Mark wrote:

And the ordnance, force protection personnel and equipment, aircraft support
equipment, food/water, etc etc etc....

Of course - but I wonder if you realize that a standard
squadron mobility package (18.U.E., 24 U.E) in the tactical
forces was set up to contain all of the people, equipment,
and supplies for at least 30 days of autonomous operations?
(With the very low munitions capacity of today's much smaller
fighters, it should be even easier to transport the required
munitions - almost always the largest tonnage component of
the package.)

Besides - an FOL would likely use a very small number of
aircraft (4? 6 to include spares?) for a very short time,
measured in days - before moving on to a different location;
perhaps swapped out with fresh aircraft/personnel/supplies
from the more-rearward located base.)

The forward basing "feature" of the VSTOL is way oversold (IMHO)

Perhaps. It would be a new ballgame for the USAF, anyway.