Napoleon Bonaparte coined the phrase “An army marches on its stomach.” Napoleon was a great doer and observer. His contribution to France and Europe has been historic. His birthplace, Corsica, is an idyllic place to visit. It is quiet, rustic, and not overrun by tourists.
He could fall asleep while riding his war horse and did not need much time to rest. During battle he exclaimed, “X is a great general, but is he a lucky general?” His mistress Josephine had much to say about his other capabilities.
The “supply side” of war was documented by Sun Tzu in the period 722–481 BC. He became a military general under King Helü (514–496 BC) of the Wu nation.
Sun Tzu proved a very effective strategist and wrote The Art of War as a treatise for the purpose of instructing military officers to think of war strategy in a considered, planned and exact way. Within the 13 chapters of this book, all essential factors of winning and losing are considered.
Great emphasis is laid on supply chain, i.e., keeping the troops happy, committed and well fed.
The Pentagon (the US Dept of Defense now renamed Dept of War) is the largest administrative entity in the world. It has approx. 1.39 million active duty personnel, deployed under 11 regional or functionally based joint service commands: African Command, Central Command, Cyber Command, Special Ops Command, etc.
The Pentagon has to keep the people well supplied with food, rations and gear. Getting food delivered to these areas is a science in itself. A Nimitz class aircraft carrier has a seaborne duty of 9 months.
During this period, the personnel on board have to be cared for — food, clothing, medicines, etc. The crews in the inner sections of the carrier do not see daylight for 9 months — they are given huge doses of Vitamin D to compensate.
The Vietnam War is an interesting classical case study in supply chain management during war. After the French lost the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, they cleverly played the domino card and handed over the war to the USA. The ensuing war was the longest in the US history (at that time). The Vietcong fought a guerrilla war.
Americans used air, sea and land power. The Vietcong used tunnels to move supplies. The US Secretary of Defense was Robert McNamara. He was an icon of the corporate sector (Ford). Black suits, Pomaded hair, round spectacles.
He brought industrial management to war-head count, percentage gain or loss, strategic planning. On the other side, Ho Chi Minh was fighting with only the bare necessities. When the end came, the world witnessed a superpower lose because of the extended supply chain and other political dynamics. The American wars in East Asia (Korea, Vietnam) also helped to expand the American gene pool/ DNA in the region-the ultimate supply chain.
In the 20-year Afghan wars, 2001-2021, the American Forces were supported by a huge supply machine. Bagram Airfield was transformed into a mini-American city. All food outlets: McDonald’s, Coke, coffee shops, Pizza Hut, magazine shops, beauty parlors, jewellery shops. The American GI likes his goodies.
The GI routinely carried US $1200 worth of gears. The Taliban US $ 100. Companies that provided logistic support to the American forces made huge profits- Haliburton (Dick Cheney) and Black Water (Eric Prince). Historically, the two world wars of the 20th century were great marketing opportunities for corporations— cigarettes, Alcohol, candy, you name it.
During the British Raj in this part of the world, the ration packs contained cigarettes, tonic water/ quinine, gin, and other life-support products, One of Pakistan’s largest industrial conglomerates today started off as a supplier to the British Army—Wazir Ali & Co.
In the period 2001-8, I visited India often at the invitation of my counterpart Major Gen Khurana (retd), the chief of the All India Management Association (AIMA). He was at one time serving at the Siachin command.
A jolly nice chap, really. One evening over a dinner at the Delhi Gymkhana he recounted that getting food to the troops was a major issue. It cost Rs 200/- to deliver one piece of bread (chapati).
On our side of the border, the same problem. How to provide food for the glacier-bound troops? The Quarter Master General of the Pak Army has the most difficult of jobs- to keep the troops supplied in all weathers, to all terrains, all locations, in spite of a raging war, bravo.
Historically, the “stomach” issue dates back to time immemorial. Approx 1500 the world saw the emergence of the largest corporation of that time-
The Dutch East India Company (VOC). The prize was the spices grown in the spice belt—Indonesia, Malaysia, Java, Bengal, etc.
Four spices were worth more than gold- pepper, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon. These were used as medicines, for seasoning, beautification but, above all, for preserving food. Ships could travel long distances, Armies could fight longer, food for city folks could be preserved longer. Spice trade was deadlier than what oil trade is today.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
The writer is a former Executive Director of the Management Association of Pakistan