Great teams working together can only result in the best outcomes for the United States Army.
In this spirit, Army Capabilities Manager (ACM) Networks and Services (N&S) paid a visit to the CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC) Command Control Communications Tactical (C3T) Directorate on 5 – 6 December 2023 at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD, diving deep into discussions concerning sustainment challenges on legacy programs that are subject to ACM N&S oversight and fall under the Mission Command Strategic Portfolio Analysis Review (SPAR) in preparation for budget request development.
This collaborative effort had its genesis back at the C5ISR Readiness Summit in October 2023, when ACM leadership’s interest was piqued by the elevation of C3T’s Phoenix D Model sustainment challenges. This drove ACM’s desire to review the remainder of the C3T portfolio and have serious talks about divestment opportunities, which culminated in the December summit at APG.
Mr. Nicolas Basirico, Assistant Associate Director of the C3T Directorate, came away very encouraged, saying “We were happy to hear how open the ACM reps were to fleet reduction and defielding strategies to extend the sustainment of our legacy programs. The ACM stated they would be supportive and help to advocate proposals to the Council of Colonels (CoC) on defielding recommendations from the ILSC.”
With over 50 in person and virtual representatives taking part in the event, including additional stakeholders from Program Executive Office (PEO) C3T, PM Tactical Network, and CECOM G3/5, the assembled team reviewed status and paths forward for products across the Tactical Network, Secure Communications, and Small Form Factor satellite communications systems in the portfolio.
Digging into a dozen different weapon systems over two days of discussions, numerous successes were achieved, helping to clarify marching orders for each group as action items and takeaways materialized over the course of their sessions together. CECOM ILSC was tasked with providing ACM with a total system sustainment cost for legacy programs with obsolescence challenges, changes in training and field maintenance, and mapping out a plan for harvesting and divestment efforts across the portfolio.
Going forward, ACM N&S will partner with the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) team on Basis of Issue Plan (BOIP) updates and with PEO C3T for modernization fielding schedules to identify priority units, as well improving training development.
As a result of this productive visit, C3T plans quarterly collaborative efforts with the ACM, in addition to extending an open invitation to ACM representatives whenever they interface with the user community. Said Mr. Basirico, “I am looking forward to continued collaborative efforts and sharing the feedback we are receiving directly from the Soldiers during our visits to unit locations to help shape the Army’s future footprint.” These are the types of efforts, undertaken early in a fiscal year, that have proven to drive success over the long haul for the big Army as divestment of legacy equipment allows for better investment in the Army Modernization Priorities in support of the future force.
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