And infrastructure are vital during humanitarian missions like the current one in Gaza. The pier built by U.S. military personnel in Gaza will serve as a means of bringing aid to civilians in the region, at an expected cost of $320 million. The capability used, known as Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS), has been long neglected but is now in the spotlight. However, retired and active-duty military officers with expertise in JLOTS have expressed concern over the security risks involved in the mission.
The duties involved in setting up the trident pier on the beach include using military bulldozers to dig a slot trench and establishing a “duck pond” for the pier to mate with the beach. After these preparations, the pier is rammed into the sand and kept stable with a mix of buried anchors and Army tug vessels. The U.S. military must coordinate closely with Israeli forces to ensure the safety of U.S. troops and U.N. aid workers taking part in the mission.
While JLOTS is considered a strategic capability for delivering aid by sea where no port is available, the use of this capability in Gaza poses unique challenges. The security risks of operating in such a high-threat environment with lower-tech threats like mortar rounds are a concern for military experts. Additionally, the limited availability of JLOTS sets and the historical underfunding of these capabilities raise questions about the sustainability of the mission in Gaza, despite the pressing need for humanitarian aid in the region.
