The United States Marine Corps is updating its supply chain and logistics system.

The Corps announced it had begun the process of replacing five aging supply systems with software made by Oracle. The plan–Global Combat Support System-Marine Corps/Logistics Chain Management (GCSS-MC/LCM) program Block I–will retire a mix of mainframe and client server technologies, some of which have been in use since the 1970s. Replacing them will be elements of Oracle’s E-Business software package, including the software maker’s supply chain planning, procurement, logistics, maintenance and service applications.

Napoléon is often credited with saying, “An army marches on its stomach.” That maxim is truer than ever today; although, it is necessarily broader, since the modern military depends not only on food; but also, on fuel and ammunition as well to function effectively. Our military could not function efficiently without its incredible supply system. It is good to see that it is being modernized, just as the weapon systems are. After all, what good does that fancy JDAM do you, if you can’t get it to the right airfield?