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Return to Article: Speeding Up Acquisition Reform

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  Subject article fails to mention efforts such as the rapid equipping force (REF) and establishment of the joint IED defeat organization that have been able to speed up fielding of a number of systems to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, the systems fielded are for specific threats and are not always fielded Army-wide, but significant examples exist of projects fielded very quickly. Good news does not get enough notice in the news media.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 7, 2007 9:32 PM
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  There were some excellent points made in this article. To the public it seems the military supply stories swing from soldiers not having the basic necessities for survival (e.g. bullet-proof jackets, GPS, and IED resistant vehicles) to exposés of single-source contract abuses (e.g. Halliburton and the executive branch connection).

  In the military, like any large business, there are constant conflicts for resources; particularly long-term developmental capital investment programs such as the FCS versus short-term beans, bullets, and training. Personally, I've always identified with that GI Joe doing his or her best. The order of precedence, like it or not, is "Mission, first. People, second." Such is life in the green machine.

  Still, I was amazed to learn that a system like JRAC was put into place under the "Donald" and the current administration; that even token consideration was given to the battlefield commanders' requests. While I would surmise it was in response to the media and parental outrage due to the sorry condition of the troops' initial supplies deployment, I'm pleased none the less.

  Once more, in a conflict, functionality remains the guiding light for leaders. You can try anything once, but if it doesn't work and costs lives, you'd better be prepared for the consequences of a repeat performance.

  "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results," assured Ben Franklin. I can only hope our lauded leaders remember that noble sage's saying.

  Tip off.

  GovExec.com reader Posted December 13, 2006 11:25 AM