TRADOC training fleets to be managed by AMC

Army Logistician, Sept-Oct, 2006

The Army Materiel Command (AMC) is assuming responsibility for managing and maintaining training base equipment from the Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). Under the Fleet Management Initiative (FMI), which is being implemented in phases, AMC provides fleet maintenance and supply support to TRADOC training vehicles. This allows AMC to manage related functions centrally. Because maintenance programs have not been coordinated centrally in the past, competition for the same repair parts and contract labor has sometimes occurred. With FMI, maintenance and supply actions can be synchronized, which enhances long-term planning for acquisition of scarce parts and creates the opportunity to improve the process.

A February 2002 study on the feasibility and desirability of transferring the TRADOC maintenance and supply mission to AMC determined that such a transfer potentially would optimize AMC's core competencies and allow TRADOC to focus on its primary mission of training.

Pilot FMI programs were conducted at the Army Aviation Center at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the Army Armor Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Based on the success of those programs, the initiative was expanded to the training base fleets at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Lee, Virginia, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

According to Oliver B. Bonner, Jr., the Maintenance Director at the Integrated Materiel Management Center, Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command, at Fort Rucker, FMI optimized repair and buy decisions based on triage review, improved time on wing (the time an engine can remain on an aircraft wing before a shop visit is required) for repaired and overhauled components, reduced repetitive Government and contractor inspections, and increased the availability of parts and components.

According to Shelley Antle, Director of Resource and Logistics Management at Fort Knox, most components of the fleet at the Army Armor Center have higher operational readiness rates, primarily because of the access to hard-to-get parts. "One of the key advantages for maintenance and sustainment at Fort Knox has been AMC forward repair programs conducted on site to include M1A1 tank engine repair and the M88 recovery vehicle refurbishment fly-away team," Antle said. "These actions improve operational readiness rates and get equipment back on line and in the field to meet our mission to train Soldiers."