Item management isn't glamorous. We don't design anything. We don't award contracts. Honestly, we don't get out much. However, item managers are likely the most interesting assortment of folks on the Arsenal; I'll introduce you!
Almost any degree will get your foot in the door. Accordingly, item managers -- IMs -- are a conglomeration of English majors, ex-history teachers and Japanese-speaking medical equipment service managers. We are also proud to have veterans among our ranks, who remind us daily of those we support. We are stronger, I think, because of our diverse backgrounds.
What is a day like in the life of an item manager? Well, it would likely entail monitoring requisitions, filling customer orders from the field and working Material Requirements Planning (MRP), or as item managers sometimes call them, "Never Ending Sources of Hopelessness and Despair." Basically, we work MRPs every month to monitor the stock levels of major items, such as a tank, and secondary items, such as batteries, test equipment or fire extinguishers. Sometimes these tasks are easy, but they can easily mutate into eight page dissertations. If you work them improperly , you'll find yourself short on parts; you risk downing a vehicle, impacting the National Training Center (NTC), stopping production or bringing a halt to RESET or overhaul.
MRPs are just one action we take to ensure our items are healthy. We initiate procurements: simple buys, big buys, long-term buys, emergency buys, bridge buys, etc. We write the supporting documents for our buys. We set up repair programs with contractors, depots and the National Guard via the National Maintenance program. We ensure funding is available, which in the current fiscal environment is more challenging than it sounds. We coordinate with Foreign Military Sales (FMS), War Reserve, depots and program managers (PM). We make sure our items are coded correctly, related appropriately and that the information provided to the customer, whether it's in a tech manual or P.S. Magazine, is the most current information available.
Item managers also cope with obsolescence. For example, the Bradley was first issued to a combat unit in March 1983. "Vintage" is applicable here or maybe "retro." Vintage or not, the Bradley is still vital and viable, and with approximately 513 active A2 vehicles in the field, there is a constant demand for maintenance and repair parts. It is sometimes challenging to persuade a contractor to make your part when it's 32 years old. And analogue. And made with lead. Luckily, IMs are persuasive. We have motivation to be persistent and persevere despite the challenges. Our customer is the soldier, and we are the soldier's one-stop shop for anything associated with the items under our management.
No, item management is not glamorous. No, we don't shoot it or drive it. We may not get the vehicle in the field, but we keep it running.
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