Photo By Sgt. Mahlet Tesfaye | Spc. Joe Emanuel Clark, a U.S. Army South supply clerk, receives and verifies office...... read more read more
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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Having the most advanced technology in today’s military is the cornerstone of strong and cohesive armed forces and the U.S. Army works relentlessly to use this technology to better serve Soldiers.
Global Combat Support System-Army is the Army’s latest technology being fielded to support logistical operations which U.S. Army South is incorporating to enhance its mission.
“GCSS-Army is commercial, off-the-shelf software the Army bought to replace our current sustainment information systems that we currently have in the logistics field,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 William Wilder, senior supply systems technician and project lead for Wave 2 of GCSS-Army for U.S. Army South.
The Army started fielding GCSS-Army during Wave 1 by replacing the old and unsystematic operating system used by logistics to a modern user friendly single web based system that anyone can use to access and track logistical and financial aspects of tactical sustainment operations.
As of December 2014, GCSS-Army Wave 1 fielding was more than 52 percent complete Army-wide. During Wave 2, the Army plans to complete fielding every unit including Army South.
“GCSS-Army does help out a lot,” said Staff Sgt. Demond Drayton, a supply sergeant for Army South, who has experience working with GCSS-Army system during Wave 1. “It does benefit everyone because the Army is migrating and merging the maintenance system, finance and personnel. It helps to organize the whole process.”
According to Wilder, GCSS-Army will replace the Standard Army Retail Supply System Level 1, the Standard Army Maintenance System Enhanced, and Property Book Unit Supply System and combine them all into one system for greater flexibility, increased visibility and standardization.
Army South is preparing for Wave 2 of the GCSS-Army fielding that will start in early 2015. By the end of the year, Army South will be using GCSS-Army to process and make logistical decisions for its day-to-day operations.
“GCSS-Army means modernization, integration, and increased command readiness for U.S. Southern Command, Army South and its Soldiers, through near real-time supply, maintenance and financial status,” said Monica Knotts, a logistics management specialist with Army South.
Wilder explained that since the system is Internet dependent, Army South Soldiers will be able to access the system from anywhere in the Army South area of responsibility as long as the unit has the capability to get on the Internet.
GCSS-Army will also establish a fully integrated logistics-financial management environment supporting a comprehensive view of Army readiness enabling information and resource informed sustainment decisions.
“GCSS-Army will give the Army the ability to account for funds and spending and ensure that everyone is prudent with the budget,” said Wilder.
“In the old system, you need to utilize two different systems to track orders. But in GCSS-Army, anyone can see the status of any order in real time as the order is being processed. It gives the receiving unit the opportunity to find out beforehand if there are funds and equipments available,” Drayton explained.
Among the many benefits of GCSS-Army for leaders and commanders are making strategic decisions based on timely, accurate, and integrated logistics information; verifying operational readiness in near real-time; and managing funds more effectively and efficiently.
Wilder, the Wave 2 project lead of GCSS-Army, is a supporter of the system and advocates the benefits it provides to Soldiers and commanders.
“One benefit of the system is it gives the commander a little more visibility of equipment in making sure his unit is mission ready without having to leave his desk,” said Wilder.
The consolidation of the supply, maintenance and finance related data provides increased control over funds, equipment and parts.
“I believe all of the personnel utilizing the system will benefit from the GCSS-Army system, because it offers a one-stop system for logistics, financial and readiness data, in order to provide tactical commanders with near real-time information needed to make timely and effective decisions,” predicted Knotts, the logistics management specialist.
As a supply sergeant who worked on the system, Drayton is very optimistic and eager to see the positive changes GCSS-Army system will bring to the whole Army logistics operation.
“GCSS-Army will change the thought process of how Soldiers and leaders conduct business. It is a step towards bettering the organization,” said Drayton.
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2015 15:07 |
| Story ID: | 152596 |
| Location: | FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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