View source for United States Army Acquisition Corps

{{Short description|U.S. Army branch charged with product development, fielding, and support}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Acquisition Corps
| image = USArmyAquisitionCorpsRegIns.png
| caption = [[U.S. Army Regimental System|Regimental insignia]]
| dates = 1989–present
| country = {{flag|United States of America}}
| allegiance = 
| branch = {{army|USA}}
| type = [[Military acquisition]]
| role = [[Product development]], fielding, and support
| size = 
| command_structure = 
| garrison = 
| garrison_label = 
| equipment = 
| equipment_label = 
| nickname = 
| patron = 
| motto = Pactum Excello
| colors = Black
| colors_label = 
| march = 
| mascot = 
| battles = 
| anniversaries = 
| decorations = 
| battle_honours = <!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander = [[Lieutenant general (United States)|LTG]] [[Robert M. Collins]]
| current_commander_label = Principal Military Deputy [[United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology|OASA (ALT)]]
| ceremonial_chief = 
| ceremonial_chief_label = 
| colonel_of_the_regiment = 
| colonel_of_the_regiment_label =
| notable_commanders = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol = [[File:Acquisition-Corps-Branch-In.png|125px|center]]
| identification_symbol_label = [[United States Army branch insignia|Branch insignia]]
| identification_symbol_2= [[File:US-ARMY-ACQUISITION-CORPS-E.png|150px|center]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Branch plaque
}}
The '''United States Army Acquisition Corps''' (AAC) is the officer / NCO corps of the [[United States Army]]  Acquisition Workforce (AAW), a branch which includes civilians, officers, and NCOs.<ref name=aaw >[https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/about-aaw/ 96% of the Army Acquisition Workforce are civilian]</ref><ref name= talentManagementAAE >[https://www.army.mil/article/221113/from_the_aae_building_the_army_acquisition_team Dr. Bruce D. Jette, ASA(ALT) (April 30, 2019) From the AAE: Building the Army Acquisition Team] New Army Talent Management system: proposals for getting PhD-level officers into AAW </ref> The Acquisition Corps is composed of army officers who serve in [[Military acquisition|acquisition]], a specialized form of [[product development]], fielding, and support and Noncommissioned Officers who specialize in Contracting, Level I Program Management and Purchasing.<ref name=asawsh2018 >[[ASA(ALT)]] [https://www.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/533115.pdf Weapon Systems Handbook 2018] Page 32 lists how this handbook is organized. 440 pages.
*By Modernization priority
*By Acquisition or Business System category (ACAT or BSC). The Weapon systems in each ACAT are sorted alphabetically by Weapon system name. Each weapon system might also be in several variants (Lettered);  a weapon system's variants might be severally and simultaneously in the following phases of its Life Cycle, namely — °Materiel Solution Analysis; °Technology Maturation & Risk Reduction; °Engineering & Manufacturing Development; °Production & Deployment; °Operations & Support
*ACAT I, II, III, IV are defined on page 404</ref><ref name= dodSupplyChain>[https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/06/28/nothing-left-in-the-tank-the-state-of-the-pentagons-supply-chain/ Andrew Gonzalez and Stephen Rodriguez (28 Jun 2021) Nothing left in the tank: The state of the Pentagon's supply chain]</ref><ref name= aaf >[https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2020/10/7/pentagon-signs-new-acquisition-pathway-to-streamline-software-development Mandy Mayfield (7 October 2020) JUST IN: Pentagon to Streamline Software Development] AAF (Adaptive acquisition framework) now adheres to the updated DoD 5000.01 policy approved in September 2020 by Ellen Lord's lead, the Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist</ref> These officers begin their careers in the other branches of the army for eight years, after which they may elect the Acquisition branch as their career as assistant program managers (APMs), program managers (PMs), and [[program executive officer]]s (PEOs).<ref name= CapabilityStatement>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgOkL8tvX-Q  Viv Olo (28 Jan 2021) Capability Statement for Government Contracting] [[Capability (systems engineering)|Capability]]: 'the ability to perform or achieve some desired outcomes'</ref> (A PEO can be civilian.) The Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) are reclassified in the Army Acquisition NCO Corps after serving 7-10 years in their respective enlisted career management fields, and serve primarily in the Army Acquisition Career Management Field - 51 and (MOS) 51C. 4% percentage of the Army Acquisition Officers serve among the 40,000 members of the army acquisition workforce, 6% in MOS 51C - Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Contracting Noncommissioned Officer (Active, Reserve and National Guards), and the remainder 90% percentage consist largely of Department of the Army [[civilian]]s.<ref name=aaw />

The director of the Army Acquisition Corps, currently a lieutenant general, also serves as principal military deputy (PMILDEP) to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology or [[ASA(ALT)]]. The PMILDEP is also director of combat systems for [[United States Army Futures Command|Army Futures Command]] (AFC), by Army Directive 2018-15.<ref name=afc,alt,g8 >[https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN12786_AD2018-15_Web_Final.pdf Army Directive 2018-15 U.S. Army Futures Command Relationship With the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)] and DCS G-8, 27 August 2018</ref><ref>Army Directive 2018-15, section 6b: "PMILDEP will additionally be AFC director, Combat Systems"</ref>
The Office of ASA(ALT) has a direct reporting unit (DRU) which is denoted the [[U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center]] (USAASC). An office within USAASC, [[U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center#Director, Acquisition Career Management (DACM)|DACM]] ensures the professional development of the Acquisition Workforce as well as the Officers / NCOs corps itself, including the recruitment of suitable Captains, Majors, Staff Sergeants and Sergeant First Class into the pipeline of courses at the US Army Acquisition Corps School of Acquisition Excellence, Huntsville, AL and [[Defense Acquisition University]] (DAU). DAU certifies the 150,000-member Defense Acquisition Workforce, including the Army's Acquisition workforce of 40,000 civilians, officers, and NCOs (MOS 51C).<ref name="aaw"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Army Acquisition Workforce<ref name="aaw"/>
! colspan=2 | 40,000
! rowspan=2 | Army role
|-
! %
! count
|-
| [[U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center|USAASC]]
| 12
| 4800
| acquisition support
|-
| [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]]
| 18
| 7200
| combat service support
|-
| [[United States Army Materiel Command|Army Materiel Command]]
| 60
| 24000
| [[materiel]] provider
|-
|[[United States Army Test and Evaluation Command|ATEC]]
|4
|1600
|test and evaluation
|-
|Other
|3
|1200
|low density acquisition
|-
|[[United States Army Medical Command|MEDCOM]]
|2
|800
|combat medical equipment
|-
|[[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command|SMDC]] 
|1
|400
|space and missile defense
|}

== History ==
The Acquisition Corps was instituted in 1989 by Chief of Staff Carl Vuono.<ref name=wallChart /> Vuono's goal was to professionalize the Acquisition workforce. In 2006 the Army Acquisition NCO Corps was approved by the Department of the Army and instituted by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology)/Army Acquisition Executive by the Honorable Claude M. Bolton Jr. 

During the post-9/11 period, the US Army was preoccupied with counter-insurgencies, leaving its competitors free to develop new weapon systems. In order to address this need for modernization, the Army Futures Command (AFC) was instituted in 2018.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2018/07/12/army-to-unveil-details-about-new-futures-command-in-biggest-reorganization-in-45-years/ Dan Lamothe ''Washington Post'' (2018-07-12) Army to unveil details about new Futures Command in biggest reorganization in 45 years]</ref> AFC's approach to modernization is to clarify the engineering of a candidate system before it becomes a Program of Record in the Acquisition process. "Our new approach is really to prototype as much as we can to help us identify requirements, so our reach doesn't exceed our grasp. ... A good example is Future Vertical Lift: The prototyping has been exceptional." —Secretary of the Army [[Mark Esper]]<ref name=fvl20190124 >[https://breakingdefense.com/2019/01/bell-v-280-flies-322-mph-army-secretary-praises-program/ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (24 January 2019) Bell V-280 Flies 322 MPH: Army Secretary Praises Program]</ref>

{{anchor|AROC}}The Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) is an advisory council to the Army Chief of Staff, who chairs AROC.<ref name= Milley2016 /> AROC is a mechanism which can authorize the acquisition process. AROC brings the budgeting, requirements and acquisition circles into a venue for making some key decisions.{{efn|name=g8357|1=  Both [[Deputy Chief of Staff G-8 Programs of The United States Army|DCS G-8]] and [[Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G-3/5/7)|G-3/5/7]] sit on the Army Requirements  Operating Council (AROC), chaired by the Chief of Staff  of the Army (CSA).<ref name=htar >United States Army War College and Army  Force Management School [https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1127933.pdf (2019-2020) How the Army Runs] (HTAR) A senior leader reference handbook which synthesizes "existing and developing National, Defense, Joint, and Army systems, processes, and procedures currently practiced" for Force Management.</ref>{{rp|diagram on p.559}}<ref name= forceMgt >James Kennedy [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNY4nVNSOwE  (2019) Force Management Model - Complete] </ref>}}<ref name= ar71,9 >Research, Development, and Acquisition [https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN31331-AR_71-9-000-WEB-1.pdf  AR 71–9 (2009) Warfighting Capabilities Determination] Aug 15, 2019 update. Or see [https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ActiveInactiveRescSearch.aspx Search menu]</ref> <ref name= ar70,1>[https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/ccap/cc/jcchb/Files/FormsPubsRegs/Pubs/Army%20Regulation%2070-1.pdf Research, Development, and Acquisition (22 Jul 2011) Army Acquisition Policy] AR 70-1 Or see [https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ActiveInactiveRescSearch.aspx Search menu]</ref>  <ref name= Milley2016 >[https://federalnewsnetwork.com/army/2016/03/army-puts-chief-staff-center-acquisition-decisions/ Jared Serbu (11 Mar 2016) Army puts its chief of staff 'at the center' of acquisition decisions] </ref>  <ref name=  recordsTrailSample >[https://www.archives.gov/files/records-mgmt/rcs/schedules/departments/department-of-defense/department-of-the-army/rg-au/n1-au-09-038_sf115.pdf Request for Record Disposition Authority] (1 Sep 2009) AR 71–9</ref>  <ref name= ArocRoadmap >[https://asc.army.mil/web/news-a-model-and-process-for-transitioning-urgent-acquisition/ USAASC, Army ALT Magazine, Best Practices (16 February 2018) A Model and Process for Transitioning Urgent Acquisition] - USAASC (United States Army Acquisition Corps)</ref>  <ref name= CoraRoadmap >Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/land/2024/10/14/officials-move-to-purge-stale-weapon-requirements-from-army-books/ (14 Oct 2024) Officials move to purge stale weapon requirements from Army books]</ref>

==Acquisition process==
[[File:Acquisition_Process.jpg|thumb|450px|DoD (2007) Acquisition process denoting Milestones A, B, C along a timeline. When a milestone has been met, the triangle then points downward, at this time. Otherwise the milestone is planned, but not yet met at this time.]]
Before a prototype can become a [[Program of Record]], the Army has determined that prototype has a desired capability.<ref name= CapabilityStatement />
For a Program of Record,<ref name=por >{{Cite web |url=https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!522 |title=''Acquipedia'' Program of Record |access-date=2019-02-22 |archive-date=2019-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223020359/https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!522 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Acquisition Life Cycle is 
:°Materiel Solution Analysis;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!233 |title=''Acquipedia'', Materiel Solution Analysis Phase |access-date=2019-02-22 |archive-date=2019-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223020359/https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!233 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
:°Technology Maturation & Risk Reduction;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!235 |title=''Acquipedia'', Systems Engineering in Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction |access-date=2019-02-22 |archive-date=2019-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223020359/https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!235 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
:°Engineering & Manufacturing Development;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!241 |title=''Acquipedia'', Engineering & Manufacturing Development |access-date=2019-02-22 |archive-date=2019-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223020359/https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!241 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
:°Production & Deployment;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!224 |title=''Acquipedia'', Production & Deployment |access-date=2019-02-22 |archive-date=2019-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223020359/https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!224 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
:°Operations & Support<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!257 |title=''Acquipedia'', Operations & Support |access-date=2019-02-22 |archive-date=2019-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223020359/https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/pages/articledetails.aspx#!257 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 40,000 member Acquisition workforce (AAW) is composed as follows (Source: CAPPMIS As of 31 July 2018<ref name=aaw />):

:Percentage, Acquisition Career Field 
:1% Business-Cost Estimating	
:4% Information Technology 
:4% Business-Financial Management	
:17% Life-cycle Logistics 
:20% Contracting	
:4% Production, Quality and Manufacturing 
:23% Engineering	
:8% Program Management 
:12% Facilities Engineering	
:1% Purchasing 
:<1% Industrial/Contract Property Management	
:1% Science & Technology Manager 
:5% Test and Evaluation

The Acquisition process has existed for [[Military logistics#History|centuries]],<ref name =briefHist />  but has historically been beset by dysfunctional response to change.<ref name=futuresCommandPressConf>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL_CsiuTVFU AFC announcement, Friday (13 July 2018) Army Officials Announce New Army Command] video 34 minutes, 27 seconds</ref>{{rp| Minute 19:40}}<ref name=innovation >[https://www.army.mil/article/217675/army_needs_entrepreneurs_says_under_secretary Army News Service (21 February 2018) Army needs entrepreneurs, says under secretary]</ref> The US Army has not fielded a new weapon system in decades.<ref name=fp2015,03,02>[https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/02/why-hasnt-the-armys-regular-acquisition-process-produced-anything-in-decades/  Thomas E. Ricks (MARCH 2, 2015)Why hasn't the Army's regular acquisition process produced anything in decades? --Future of War conference. ]</ref><ref>[https://www.militarynews.com/peninsula-warrior/features/army_features/safer-smarter-faster-an-interview-with-gen-james-mcconville/article_6af79dce-b16d-11e8-9c32-17be6e92ab04.html Arpi Dilanian and Matthew Howard Army.mil (6 September 2018) Safer, smarter, faster: An interview with Gen. James McConville]</ref><ref name=edgeEroded >[https://www.cbsnews.com/live/video/20181114222400-the-u-s-could-lose-the-next-war-it-fights-after-appearing-to-lose-its-military-edge/?ftag=CNM15cf32c "US edge has eroded to a dangerous degree"]</ref>
The Acquisition process is in need of reform, as noted by Senator John McCain to General Mark Milley, during Milley's confirmation hearings as Army Chief of Staff.<ref name=24aug2018>[https://www.dvidshub.net/video/621108/army-futures-command-press-conference DVIDs video, 24 August 2018 press conference]</ref>{{rp|minute 7:30}}  A series of Acquisition reforms<ref name =briefHist >[https://asc.army.mil/web/access-army-acquisition-a-brief-history/ ARMY ACQUISITION: A BRIEF HISTORY]</ref> has attempted to address these problems, not the least of which is an impending funding shortfall in 2020. 
Secretary Esper scrubbed through 800<ref name=cutsLikely>[https://www.upi.com/Program-cuts-likely-under-Army-secretarys-new-Futures-Command/6821522958394/ Hannah Wiley (April 6, 2018) Program cuts likely under Army secretary's new Futures Command]</ref> modernization programs to reprioritize funding<ref name=reprioritize2018funding >[https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/07/17/army-asks-congress-to-shift-millions-in-fy18-dollars-to-pay-for-big-modernization-efforts/ Jen Judson  (17 July 2018) US Army asks Congress to shift millions in FY18 dollars. What's behind the request?]</ref> for the top 6 modernization priorities,<ref name=esper29aug2018>[https://breakingdefense.com/2018/08/army-futures-command-100m-500-staff-access-to-top-leaders/ Sydney Freedberg (29 August 2018) Army Futures Command: $100M, 500 Staff, & Access To Top Leaders]</ref> which will consume 80% of the modernization funding of the army,<ref name=modernizationFunding>[https://www.army.mil/article/210734/richardson_confirmed_as_futures_command_deputy_commander David Vergun (September 5, 2018) Richardson confirmed as Futures Command deputy commander]</ref>  of 18 systems.<ref name=modernizationFunding /> The Budget Control Act will restrict funds by 2020.<ref name=donCio >[http://www.doncio.navy.mil/CHIPS/ArticleDetails.aspx?ID=10181 Devon L. Suits, Army News Service (March 28, 2018)CHIPS Articles: Army Secretary defines goals for coming decade — modernization, Futures Command]</ref><ref name=judson$25b >[https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/tv-next-episode/2018/10/15/how-did-the-army-find-25-billion-for-new-equipment/ Jeff Martin (15 October 2018) How did the Army find $25 billion for new equipment?] video</ref><ref name=deficitsBalloon,detail >[https://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/can-trump-rebuild-the-military-as-deficits-balloon/  Daniel Goure (October 18, 2018) Can Trump Rebuild The Military As Deficits Balloon? ]</ref><ref name=cut33billion >[https://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/joint-experiments-will-pick-budget-winners-losers-dunford/ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (October 26, 2018)  Joint Experiments Will Pick Budget Winners & Losers: Dunford ] Task is to cut $33 Billion from 2020 budget</ref><ref name=716Billion,detail >[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DGRI18PDwA YouTube: What will $716 Billion Buy You? US Defense Budget 2019] Weapons</ref><ref name=nduProjection2017to2020 >[http://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/Article/1026968/chapter-4-the-american-defense-budget-20172020/ Michael J. Meese (23 Dec 2016) Chapter 4 : The American Defense Budget 2017–2020 ] Note Fed chart 1970-2026</ref><ref name=2020cut >[https://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/breaking-trump-orders-dod-to-take-surprise-33b-budget-cut/ PAUL MCLEARY (October 26, 2018) Trump Orders DoD To Take Surprise $33B Budget Cut] 2020 DoD budget cut from $733 billion to $700 billion</ref><ref name=resignCMO,DoD >[https://breakingdefense.com/2018/11/the-pentagons-first-ever-audit-a-big-disappointment/  PAUL MCLEARY (November 14, 2018)  The Pentagon's First-Ever Audit: A Big Disappointment?]</ref><ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/09/trump-pentagon-defense-spending-budget-1054068 Wesley Morgan (09 December 2018) Trump reverses course, tells Pentagon to boost budget request to $750 billion]</ref> One issue is that Acquisition leadership gets unreadable reports, according to the GAO.<ref name=gao17,457>[https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/685425.pdf GAO report (Jun 2017) ARMY CONTRACTING Leadership Lacks Information Needed to Evaluate and Improve Operations]</ref>

A succession of Army Secretaries and Army Chiefs of Staff have instituted reforms, or else project cancellations, in response.<ref name=wallChart >[https://downloads.realviewdigital.com/US%20Army%20Acquisition%20Support%20Centre/Army%20Acquisition%20Logistics%20and%20Technology%20Magazine/ASC_25YearsTimeline_09-02-14.pdf Wall chart]</ref>

The 2018 approach is to prototype and experiment (before Milestone B, for Army Acquisition)<ref name=por />{{rp|Army Regulation (AR 70–1)}} before the Materiel Development Decision.

== Modernization priorities ==
The Army's modernization priorities of 2018, and its Cross-functional teams (CFTs),  are found in the [[United States Army Futures Command|Army Futures Command]] (AFC):
#Long Range Precision Fires (Artillery branch)
#Next Generation Combat Vehicles (Armor branch)
#Future Vertical Lift (Aviation branch)
#Expeditionary network (Signal Corps)
#Air and Missile defense (Air Defense Artillery branch)
#Soldier Lethality completes the top six CFTs; in addition,
#Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing seeks a wartime replacement for [[GPS]], and
# Synthetic Training Environment provides [[virtual reality]] training for Soldiers at their home stations

The last two CFTs are [[cross-cutting]] over multiple domains.

From the viewpoint of Futures Command, a quick failure is preferable to a long, drawn-out failure. The 6th [[United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology|ASA(ALT)]] Bruce Jette has cautioned the acquisition community to 'call-out' unrealistic processes which commit a program to a drawn-out failure,<ref name=gao17,457 /> rather than failing early, and seeking another solution.<ref>[https://www.army.mil/article/208403/building_the_army_of_the_future Bruce Jette, Building the Army of the future]</ref> A cancellation with harvestable content is not a total loss. 
In the Department of Defense, the materiel supply process was underwritten by the acquisition, logistics, and technology directorate of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), with a deputy secretary of defense (DSD) to oversee five areas, one of them being acquisition, logistics, and technology (ALT).<ref>[https://www.dau.mil/tools/Lists/DAUTools/Attachments/203/Interactive%20Lifecycle%20Chart%201.2%20Print.pdf DoDI 5000.02: Defense Acquisition Life Cycle Compliance Baseline (Pre‐Tailoring)]</ref> ALT is overseen by an under secretary of defense (USD).<ref>[[:File:DoD Organization December 2013.jpg|DoD org chart]]</ref> But as of 2018 the DoD under secretary (USD) for ALT is participating in a [[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment|reorganization]] of the DoD Acquisition process.<ref>[https://dod.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1479909/dod-restructures-its-acquisition-technology-logistics-organization/ Terri Moon Cronk (March 29, 2018) DoD Restructures its Acquisition, Technology, Logistics Organization]</ref> ''(See: [[Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System]]'' (JCIDS), and ''[[Analysis of Alternatives]])'' Dr. Jette points out that the army, by using middle-tier acquisition, has been exempted from the DoD 5000 and JCIDS procedures and is allowed to use rapid prototyping.<ref name=Jette >[https://www.dvidshub.net/video/631508/ausa-2018-cmf-1-army-futures-command-unifies-force-modernization DVIDS video (10.08.2018) AUSA 2018 CMF #1: Army Futures Command Unifies Force Modernization]</ref>{{rp|minute 17:10}}

==Modernization process==
The modernization of the combat systems of the US Army in a timely way is the goal of Futures Command, established in 2018. AFC uses [[United States Army Futures Command#Cross-functional teams|Cross-functional teams]] (CFTs) to downselect prospective requirements from the myriad solutions that might possibly feed into the Acquisition process. Each CFT addresses one of a manageable number of priorities set by the secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army. A CFT is a team of teams, at base a small co-located team of experts, each expert reaching back to their respective team when necessary, for additional knowledge on requirements, acquisition, science and technology, test, resourcing, costing, and sustainment. Each CFT experiments on, and tests, prototypes to learn what is doable in a timely way. Each prototype is expected to reach Milestones: A, B, C, .. until a Materiel Development Decision (MDD) can be made, whether or not to admit a Combat system into the Acquisition process. Otherwise a prototype is discarded or divested from the modernization portfolio.
{{quote|The current acquisition system has pieces all throughout the Army. ... There’s chunks of it in TRADOC and chunks of it in AMC and then other pieces. So really all we’re trying to do is get them all lined up under a single command…..from concept, S&T, RDT&E, through the requirements process, through the beginnings of the acquisition system — Milestone A, B, and C — ….aligned under that same commander. ... We will finally achieve… unity of command — Secretary Esper.<ref name=Freedberg26Mar2018>[https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/army-outlines-futures-command-org-chart-in-flux/ Sydney Freedberg, Jr. (26 March 2018) Army Outlines Futures Command; Org Chart In Flux]</ref>}}

The ASA(ALT) is the Acquisition executive (AAE). By statute, an MDD is ultimately the decision of the Acquisition executive (because the AAE, with the concurrence of the Chief of Staff of the Army, has Milestone Decision Authority —MDA),<ref name=afc,alt,g8 /><ref>[https://ssilrc.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RDA-Summary-Sheet-updated.docx Financial Management School, IDENTIFY THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION (RDA) SYSTEM, SUMMARY SHEET]</ref> who jointly might delegate the details of that materiel development decision to the PMILDEP or PEO. The PMILDEP has found CFTs to be so useful that he has recommended that each PEO find a CFT as soon as possible (in 2018).<ref name=pmildep >[https://www.army.mil/article/211337/with_new_army_futures_command_senior_acquisition_leader_discusses_role_of_program_executive_offices Ms. Audra Calloway (Picatinny) (September 19, 2018) With new Army Futures Command, senior acquisition leader discusses role of Program Executive Offices]</ref>{{efn|name= arocContext |1= AROC context<ref name=bigAacquisition >Lt. Gen. Michael E. Williamson [https://www.army.mil/article/180145/big_a_acquisition (28 December 2016) Big 'A' Acquisition] RCO</ref><ref name= >Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) SAAL-ZS [https://www.dau.edu/tools/Documents/Interactive%20Adaptive%20Acquisition%20Framework%20Chart/Resources/ARMY_10092018_804-MTA_guidance.pdf (25 Sep 2018) Middle-Tier Acquisition Policy] (MTA) Charter, Army Rapid Capabilities Office, 13 December 2016. —Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Fielding.— 14 pages</ref><ref name=ar71_9Jun2021 >Headquarters, Department of the Army [https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN31331-AR_71-9-000-WEB-1.pdf (29 June 2021) Army Regulation 71–9, Force Management. Warfighting Capabilities Determination] 8 chapters, 85 pages. Places AROC in context of a larger process. </ref><ref name=ad202207 >Christine Wormuth, SecArmy [https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN35370-ARMY_DIR_2022-07-000-WEB-1.pdf (3 May 2022) Army Directive 2022-07 (Army Modernization Roles and Responsibilities)] Fine-tunes AR71–9 etc.</ref><!--<ref name= > [ ( ] </ref>-->}}

The principal military deputy (PMILDEP) of ASA(ALT) was to be also director of combat systems for [[United States Army Futures Command|Army Futures Command]] (AFC), by Army Directive 2018-15<ref name=afc,alt,g8 /> but AD2018-15 has been rescinded by AD2022-07; AD2022-07 also rescinds AD2020-15.<ref name=ad202207 />

==Notes==
{{Noteslist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Branches of the United States Army|Acquisition Corps]]
[[Category:United States defense procurement]]