Optimizing the Sustainment of U.S. Army Weapon Systems

The Army has drawn down its Operational Tempo in two theaters of operation Afghanistan and Iraq. Contingency operation funding is also being drawn down and its availability is based on strong needs justification. Future sustainment of Army managed manned and unmanned air and ground weapon systems is a critical topic not only within the Army Acquisition and Sustainment communities, but also within the Operational and Institutional Army. The research will provide courses of action to be considered to answer the question How can the Army optimize post war system sustainment support A literature review was conducted to identify statutes, regulations, policy, and procedures which form the framework of current Army weapon system sustainment. The review provides insight into the processes the Army uses to identify capability gaps and methods used to address these gaps. The research considered sustainment issues identified by strategic Army documents such as the Army s Capability Needs Analysis CNA, the U.S. Army Long-range Investment Requirements Analysis-18 LIRA-18, and the Joint Acquisition and Sustainment Review JASR Memorandum, signed 3 Dec 2014, by the Assistant Secretary of the Army ASA for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology AL and T, and the Commanding General CG, Army Materiel Command AMC. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected and analyzed from the communities involved in the sustainment of Army weapon systems. The analysis of the collected data was used to craft possible Courses of Action for consideration by Senior Army leaders.