now works closely.

The change to ‘Logistics’ reflects the reality and a change of emphasis, rather than direction, matching more effectively the tasks now routinely undertaken by officers and ratings within the Branch and the areas of expertise in which they will continue to develop as the Navy continually modernises.

Development of the future Navy calls for greater emphasis on logistics and sustainability through integration between the three Services and industry.

Senior Navy officers believe that changing the name of the Supply Branch reflects the critical role that operational logistics assumes within Defence activities, and is part of the overall change programme that has already witnessed significant advances in training and employment which will equip the Branch and its members for the Royal Navy’s needs in the next decade and beyond.