Does the future of military logistics lie in outsourcing and privatization? Accountants – the new gatekeepers of war‐time operations

An old, often‐paraphrased adage (generally attributed to Georges Clemenceau) suggests that “war is too important to be left to the generals”. Similarly, military privatization/outsourcing is too important to be left to civilian accountants. The concept brings fear to labor unions and bureaucrats, and is a source of considerable risk. This paper examines potential benefits and potential problems associated with such privatization and outsourcing, alongside the cultural and psychological barriers to its acceptance.