Supply Chain Resilience in Military Operations: A Case Study Exploring Command and Control

This study examines supply chains in the Norwegian Armed Forces as complex adaptive systems, and explores how dynamic capabilities related to command and control (C2) influence supply chain resilience (SCRES). The purpose of this study is, first, to identify and validate antecedents of SCRES within military operations and, second, to explore their interrelationships. Data were collected from 74 military logistics experts at tactical and operational levels through a scenario-based survey. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The study enhances understanding of supply chain resilience by demonstrating how command and control contributes to resilience. The results show that responsiveness, recovery, and capacity have significant effects on SCRES, although some hypotheses show weaker significance due to complex inter-variable dynamics. This study also introduces a novel methodological approach for assessing resilience in military logistics and contributes to the development of practical tools for defense and preparedness organizations. As SCRES is critical for sustaining operational effectiveness and combat power, the article offers both theoretical insights and actionable guidance for military logistics training and knowledge development.