U.S. Army Europe to undergo logistic system upgrade

By Sgt. Daniel Cole, U.S. Army Europe Public AffairsFebruary 6, 2014

WIESBADEN, Germany -- U.S. Army Europe is undergoing a logistics upgrade that is replacing outdated Army logistics programs used to order supplies, manage equipment maintenance and account for property.

This upgrade will also be adding financial management systems into the new integrated component.

The Global Combat Support System-Army enhances a commander's ability to conduct decisive operations by integrating their unit's property accountability, maintenance operations, and requisitioning processes into a single system that provides him near-real time actionable information to assess and improve the unit's existing combat power readiness.

Current U.S. Army logistic information systems are used to order supplies, manage equipment maintenance and account for property. GCSS-Army differs from the current system because of the new system's web-based capability that is designed to improve readiness, accountability, and financial audit ability by integrating key capabilities into one common Enterprise Resource Planning system.

GCSS-Army is being fielded in two distinct waves. Wave one includes only the supply warehouse Supply Support Activity capability, with USAREUR being scheduled for Fielding Groups this month.

"By fielding the warehouse first, which has the fewest number of systems and users, we can introduce GCSS-Army with the least level of risk," said Robert Black, a logistics management specialist assigned to USAREUR's G4, the headquarters section responsible for providing logistical plans and direction to sustain Army forces and other services.

The first wave of the transition was successfully fielded at Fort Bragg and Fort Hood last year.

The second wave will consist of supply room, property book, ground maintenance and human resources capabilities and take place in the fiscal year 15-17 time frame.

Black explains that commanders and users of the new system will become more familiar with the new interface and terminology during the first wave of the transition, which will set them up for success when the second wave is implemented.

"Once we have fielded both waves of GCSS-Army, commanders can access all required logistical data from their office computer, all from one program," Black said.

USAREUR is the first overseas command to field the new system. Nine Supply Support Activity locations are already in the process of being transitioned to the new system.

Locations include: Kaiserslautern, Ansbach, Vilseck and Baumholder communities. In February, fielding will also include Italy, Benelux and Kosovo.

The GCSS-Army will conduct New Equipment Training and field GCSS-Army to the following units and activities:

-2nd Cavalry Regiment

-12th Combat Aviation Brigade's 412th Aviation Support Battalion

-10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and 5-7th Air Defense Artillery Battalion

-16th Sustainment Brigade's 240th and 547th Quartermaster Companies

-Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance--Europe

-Regional Supply Support Activity-Kaiserslautern

-Regional Supply Support Activity-Vilseck

Related Links:

U.S. Army Europe

U.S. Army Europe on Facebook

U.S. Army Europe on Flickr

U.S. Army Europe on Twitter

U.S. Army Europe on YouTube