REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Leaders and experts from across the Army gathered for the Army Modernization and Equipping Conference 30, Feb. 10-13 at Army Materiel Command headquarters on Redstone Arsenal.
This is the first time that "modernization" has been added to the title of the semiannual conference, emphasizing the goal to fully integrate Army Futures Command and the Army Modernization priorities into the Army Equipping Enterprise. The conference is tri-chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), the Army G-8 and AMC, in coordination with the Army G-3 and AFC.
The Army Modernization and Equipping Conference 30 prepares forces for Multi-Domain Operations, synchronized with the Army priority of force modernization and displacement, while setting the conditions to enable the Army's transition from readiness to a modernization focus.
During opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Ed Daly, AMC deputy commanding general, highlighted the importance and benefits of incorporating AFC and modernization into the equipping conference.
"If we are dismissive of this (modernization), then we are going to miss the boat not just in six years, but in 10 years, 15 years down the road," Daly said.
He said it was important for participants to clearly define roles, responsibilities and processes in order to identify the right efforts and get ahead of need.
"We need to focus on the effects, how well are we equipping Soldiers for the future," Daly said. "We have to figure out how to set the conditions so it actually gets accomplished."
In 2018, the Army established AFC to lead a defined, synchronized approach that modernizes how and with what it fights. Together with ASA(ALT) and AMC, this has created a Modernization Enterprise, and with it, the concerted effort and irreversible momentum needed to maintain and strengthen the premier land force the Army is today into the future.
Col. Geoffrey Norman, AFC director of Systems Integration, said one of AFC's tasks is to explore breakthrough technologies for 2035 and beyond. "The intent for AFC is to develop the concept after MDO, what's next, what could be," Norman said.
Developing and fielding new equipment has a disruptive effect on the Army, said Lt. Gen. James Richardson, AFC deputy commanding general, but the goal is to make it a positive disruption.
"How do you integrate, synchronize all of these new weapons systems coming out, architecture, data and cloud? We're looking at that now because we don't want to have stove piped systems," Richardson said.
To rapidly develop new technologies and combat capabilities, AFC employs eight Cross Functional Teams to work with industry, the Program Executive Offices and collaborate with units and experts across the Army. Six CFTs are directly aligned to the Army's modernization priorities: Long Range Precision Fires, Next Generation Combat Vehicle, Future Vertical Lift, Network, Air and Missile Defense, and Soldier Lethality. The other two CFTs are Synthetic Training and Assured Position, Navigation and Timing.
The Army is investing an initial $33 billion over the next five years to begin modernizing the force and is already testing prototype technologies across our various portfolios under the CFTs to upgrade and modernize its Soldiers and weapons systems.
Norman said the eight CFTs are currently working on 48 major projects with plans to field them all to the Army within the next 8-10 years. "We will modernize in stride to get to future capabilities," he said.
Integrating new warfighting technologies, enhancing training capabilities and conducting multi-domain exercises are the Army's path to future readiness. While the Army pursues leap-ahead advances in technology, it must also maintain the readiness of the current force.
"The Army is currently building units, modernizing, turning in and divesting of equipment all at the same time," Daly said.
For the Army's Organic Industrial Base -- 26 depots, arsenals and ammunition plants -- that means maintaining unit readiness across the force, building the ability to surge in support of contingencies, while modernizing and retooling to support and sustain the next generation of equipment.
Equipping sessions at AMEC 30 focused on a wide range of topics, including logistics, aviation, medical, maneuver, fires and mission command, among others. During the sessions, experts looked to resolve brigade-level distributions and displacement conflicts 12 to 24 months out and provided updates on the Army Troubled (Line Item Number) Forum.
Victor Harmon, the AMC G-3 Operations Division chief, said AMEC allows the Equipping Enterprise to synchronize efforts across the Army in new fieldings and divesture of old equipment.
"From an equipping perspective, it allows us to get in front of the (Program Objective Memorandum) and better and more effective POM in the out years, which results in a more informed and effective use of our limited budget and resources," said Harmon.
The goal of the Army Modernization Strategy is by 2028 to have a modernized Army capable of conducting multi-domain operations as part of an integrated U.S. Joint Force in theater, and by 2035, be ready to win in all warfighting domains in multiple theaters.
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