ARMY AL&T MAGAZINE

Downloads: 2

Hits: 71

From machines to medicine, software to field support, almost everything the Army does involves industry. The smallest tech startup and the biggest defense... read more

From machines to medicine, software to field support, almost everything the Army does involves industry. The smallest tech startup and the biggest defense contractor are equally important contributors to the goal of honing the Army’s edge. While maintaining a collaborative relationship with these industry players is always important, it grows ever more critical as defense budgets shrink. IN THIS ISSUE: With its decisive military overmatch a thing of the past, the United States seeks to marshal all possible resources to drive innovation and provide the latest capabilities. Army AL&T’s editors found that the picture of collaboration that emerges is far from complete, in “MAKING INNOVATION HAPPEN.” Big data analytics is a big thing in the world of high technology, and it’s especially important in cyber. A government off-the-shelf, open-source platform, part of a pilot program involving the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Enterprise Information Systems and U.S. Army Cyber Command, could lower costs and lead the way ahead. See “OPEN SOURCE BIG DATA.” From opening up export markets for U.S. armament manufacturers to finding ways to keep industrial base partners in business, a range of articles explores how PEO Ammunition keeps looking for new ways to work with industry. “While we constantly strive to develop breakthrough technologies in our labs and research, development and engineering centers, we also encourage the development of innovative solutions from industry partners, including small business firms,” the Honorable Katrina McFarland, acting assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and the Army acquisition executive, writes in “HIGH STAKES, HIGH REWARD.” The PEO for Command, Control and Communications – Tactical keeps up with rapid technological changes by taking a competitive approach to buying the latest commercial products to get the best to Soldiers faster, in “NETWORK MARKETPLACE: OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND GROWING.” An Army acquisition officer thought his advancement plans were derailed when he received orders to attend the resident course at U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Instead, the course was life-altering. See “AN ADVOCATE FOR INNOVATION.” Learn how the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency finds efficiencies in medical materiel procurement, fielding and sustainment to reduce the logistical footprint and optimize readiness with limited resources in “INTEGRATING ARMY MEDICINE.” Craig A. Spisak, director of the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center, explains how Soldiers training with industry helps Army acquisition work better in “SHRINKING THE DIVIDE,” while an Army officer tells of learning firsthand where Amazon’s corporate values and those of the military merge and diverge, in “ONE ‘PECULIAR’ FELLOWSHIP.”   less

Downloads: 2

Hits: 92

The April – June issue of Army AL&T magazine is two in one. First, experts from acquisition, logistics and technology delve into sustainment: what it... read more

The April – June issue of Army AL&T magazine is two in one. First, experts from acquisition, logistics and technology delve into sustainment: what it means and how to do it better. Also, the new AAE lays out her priorities: people, products and processes. Then read the special 54-page section on acquisition’s role in the NATO mission in Afghanistan, with dispatches from workforce members working with the government of Afghanistan to reform the procurement process and fund and supply Afghan defense forces sustainably. IN THIS ISSUE FROM THE AAE People, Products and Processes Acting AAE committed to BBP, funding R&D and supporting the workforce Orchestrating SUSTAINMENT U.S. Army, the Marine Corps and a major defense contractor collaborate to sustain the howitzer fleet AREA DENIAL PM CCS, TACOM and ARDEC sustain an aging stockpile of mines LESSONS for the Long Haul Lessons learned in transitioning a quick reaction capability to the long term GROUND TRUTH: Lessons Learned Failing to develop a sustainment strategy from the outset can be costly PACIFIC PATHWAYS In an Indo-Asia-Pacific pivot, Army land forces help to overcome the ‘tyranny of distance’ SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SHARED VISION PEO C3T and CECOM leaders discuss how Army partnerships can make sustainment more effective BEYOND GPS Pseudolites help pave the Army’s path to assured PNT when satellite signals are compromised REACHING FOR THE CLOUD An Army ‘cloud’ is not far away and offers significant benefits for sustainment COMMON CAUSE Tobyhanna Army Depot and PEO C3T develop a strategic sustainment partnership DESTINATION: INTEGRATION The Common Operating Environment establishes a shared foundation of hardware and software DETECT AND CONFIRM A simple method for sensor fusion, simply stated PARTNERING UP The 82nd Airborne deployed to Iraq with a solid partnership with the 900th Contracting Battalion Keeping it Simple Leadership clichés can go a long way to solving organizational challenges SUSTAINMENT ON THE RAILS Being part of CSX’s mission makes Cindy Sanborn eager to come to work COST SAVINGS FROM THE BOTTOM UP ‘Clean-sheeting’ gives PMs new options to cut costs for sole-sourced products BETTER TO BEST Six Army programs turned better buying power into best buying power SUSTAINING A WORLD-CLASS SYSTEM Strategic human-capital planning aims to ensure an agile, adaptable workforce READINESS FIRST Ever-changing challenges require an active, adaptive response from U.S. Army Sustainment Command BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: STRATCOM STRONG First in a new series: A program document with astonishing powers SUSTAIN, MAINTAIN, TRAIN, RETAIN DAWDF strengthens the Army Acquisition Workforce through a variety of programs THE ARMY DACM OFFICE The most important acquisition career tool you’ve never heard of TRAIN, ADVISE, ASSIST CSTC-A’s mission: Bring Afghanistan into the 21st century with transparent, repeatable business processes THE CONTINUING MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN Working to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used effectively for a strong, capable ANDSF OPERATION: PROCUREMENT REFORM An effort to eliminate corruption in Afghanistan takes an operational approach BRINGING AFGHAN DEFENSE FORCES UNDER BUDGET Sustainability and affordability are key to CSTC-A’s work to aid Afghan defense leaders A YEAR OF FIRSTS The Resolute Support Mission has helped Afghanistan achieve many milestones A WISH LIST FOR AFGHANISTAN Some wish lists are the stuff of childhood dreams, but this one includes vital must-haves REACHING FOR READINESS Using a system-of-systems approach to establish materiel readiness EXPANDING HORIZON With the changing coalition mission in Afghanistan, contingency contracting has also changed markedly ROUND PEG, SQUARE HOLE A different kind of FMS system is needed to support Afghan defense forces   less

Downloads: 0

Hits: 93

Army AL&T January – March 2016 issue - The Army's big business of small business With billions in contracting dollars going to small businesses for... read more

Army AL&T January – March 2016 issue - The Army's big business of small business With billions in contracting dollars going to small businesses for both products and services, there's no question that small companies are big business for the Army. That's why the January – March issue of Army AL&T magazine is dedicated to small business, online now at http://usaasc.armyalt.com/#folio=1. Tommy Marks, director of the Army Office of Small Business Programs, has been in that job for less than a year, but he's no stranger to the Army or to acquisition, having retired as a lieutenant colonel after 24 years of active duty service. Since college, he said, "It's been all Army." Now he's employing the expertise he gained to help the Army find the most innovative technology, the best services and help build and sustain the Army's industrial base from the ground up. Read “It’s all in the delivery” on page 14. Some of the small businesses that participated in the first Cyber Innovation Challenge at SoSE&I were micro companies, but that didn't prevent them from getting "In the 'Shark Tank' " to get the Army interested in their technology. Read about the innovative way that the directorate went after cutting-edge technology on page 82. From the other side of the small business fence come the perspectives and voices of entrepreneurs—many if not most former military personnel—who discuss the benefits and difficulties of doing business with the Army. From tacking requests for proposals to the many Catch-22s, to the ultimate return on investment—helping the warfighter. Read "An Honor and a Challenge" in Critical Thinking on page 118. Also on the business side of things, in the should-read/must-read category: The verdict is in on the Better Buying Power initiative best known as "should cost," which challenges PMs to throw out their assumptions and preconceptions and look at what a program really should cost. Should-cost works, and has saved many millions. In " 'Should' Does," on page 98, the ASA(ALT) PARCA looks at how to help the initiative move forward and work even better across all the phases of development. AMC is responsible for ensuring that warfighters have everything they need to respond to any new conflict, and its offices of small business programs are responsible for ensuring that small businesses are considered at every step of Army acquisition. Learn how they do it in "Driving Small Business Success," on page 34. The January – March issue also marks the last column the current Army acquisition executive, the Hon. Heidi Shyu, as she steps down. Gabe Camarillo, her principle deputy, contributes a heartfelt tribute to his boss, her sense of humor and her practical-minded approach to Army acquisition. The new issue also has more than small business, including "The Future of Wearable Tech." Real-time physiological status monitoring is technology that not only is continuing to advance but also enabling the science and technology community to fine tune and enhance Soldier performance with continuous monitoring of the Soldier's physiological state—and preventing driving them to the point of failure Read the January – March edition online at usaasc.armyalt.com to view the interactive features and online extras. The app version is available on the Apple iOS App Store and on Google Play. To view pdfs of the current past Army AL&T magazine go to http://asc.army.mil/web/magazine/alt-magazine-archive/.   less

Downloads: 15

Hits: 99

Innovation is often assumed to be the next big thing, but more often, it’s incremental upgrades to the way things are done, built or contracted. That’s... read more

Innovation is often assumed to be the next big thing, but more often, it’s incremental upgrades to the way things are done, built or contracted. That’s why Army AL&T’s Editorial Advisory Board wanted us to focus on innovative approaches to acquisition. We made it the theme for the October – December edition of Army AL&T, which is online now and will be available in hard copy at the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting & Exposition. This newest edition of Army AL&T is packed with ways that organizations have innovated to make processes work more smoothly, from acquiring ammunition to fielding capability sets to making logistics go like clockwork. Articles discuss innovations such as simultaneously building and integrating prototypes; a multiyear effort to change from a performance specification to a technical data package; red-teaming product development and making Soldiers a part of the process, to name just a few. Readers will also find a moving tribute to the Hon. Claude M. Bolton Jr., former assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, whose sudden passing in July was a blow to his many friends and former colleagues across the services. The new edition also has a special section on foreign military sales (FMS), an important tool for the government and the Army in promoting U.S. interests abroad and at home. FMS cases have accelerated recently—a good thing for the taxpayer, the Army and the United States’ allies and partner nations. For the taxpayer, FMS helps to avoid the cost of mothballing, demilitarizing or otherwise disposing of vast stores of unneeded materiel. For the Army, FMS helps keep the industrial base warm, retains much-needed talent and furthers good relations with partner nations. For U.S. allies and partner nations, it provides the possibility of greater security at home, not to mention gaining potential capabilities that many nations can only dream of acquiring. Read the interactive e-magazine at http://usaasc.armyalt.com/?iid=128417#folio=1.  less

Downloads: 9

Hits: 57

All Of Acquisition Starts With Requirements, Which Lay The Ground Rules For Every Aspect Of A System, Program Or Service—And For How Government And... read more

All Of Acquisition Starts With Requirements, Which Lay The Ground Rules For Every Aspect Of A System, Program Or Service—And For How Government And Industry Work Together To Make Them A Reality. From The AAE: Achievable Requirements, Building A Solid Base For Program Success From Concept To Delivery, A Q&A With ARCIC’s MG Cedric T. Wins In Sync, Secure And Aware, Cyberspace Is The New, Virtual Battlefield, And Lines Of Offense And Defense Are Blurred If Not Obliterated Operational Testing And The Acquisition Triumvirate The Often-Contentious Environment Of Operational Testing Can Be Defused By Implementing Common-Sense Approaches Early In The Process Killing The ‘Creep’ JLTV’s Competitive Prototyping Effort Fills A Gap In The Light Tactical Vehicle Fleet While Preventing Test Creep By Bringing Together Stakeholders To Eliminate Unplanned, Unfunded Requirements Wrangling Radio Requirements Lessons Learned From Software-Defined Radio Development Help TRADOC And Pm Tactical Radios Develop A Unified Approach That Evolves Requirements Incrementally PM TAS Teams With Rock Island Arsenal And ARDEC To Improve Performance, Safety, Costs For The Recoil System Of The M119 Howitzer Engineering Logistics AMRDEC Cuts Out The Middleman And Puts Engineers Next To Logisticians To Make Strategic Fix-Or-Buy Decisions And Keep Warfighters’ Equipment In Good Repair ‘Soldier, What Can Earwig Do For You?’ Semiannual Aerwg Meetings Help The Army Adapt And Evolve Its Force-Equipping Methodology In The Face Of A Changing World And Austere Budgets Getting Requirements Right QRCs Were Quick Fixes To Save Lives And Ensure Mission Success, But Backfilling Requirements To Sustain The Capabilities Sounds Easier Than It Is Making And Finding Solutions Plexiglas Maker Arkema’s R&D Chief Discusses Regulations, Requirements, Opportunities For Product Change And Improvement Improving Process Improvement The Army Office Of Business Transformation Aims To Improve CPI To Make Sure The Army Uses The Right Methodology For The Right Job, Potentially Saving Billions A New Vehicle For Savings PEO MS And Letterkenny Depot Partner on Improving Radar Platforms While Rapidly Fielding Equipment And Sustaining The Organic Industrial Base Many Eyes, Same Pictures Multifunction Video Display System Integrates Full-Motion Video From All Sources At All Vehicle Crew Stations Paths To Leadership New Civilian Product Directors Discuss Career Paths To Their Selection Mentoring For Success A Review Of Formal Mentoring Efforts Yields A List Of To-Dos And Must-Haves For Developing Programs That Enhance Career Development For Mentors And Mentees Alike Peak Of Professionalism ASA(ALT) Leadership Presents Acquisition and Contracting Awards Honoring Expertise, Commitment And Successful Project Execution Dogs Of War New Digs And More For Soldier Dogs   less

Downloads: 40

Hits: 87

The facets of Army acquisition are many, and not all of them are within the Army’s control. Revamping it will require teamwork, professionalism, planning,... read more

The facets of Army acquisition are many, and not all of them are within the Army’s control. Revamping it will require teamwork, professionalism, planning, precision and skill. In this issue: Progress Report - A Q&A with the Hon. Frank Kendall Vested interest - PEO Soldier and DLA devised a way to upgrade the body armor vest for just half the cost of replacement, potentially saving tens of millions Testing, TESTED - USAOTC looks to streamline testing and get new products to Soldiers in less time and at a lower cost Evolving EMARSS - Aerial ISR capabilities, fielded as quick reaction capability technologies, now must transition to programs of record—and doing so requires a new approach NEXT-GEN Command Post - Winning in a complex world calls for an increase in both Soldier capability and adaptability— and a leaner, more mobile, expeditionary command post To a Network Marketplace - Lessons learned inform a new Army approach to competitively sourcing digital C4ISR gear LESS is MORE - The key to increasing combat power is reducing waste, sourcing locally, increasing supply chain efficiency—in short, making all Army assets count Looking Back to Move Ahead - Leveraging a decade of hard lessons, CERDEC’s NVESD looks to bolster the Army’s technology investments by embracing change LIFESAVING POSSIBILITIES - USAMRMC’s NPI website has encouraged innovative products for nine years, and a major upgrade will improve on that ABOUT ‘FACE’ - PEO Aviation teams to standardize architecture and open up avionics software development, cut costs and spur competition where little has existed THE BIG PICTURE IS SMALL - Nanotechnology helps to create new and better ways of packaging MREs and Soldiers themselves. The results could include clothing that never needs washing A Momentous Discovery … or is it? - How explosives detectors at airports work, in the simplest possible terms WHAT WE LEARNED - Lessons learned in expeditionary contracting have vastly improved the capabilities and professionalism of the contingency contracting workforce Finding Closure - Rock Island contract closeout team returns more than $320 million to customers The New ‘GANSLER REPORT’ - Seven years after the commission he chaired released its landmark report, Jacques Gansler assesses the current state of defense acquisition GROUND TRUTH - Harnessing lessons learned through Better Buying Power initiatives Clearing the AIR - The Field Deployable Hydrolysis System came together on short notice with a mission to neutralize hundreds of tons of Syrian chemical weapons Even die-hard hard-copy readers will want to check out the electronic extras available on the app and online version of Army AL&T. Go to http://usaasc.armyalt.com/ or use the iOS or Android app to view additional content related to the stories in this edition. The + icon in the electronic versions indicates additional content.   less