Importance of the Logistic Operations of the Colombian National Army in Times of Pandemic

Abstract

Colombia is a country with an area of 1 141 748 km², located in the extreme north of South America. Its geography is determined by tropical forests and mountains and it is the third country with the largest population, with about 52 318 261 million inhabitants; after Brazil and Mexico. These characteristics influence the operational performance of the Military Forces (FFMM) in general and the Colombian National Army (EJC) in particular. In this way, the EJC conducts military operations aimed at defending sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as protecting the civilian population, private and state resources, in order to generate an environment of peace, security and development that guarantees the constitutional order of the nation. In this context, the COVID-19 pandemic demanded a rapid and effective response from the State to contain the contagion, a responsibility that fell on the FFMM, specifically the Army, whose work continues to be fundamental as a first response to disaster risks and to neutralize the diverse armed groups operating in the national territory. In this article, we analyze the windows of opportunity that are forged by fulfilling the roles (internal front and health emergency) simultaneously with positive impact results, the relevance of military logistics operations of transport, reverse logistics and physical disintegration, rethinking -through good practices- traditional management by processes.