ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Senior leaders from the U.S. Army Materiel Command, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and the Joint Munitions & Lethality Life Cycle Management Command met to strengthen the partnership between acquisition and the materiel enterprise at a Joint Acquisition Sustainment Review, here, March 31.
The materiel enterprise is one of the Army's four core enterprises and is responsible for materiel management from concept to combat. It brings together the organizations involved in providing materiel solutions for Soldiers and incorporates all the materiel life-cycle functions to include research, development, acquisition, testing, distribution, supply, maintenance, industrial-base operations and disposal.
From its headquarters here, JMC operates a nationwide network of conventional ammunition manufacturing plants and storage depots, and provides on-site ammunition experts to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed. JMC's customers are U.S. forces of all military services, other U.S. Government agencies, and allied nations.
"The Joint Acquisition Sustainment Review is a forum designed to further develop the partnership between the Assistant Secretary of the Army's Acquisition, Logistics and Technology community and the Army Materiel Command," said Brig. Gen. Kristin K. French, JMC commander and JM&L LCMC commander.
The goal of the JASR is to create more efficient processes by working together collaboratively. It promotes building relationships, trust and transparency. The Rock Island Arsenal JASR is part of a series of rotating meetings that also includes forums at Redstone Arsenal, focusing on the aviation community; Warren, Mich., focusing on the tank and automotive community; and the Communications-Electronics Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., which hosted the first JASR in November 2013.
The Hon. Heidi Shyu, ASA (ALT) and Gen. Dennis L. Via, AMC commanding general, co-chaired the JM&L LCMC JASR. Through their collaboration, Shyu and Via provided strategic direction and guidance to all attendees.
During a previous JASR, Shyu emphasized the importance of the relationship between ASA (ALT) and AMC. "We are absolutely dependent on each other for success and we have to mutually increase collaboration and streamline operations. We must work together to face challenges collectively. The Army will lose if we sub-optimize. We need to strategically position ourselves to come out as a stronger Army."
Via echoed Shyu's comments. With the Army's current fiscal constraints and budget uncertainty, both leaders stressed the need to align functions, roles authorities and responsibilities to create interdependent organizations. "We have a unique opportunity to shape our Army for the future. We don't always agree, but we will rise above and determine what's in the best interest of our Army, our Soldiers and our materiel enterprise."
JASR topics of discussion included the characteristics of the JM&L LCMC, strategic planning for the ammunition industrial base, contracting challenges, and transitioning to cost-effective sustainment of the Army's materiel.
The next JASR review is scheduled at Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., and will be held May 13 - 14, 2014.
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