Eight new barracks were recently constructed in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division footprint at Fort Johnson, LA.

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – The 2023-24 cycle of the Army’s annual Facility Investment Plan process officially kicked off during a virtual meeting with senior leaders and stakeholders from many of the service’s commands July 11.

The meeting established milestones for the Army Materiel Command-led program in line with an operation order to the field last month that defined FIP roles and responsibilities to continue to meet the facility investment strategy and associated 10-year plan.

“Army senior leaders continue to prioritize based on people, readiness and modernization,” said Lt. Gen. Omar Jones IV, commanding general of Installation Management Command who led the meeting. “The intent of the FIP is to provide visibility to senior leaders on commander priorities (for funding).”

“The annual kickoff event initiates the requirements collection and modification process for the Army’s FIP,” explained Jordan Matthews, AMC G-4 facilities division chief and FIP program lead for AMC. “Each installation will review their projects already documented in the Facility Investment Plan data set, update as necessary and add any emerging requirements. This annual kickoff is a reminder to the field to capture the full requirement.”

The first phase consists of real property inspections and incorporates an increased use of data analytics to enable more accurate and informed decisions for use of available funds to support present and future Army sustainment, readiness, and modernization requirements.

Matthews said that installation senior commanders will prioritize their projects by Aug. 11 and all Army Commands, Army Service Component Commands , and Direct Reporting Units will prioritize their projects by Sept. 8. AMC and IMCOM will then host a virtual FIP Wargame event Sept. 25-29 to discuss prioritization of projects.

Barracks projects will continue to see increased emphasis, said Matthews.

To that end, the command’s FIP program lead outlined the Army will award 45 barracks projects in fiscal year 2023 for $1.07 billion. In addition, 13 Child Development Centers/Youth Centers for $114 million will be awarded. Combined, the barracks and centers make up 65% of all investment funding, according to Matthews.

“These investments directly affect the quality of life of Soldiers and Families on Army installations and reflects our commitment to People – the Army’s top priority,” he said. “The Army will also award 50 additional projects totaling $1.15 billion supporting power projection, stationing, modernization, installation readiness, energy and utilities, and other (Army Senior Leader) directed initiatives.”

The Army initiated the FIP in 2020 to maximize use of Army resources and provide focused infrastructure improvements in accordance with senior leader facility investment priorities. AMC operationalized the FIP to unify the active Army’s planning for infrastructure investments in military construction and facilities sustainment, restoration and modernization over a 10-year horizon.

Annually, AMC oversees revalidation efforts and recommends modification to the plan based on Secretary of the Army guidance to enable the most efficient use of available funding.

The FIP cycle kicks off every July, based on input from supported commands. It is reviewed and updated in three phases: Phase 1 to validate installation master plans, conduct assessments of real property, and prioritize all requirements in synchronization with senior leader priorities; Phase 2 is the FIP wargame; and Phase 3 is the analytics out brief and submission for Army senior leader approval.

The approved FIP is then incorporated into the Army’s funding plans and submitted to the Secretary of Defense as part of the Army’s budget estimate submission.