The Army is transforming its warfighting capabilities to become a technologically agile and digitally driven force. The intent is to innovate and modernize to improve current capabilities and to posture the Army for the future. The total force needs to evolve at a pace faster than current and future adversaries.
The Department of the Army Capabilities Management Office-Strategic Operations directorate (G-3/5/7) is developing an enterprise-level information technology capability that will fundamentally transform how the Army coordinates and synchronizes global force management (GFM) across all levels of war to man, equip, train, sustain, deploy, and redeploy forces in support of our national objectives. Scheduled to launch in fiscal 2024, the Global Force Information Management (GFIM) Objective Environment (OE) will fundamentally transform how the Army develops the future force and provides for the current force. GFIM OE will transform the capabilities of 14 legacy systems into a single, enterprise-level, web-based solution to better support risk-informed decision making in a volatile and resource constrained operational environment.
Why is the Army transforming to GFIM OE?
The conduct of essential force management functions in today’s GFIM portfolio of legacy systems is characterized by, and is dependent upon, significant manual input from force managers and manipulation of data as that data is extracted from one system and reentered or inputted into another system. This labor-intensive process impacts the timeliness and accuracy of information to support senior leader decision making in response to dynamic force and resource requirements. The deployment of GFIM OE will minimize the requirement for manual input and manipulation of data by system users, enabling force managers to devote more time to the critical analysis and assessment of system data to better support force management related decisions.
To support warfighting transformation and achieve information advantage, the total Army requires a transformational change to the system and processes used to execute Deploy to Redeploy and Retrograde (D2RR) and meet its service responsibilities. To support multidomain operations (MDO) at home and abroad, the Army must incorporate technologies and integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate processes and eliminate manual actions and sources of error. The goal is to deliver a cloud-based enterprise capability that develops the future force while providing for the current force and a common operating picture of the total Army across D2RR.
With the deployment of GFIM OE, the Army is upgrading its system to fully enable MDO and create the capability, readiness, availability, and employability data needed for dynamic force employment as envisioned in the latest National Security Strategy. This transformational capability will position the Army to achieve and sustain information dominance in the digital age by maximizing the use of best-of-breed technologies, automating and adapting D2RR workflows based on rapidly changing needs, and inserting artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to eliminate manually intensive processes or workarounds.
GFIM OE is a priority for the Army
The Secretary of the Army identified GFIM OE as a top enterprise business priority for Program Objective Memorandum 23-27 implementation. GFIM OE will provide an automated, integrated, and interoperable enterprise environment integrating force structure, readiness, mobilization, and deployment, along with requirements validation data to meet service and GFM requirements. As the Army transforms its warfighting capabilities to meet the challenge of MDO, it must also transform how it manages forces and generates readiness. GFIM OE will provide a common operating picture of the total Army in real time, which is an essential part of information advantage (enabling data-driven decision making) and winning in the MDO environment.
GFIM OE will collect, store, transport, produce, use, and protect core sustainment data into a cohesive common operational picture resulting in a coherent, reliable, and multifunctional approach to rapidly integrate and synchronize information. As such, the system will provide commanders with extended operational reach and freedom of action to provide multiple options for the U.S. GFIM OE will also integrate sustainment capabilities with allies and partners, modernize sustainment force structure to reflect the Army of 2030, and establish a secure logistics data infrastructure.
Department of the Army Capabilities Management Office-Strategic Operations Enterprise (DAMO-SOE) is currently leading GFIM OE implementation. For more information go to https://www.army.mil/damo-so.
--------------------
Maj. Cory Scharbo currently serves as the Chief of Staff for HQDA G-3/5/7 DAMO-SOE, Pentagon, Washington D.C. He previously served as the Force Management Officer with 1st Infantry Division Headquarters, Fort Riley, Kansas. He was commissioned as an infantry lieutenant and completed the Army Command and General Staff College. He holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies/National Security from American Military University.
Lori Mongold currently serves as the Division Chief for Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA) G-3/5/7 DAMO-SOE, Pentagon, Washington D.C. She previously served the Army Force Management Support Agency, the Joint Force Headquarters/Military District of Washington, and the Army Reserve. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, English, and theatre from Bridgewater College.
Andrew St. Laurent currently serves as the Deputy Division Chief for HQDA G-3/5/7 DAMO- SOE, Pentagon, Washington D.C. He previously served as Deputy Product Lead for Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (GFIM Portfolio), Army Requirements Oversight Council Branch Chief at HQDA G8, Force Structure Division Chief at Army Cyber Command, Deputy J5 at Joint Task Force United Assistance, and Force Management Chief for Task Force 101. He holds a Master of Science in logistics management from Florida Institute of Technology and has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and United Assistance.
--------------------
This article was published in the Winter 23 issue of Army Sustainment.
RELATED LINKS
The Current issue of Army Sustainment in pdf format
Current Army Sustainment Online Articles
Social Sharing