Editor's note: The joint force is preparing for large-scale combat across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace. Under the Multi-Domain Operations concept, Army Materiel Command has reorganized and reshaped to ensure readiness of the Strategic Support Area, where military might is generated, projected and sustained during the fight. Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, the AMC Major Subordinate Command responsible to develop and deliver readiness for Soldier and ground systems, directly supports AMC key focus areas of supply availability, equipment readiness, industrial base readiness and strategic power projection.
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To the average American, words like supply availability, equipment readiness, strategic power projection and industrial base readiness might not have much meaning, but those words describe some of what it takes to keep our Army ready to fight anywhere, anytime, and until the battle is won.
Army Materiel Command and its subordinate commands, like Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, make sure Soldiers have what they need to be ready to project America's power rapidly and to sustain ongoing operations.
Gen. Gus Perna, the AMC commanding general, made his quarterly trip to TACOM headquarters on Thursday, May 30, 2019 for an update from Maj. Gen. Daniel Mitchell, the TACOM commanding general, on TACOM's efforts to support AMC key focus areas.
In his opening comments, Perna said, "the challenge to all is not to accept status quo … to make sure we are leading our way through execution and we're not allowing the process to do it for us, or we're not being constrained by normal business rules."
Perna went on to say, "our responsibility as the Army is to train for war and to go to war, it's that simple … and whether you wear a uniform or you're in civilian clothes, you're part of the team … to make sure we can support training … and sustain combat operations."
Mitchell and key members of the TACOM staff presented to Perna what TACOM has been doing over the past quarter to deliver the combat vehicles, weapons, food, support equipment and the host of other items, like repair parts, Soldiers need to be ready to fight.
To open the TACOM presentation, Mitchell provided Perna an overview of TACOM's operational and funding requirements over the past several years, showing a trend towards increased supply availability and equipment readiness.
Mitchell said, "We are starting to see the fruits of the last few years of resources," and added, "the good news is, readiness is really starting to pick up."
The TACOM Integrated Logistics Support Center, the largest employer in TACOM with nearly 3000 personnel, manages the TACOM supply chain and provides embedded logisticians to Army units around the world.
Marion Whicker, the ILSC director, provided Perna information and updates on ILSC operations in support of Army readiness, including an overview of supply availability, operational readiness, backorders, procurement lead-time and key performance indicators.
To summarize what really matters for TACOM, Whicker said, "We've seen a seven percent increase in supply availability, despite another ten percent increase in demand, so we're still staying ahead of that curve."
Part of the presentation to Perna included updates on performance metrics for TACOM's industrial base, which are the six manufacturing arsenals and maintenance depots across the United States that directly generate readiness.
Perna saw performance metrics for each of the TACOM arsenals and depots, along with assessments from each of the arsenal and depot commanders, with an overall focus on meeting production schedules, working through funding challenges, and consistently working to deliver readiness.
After hearing the arsenal and depot presentation, Perna said, "I see a definite change in all that you are briefing me, and I can feel it penetrating down into the workforce … and, so I appreciate that effort."
In his closing remarks, Perna said, "Our goal ought to be that we're ready from day one … that we're so good at what we do -- we have things so well in line -- that repair parts for the battlefield are there, weapons are right, etc., etc., etc. That's our goal. That's what should be driving everybody, every day."
While here, Perna took the opportunity to recognize some of the outstanding members of the Detroit Arsenal workforce from TACOM ILSC directorates.
Brandon Colvin from Business Management Directorate, Robert McGuire from Logistics Support Operations Directorate, Michelle Maher from Ground Combat Systems Directorate, and Todd Thomas from the Ground Vehicle Support Center Directorate received recognition for their efforts to deliver Army readiness.
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