REDSTONE ARESENAL, Ala. -- The British Army's chief of materiel (land) visited the U.S. Army Materiel Command here for a briefing on how AMC provides readiness solutions for the joint warfighter.
Lt. Gen. Christopher Deverell visited AMC for the first time, Sept. 9. He was greeted and hosted by Lt. Gen. Patricia McQuistion, deputy commanding general and senior commander of Redstone Arsenal.
The discussion focused on retrograde from Afghanistan, support to combatant commanders, partnership endeavors for the Organic Industrial Base, foreign military sales, and research and development.
"We talk about readiness, but we don't normally say we provide readiness solutions," said Deverell, looking at AMC's mission statement. "But that's exactly what we do."
Although McQuistion and Deverell are from two different Army's and two different cultures they spoke about readiness with ease.
McQuistion explained that providing readiness solutions is a better descriptor of what AMC provides, because it's all encompassing.
"We are trying to get to the results of what we do and a readiness solution includes equipment, contracting actions, and the life cycle management commands," said McQuistion.
A large part of increasing readiness is AMC's advancements within the Logistics Information Warehouse and the Decision Support Tool, which provides a common operating picture for senior leaders and enables decision makers to identify materiel shortages and surplus.
The briefing also included a simulation of how the common operating picture worked.
"For the first time in my career, we are able to see our equipment," said McQuistion. "This was an incredible amount of work for a lot of people."
Deverell was also briefed on science and technology initiatives and cost saving efforts like how the Army has begun storing equipment in climate controlled warehouses or ensuring the organic industrial base engages in partnerships with industry to maintain a balanced workload.
"It's been fascinating," Deverell said at the conclusion of the briefing. "If you want to understand yourself, you need to see yourself through another person."
The same is true for organizations in the business of logistics.
Social Sharing