SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Army installation directorates of logistics transferred operational control from Installation Management Command to Army Materiel Command Oct. 1, with AMC's Army Sustainment Command being responsible for management and oversight of the installation logistics mission.
In fact, operational control of maintenance, ammunition and selected supply functions of DOLs located in the United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico transferred June 1. The complete migration of all DOLs worldwide -including personnel and funding - is planned for fiscal year 2012.
Why are AMC and IMCOM making this change' It is part of the larger Army initiative to put the right mission with the right command. IMCOM is responsible for the Army Services and Infrastructure Enterprise. AMC, along with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, make up Materiel Enterprise.
"It is a win-win situation," said David Peralta, chief of IMCOM G-4 plans and operations. AMC, he explained, will be able to bring its logistics expertise to the DOL mission and IMCOM will be able to "concentrate on its core mission - providing the best facilities and services to support Soldiers, Families and Civilians on our installations."
Key to a successful transition, said officials from both commands, is ensuring continuity of operations at above-installation levels. Currently provided by IMCOM's headquarters and regions, this support will shift to ASC's headquarters, Army Field Support Brigades and Army Field Support Battalions. Accordingly, expertise and relationships previously built in the IMCOM chain will now need to be developed and cultivated at all levels within the ASC structure, a process started about a year ago.
"We will continue to provide support with IMCOM and ASC staffs during this period ... to ensure we have continuity of support through the transition," said Peralta, who participated in a rules of engagement workshop in late June. During that meeting, participants determined the agencies responsible for coordination, accountability and support to stakeholders for the operational control phase of the realignment. Specifically, his group discussed command and control issues dealing with how internal logistics will be handled after the transfer.
"While we still have a lot to do," he said, "the workshops gave us a jump start... We are committed to making it work and continuing to provide a high level of support to our installation customers."
The overall command structure for DOLs - and many other issues - were also studied during a rehearsal of concept drill held Aug. 24-26 in Davenport, Iowa, with more than 160 attendees from Army major commands and organizations.
The agenda concentrated on regional, AFSB and IMCOM logistics issues.
"I think the most important thing we (determined) is the way we're going to C2, what kind of structure we're going to have to do the C2 of it," said Col. Johnny Johnston, 406th AFSB commander, Fort Bragg, N.C., referring to the AFSB command-and-control role in the DOL transformation.
Participants also worked through a series of vignettes to determine organizational responsibilities in different situations. With the help of directors of logistics and other subject-matter experts, the group identified a list of issues needing to be resolved before ASC takes operational control of DOLs.
Additional breakout sessions included discussions on difficult issues such as resource management and personnel.
The ROC drill was one more step in an ongoing series of workshops held to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible.
"We can't be prepared enough," said Greg Kuhr, IMCOM G-4. "Few people realize the extent the DOLs affect the lives of Soldiers and their Families. We feed, fix, fuel, supply and deploy the Soldier and his equipment. We move the Families' household goods when they transfer to another station. We have to get this right and ensure no mission is dropped as the DOLs change commands."
(Additional information provided by AMC/ASC Public Affairs)
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