Operations Research Systems Analysis Familiarization Course (ORSA-FAM)

THE PENTAGON, DC, UNITED STATES

09.03.2015

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Career Program 26

By Kristy Phillips

**Editors Note** Kristy Phillips is a CP26 Intern with U.S. Force Management Agency (USAFMSA) located in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She grew up in Allegany County of Western Maryland. Ms. Phillips joined the Army right out of high school, and served 8 years as an Automated Logistics Specialist (92A).

Recently, I had the privilege to attend the Operational Research Systems Analysis Familiarization Course (ORSA-FAM) given by the Army Logistics University. The course, presented at the Pentagon, was a 5-day familiarization on applying statistical analysis to logistics, force modernization and organizational structure and then learning how to interpret and present the results to decision makers. Although the pace was swift, the content was appropriately thorough. The concepts broached in the familiarization were not incomprehensible, nor were the techniques beyond the scope of a familiarization course.

The purpose of the course was to introduce operational research techniques, which help explain, describe, predict, compare, relate and model behavior. The course also allowed the student to become familiar with statistical terminology, notation, calculations as well as summary of results, interpretation and explanation software manipulation of data. Therefore, this course is an appropriate and beneficial foundation for manpower and force management professionals.

ORSA-FAM reviewed descriptive and inferential statistics, model building and simulations and decision analysis. All of which are necessary for management analysts to be able to complete analysis thoroughly.

For example, the USAFMSA develops, maintains, and distributes the Army’s organizational requirement and authorizations documents. The skills learned in the ORSA-FAM course will help produce and maintain accurate requirements documents such as Tables of Organizational Equipment and Basis of Issue Plans (BOIP) and precise authorizations documentation in the Modified Tables of Organizational Equipment.

Part of any analysis is to present the findings to the decision makers. For USAFMSA, the decision makers are the Organizational Requirements Document Approval Board Council of Colonels (CoC). The CoC makes decisions concerning the approval, disapproval of a BOIP for any given piece of military equipment. The CoC relies on the analysis and presentation of the BOIP from the Document Integrators (DI) to be able to make the most informed and appropriate decision. USAFMSA business rules state that the BOIP process should take an average of 140 days. If a BOIP has not been thoroughly researched and documented correctly by the DI, the CoC may not reach an approval consensus. Without a consensus, it is further required for the BOIP to go onto to the General Officers Steering Committee (GOSC); which meets every three months. Usually, a GOSC is only involved if the BOIP requires additional personnel or the BOIP is less than 95% funded or an unfunded requirement exists which exceeds one million dollars. Such a delay stalls the approval of needed equipment in the operating force and may prevent the combatant commander from effectively completing their Title X mission. Therefore, it is necessary for DIs to perform rigorous research and analysis to ensure the best possible product for approval.

Another example is the U.S. Army Manpower Analysis Agency (USAMAA), which conducts single point manpower studies and develops manpower requirements models for Headquarters, Department of the Army and Generating Force Army headquarters elements. USAMAA also validates single point manpower studies and manpower requirements models developed by Generating Force Army commands. They validate the manpower analysis portion of all Concept Plans and provide proactive support to Generating Force Army organizations for all manpower requirements determination issues. The ORSA-FAM course provided instruction on how to develop a study plan and work through the corresponding problem decomposition and how to identify and analyze data for resource relocation and force structure determination.

The ORSA-FAM is useful for force managers for the previously mentioned reasons, but the course also allows management analysts to align their education with the CP26 vision, which, in part is to continuously examine, refine and improve our strategies, skills and techniques to remain a diverse, adaptive and competent team of professionals. There is intrinsic value in ensuring that not only do analysts get the best training in methods, but also training in the tools needed for their application. All of which would allow decision makers to make the best possible choices in an environment of overwhelming requirements in severely constrained resources.

• Date Taken: 09.03.2015
• Date Posted: 09.04.2015 10:50
• Story ID: 175276
• Location: THE PENTAGON, DC, US
• Hometown: CUMBERLAND, MD, US
• Hometown: FORT BELVOIR, VA, US