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Army Acquisition Reform

Friday, September 20, 2019

What is it?

Acquisition Reform is changing the way the Army does business to maximize the value of every dollar entrusted by Congress and to deliver capabilities to Soldiers faster. Acquisition reform includes:

  • Enhanced roles and authorities of the service secretaries, chiefs and acquisition executives
  • Enhanced accountability for performance outcomes
  • Increased access to non-traditional sources of innovation
  • Improved transparency in major programs

What are the current and past efforts of the Army?

The Army is aggressively pursuing reforms that empower people at all levels to lead, innovate and make smart decisions.

  • The Army is improving how the requirements are generated, and is establishing unchanging priorities with sufficient investment and less bureaucracy.
  • The Army Acquisition Career Management is spearheading a strategic military and civilian acquisition marketing and recruitment Talent Management campaign.
  • The Army established an Intellectual Property (IP) policy to alter the approach to IP management through early planning for long-term IP requirements, tailored IP strategies, early negotiation of prices for license rights and communication with industry throughout the process.
  • The Army is developing rapid experimental prototypes and delivering residual combat capabilities to provide critical capabilities that meet the Army’s modernization needs through a charter with the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), ASA (ALT) and Army Futures Command.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

The Army will continue to be accountable, transparent and good stewards of Army and taxpayer resources.

  • Talent management: Establish a recruitment and sustainment center of excellence to centralize civilian acquisition workforce hiring.
  • Leader development: At every level, identify potential early and foster the growth of future military and civilian Army acquisition leaders who will recognize opportunity, embrace new ideas and manage risk.
  • Contracting: Leverage commercial industry investment in technology and early Soldier feedback by using Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs). The Army is using OTAs to team with nontraditional businesses for high-tech innovative technologies, ideas, best practices, and concepts.
  • Capabilities: The RCCTO continues its focus on prototyping a hypersonic weapon to deliver residual combat capability to Soldiers by the Fiscal Year 2023 and the Army’s first combat-capable directed energy weapon to Soldiers by the Fiscal Year 2022.

Why is this important to the Army?

Acquisition reform will improve the way the Army does business to make the Total Army more lethal, capable and efficient.

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Events

June 1- Nov. 30: Hurricane Season | Visit U.S. Army Humanitarian Relief

September 2019

National Preparedness Month

Sept. 15- Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month - Visit Hispanics in the U.S. Army

Sept. 29: Gold Star Mothers Day - Visit Gold Star Survivors

Focus Quote for the Day

We must ensure that our organizations, policies, processes and tasks that consume time, money and manpower deliver real value to the warfighter.

- Honorable Bruce D. Jette, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)