U.S. Army Materiel Command is expanding its capabilities with the help of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard.
The AMC Reserve Component Mission Support Office is charged with matching the organization's requirements with part-time training opportunities that result in win-win situations.
"AMC benefits from the additional talent and technical expertise provided by Army Reserve and Army National Guard soldiers," said Maj. Gen. Elizabeth Austin, AMC Assistant Deputy Commanding General for Army National Guard. "In turn, these Reserve Component Soldiers reap the benefit of real-world training."
The Mission Support Office will identify and offer these real world training opportunities on a continuous basis. Leaders point to the success of Operation Patriot Bandoleer as an opportunity they would like to emulate.
Operation Patriot Bandoleer brought together Army National Guard units from six states and element's of the Army Reserve last year to move equipment and munitions across the country. While the Army Sustainment Command and AMC reaped the benefits of that mission, Austin said it also gave Citizen Soldiers a chance to keep their military skill sets sharp and build important relationships.
"These opportunities support the Army Total Force Policy and keeps the Reserve Component fully engaged within the restrained defense budget," Austin said. "This also provides a chance for units to go beyond their home station training and improve individual and team readiness."
AMC's Assistant Deputy Commanding General for Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Michael Mann said partnering with AMC can help units meet their training needs.
"With fewer deployments to keep Reserve Component units at the peak of training readiness, units not scheduled for a major Annual Training will have a terrific opportunity by partnering with AMC,' Mann said. "This will ensure Reserve Component units are ready the next time they are called upon to deploy for our country."
Recent and ongoing missions include small arms repair at the U.S. Military Academy's Logistic Readiness Center, port security at military ocean terminals and technical inspections on the European Activity Set at three sites in Europe.
The Mission Support Office is continuously identifying training opportunities by coordinating with AMC's 10 major subordinate commands and then offering them to the Reserve Components. The office is also looking to the Army's Organic Industrial Base facilities to see how the Reserve Component can support manufacturing arsenals and maintenance depots.
Social Sharing