As the U. S Army moves into the twenty-first century, technology will be used more than ever to enhance combat operations. Force XXI redesign uses technological enablers to enhance proficiency and situation awareness on the battlefield. These enhancements are needed to overcome reductions in equipment and personnel. Combat Service Support (CSS) on the battlefield must change in order to support faster moving operations and overcome limited resources. In Force XXI, technology is used to provide precision logistics in order to maximize the use of limited resources. To accomplish the logistical goals of the Force XXI division, the Forward Support Company (FSC) replaces the support platoon of the maneuver battalion in the Army of Excellence (AOE). The FSC support operations officer's ability to operate in a multifunctional logistics environment will be essential for the maneuver battalion to succeed on the battlefield. This thesis analyzed the responsibilities of the support operations officer in the FSC of the Force XXI division redesign. Based on these responsibilities, the research question (Does the Army need to design a specific professional development plan to train CSS lieutenants to serve as support operations officers in the FSC?) served as the basis of this study. This research examined what skills, knowledge, and behaviors (SKBs) are most important for a CSS lieutenant to succeed as the FSC support operations officer. Once the SKBs were identified and prioritized, a professional development plan was designed to assist institutional and operational CSS leaders in training the CSS lieutenants in these SKBs. This research examined literature on Force XXI logistics and the FSC's responsibilities. The support challenges for the FSC and specifically the support operations officer guided the development of desired SKBs. | Designing A Professional Development Plan For The Support Operations Officer Of The Forward Support Company by Edward W Zimmerman, Paperback