OEF and OIF soldiers can replace uniform items on line

Army Logistician, Sept-Oct, 2006

A program created by Department of the Army Headquarters, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), and Third Army/U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) allows Soldiers deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF) to receive direct delivery of replacements for damaged Army combat uniform (ACU) items. Army Direct Ordering (ADO) is a Web-based program that permits a Soldier to go on line, order items, and have those items shipped directly to his APO mailing address.

Through ADO Web-based ordering, Soldiers use a simple point-click-and-ship process that is familiar to online shoppers around the world. The process is faster and more efficient for the user than customary direct exchange methods.

A Soldier must turn in unserviceable uniforms to unit supply before receiving replacement items. The following support items can be replaced through ADO: ACU jacket; ACU trousers; black fleece overalls; ACU sun (boonie) hat; camouflage helmet cover; coat and trouser cold-weather liner; colored flags; desert boots; digitized name, rank, and Army tapes; drawers; elbow and knee pads; hot-weather boots; rigger's belt; sports bra; utility cap; and wicking T-shirt.

Only units currently in theater or about to deploy can enroll in the ADO program. According to Captain Tonya Gillard, the Theater Supply and Services Action Officer for the Coalition Forces Land Component Command, "There is a rumor that units must wait until they are deployed [for] 6 months prior to using ADO; this is not true. Units can enroll immediately and begin to use ADO after their first 30 days in theater. They must request to be disenrolled 45 days prior to redeployment to [allow for] complete shipment of all pending orders."

To enroll in ADO, units must submit a Department of the Army (DA) Form

1687, Notice of Delegation of Authority, a picture of their unit patch, and assumption of command orders. The DA Form 1687 must include a nonexpendable Department of Defense Activity Address Code, the unit's brigade and division designation, a complete APO address, and a complete phone number. The unit must provide information on where and when the unit was issued the ACU and how many Soldiers are assigned to it. This information must be emailed to ARCENT ADO administrators at adoc4@arcent.army.mil or adoc4@arifjan.arcent.army.mil. A Soldier can confirm that his unit is enrolled by going to the ADO Web site at https://army.kyloc.com and using his Army Knowledge Online (AKO) information and entering his unit name in the "submit unit name" box.

Each unit commander determines when individual Soldiers or the unit supply sergeant will submit ADO orders. A Soldier can place an order by logging on to the ADO Web site, entering the unit name in the submit box, and clicking on his unit name. The Soldier will be prompted to enter his name and Social Security number. The orders menu will appear, and the Soldier will be able to select the items and quantities he needs to replace damaged items. ADO has built-in restrictions on quantities, based on authorized initial issue and the 6-month durability of the ACU. The process is the same if a supply sergeant places orders for unit members, except that he will use the requesting Soldier's name and Social Security number to access the ordering menu. In either case, once the order is placed, the command-designated unit validator will receive an email message indicating that an order needs validation. Delivery time is 7 to 14 days following order approval.

The ADO program began in March 2005. As of 15 June 2006, 1,247 units were enrolled in the program and Soldiers in those units had submitted almost 60,000 orders worth over $17 million. Army Central Command funds ADO by multiplying the number of Soldiers in a unit by $55 to determine the unit's monthly allocation. Although there is no restriction on how much a unit can spend on an individual Soldier in a month, there is no retroactive funding and unused allocations do not carry over to the following month.

To learn more about the ADO program or how to enroll, visit https://army.kyloc.com or email adoc4@arifjan.arcent.army.mil (in Kuwait) or adoc4@arcent.army.mil (in Atlanta, Georgia).