Sharp take, Justin. I’d flag another positive: the Army’s Project Convergence trials—plus fielding of the Integrated Tactical Network and Command Post Computing Environment—are already shrinking the sensor‑to‑shooter timelines, showing real JADC2 progress on the C2/C3 front. I plan to write more on this in the future. https://ordersandobservations.substack.com/
I love 98% of it. I also love your characterization of prepositioned stocks as “someone else’s problem,” it’s about time.
TRADOC & AFC. I think it’s a clever experiment. Hopefully, it will reorient TRADOC’s mission focus on the future fight. It’s a nasty & bloated bureaucracy that needs supervision.
Combining FORSCOM with U.S. Army North and South: I don’t think the intent is to keep three different 4 Start Generals in the same chain of command (at least, I hope not). I assume It’s a part of the GO reduction plan. Another clever experiment. No real issues, there are obvious risks and benefits. Hopefully it brings a focus to our homeland defense.
The missing. I read the SECDEF’s guidance as unmanned systems in “every division by 2026.” I didn’t assume it to mean that the Army is keeping unmanned systems up at the DIV level. Unmanned systems are largely already at the platoon level, it’s just that some formations are not prioritizing it accordingly.
The cringe. I can’t take the SECDEF seriously when he says China is our biggest threat. Go into your S6 shop and find something NOT made in China. Go into the PX and find something not made in China. National defense starts with NOT enriching your enemy.
increase INDOPACOM rotational deployments & exercises: A wise man once said “competition is NOT deploying everyone, everywhere, all the time.” This seems like more of the same.
I dislike the TRADOC move in part because when AFC stood up in 2018 it was pulled out from under TRADOC. This was because TRADOC had proven incapable of running it. So fast forward seven years and they now are because? Hopes and dreams.
If there are plans to cut or reduce GCCs or make FORSCOM a COCOM as well I think that is even worse then FORSCOM running the HQs for Army North and South. Walking and chewing bubblegum is not a strength.
As far as getting things to platoons. I think this is one of the times the Sec Def should have been explicit. Someone smarter than me pointed out, this feels like a document to provide top cover to Army leaders to do what they want to do without having to worry about how Congress allocated funds. Which is worrying if it has gotten that nakedly politically as an organization.
I didn’t know that the AFC was underneath TRADOC. That is silly. Yet, I can definitely see the appeal for the merger, but I’m not blind to the reality that the Army will probably mismanage it. Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking.
My info is obviously dated, I thought that the AFC had the authority and cash-money for acquisition. At least it looked that way when we, an AMC working group, provided options to the AFC.
Sharp take, Justin. I’d flag another positive: the Army’s Project Convergence trials—plus fielding of the Integrated Tactical Network and Command Post Computing Environment—are already shrinking the sensor‑to‑shooter timelines, showing real JADC2 progress on the C2/C3 front. I plan to write more on this in the future. https://ordersandobservations.substack.com/
Great piece love this format!
I love 98% of it. I also love your characterization of prepositioned stocks as “someone else’s problem,” it’s about time.
TRADOC & AFC. I think it’s a clever experiment. Hopefully, it will reorient TRADOC’s mission focus on the future fight. It’s a nasty & bloated bureaucracy that needs supervision.
Combining FORSCOM with U.S. Army North and South: I don’t think the intent is to keep three different 4 Start Generals in the same chain of command (at least, I hope not). I assume It’s a part of the GO reduction plan. Another clever experiment. No real issues, there are obvious risks and benefits. Hopefully it brings a focus to our homeland defense.
The missing. I read the SECDEF’s guidance as unmanned systems in “every division by 2026.” I didn’t assume it to mean that the Army is keeping unmanned systems up at the DIV level. Unmanned systems are largely already at the platoon level, it’s just that some formations are not prioritizing it accordingly.
The cringe. I can’t take the SECDEF seriously when he says China is our biggest threat. Go into your S6 shop and find something NOT made in China. Go into the PX and find something not made in China. National defense starts with NOT enriching your enemy.
increase INDOPACOM rotational deployments & exercises: A wise man once said “competition is NOT deploying everyone, everywhere, all the time.” This seems like more of the same.
I dislike the TRADOC move in part because when AFC stood up in 2018 it was pulled out from under TRADOC. This was because TRADOC had proven incapable of running it. So fast forward seven years and they now are because? Hopes and dreams.
If there are plans to cut or reduce GCCs or make FORSCOM a COCOM as well I think that is even worse then FORSCOM running the HQs for Army North and South. Walking and chewing bubblegum is not a strength.
As far as getting things to platoons. I think this is one of the times the Sec Def should have been explicit. Someone smarter than me pointed out, this feels like a document to provide top cover to Army leaders to do what they want to do without having to worry about how Congress allocated funds. Which is worrying if it has gotten that nakedly politically as an organization.
I didn’t know that the AFC was underneath TRADOC. That is silly. Yet, I can definitely see the appeal for the merger, but I’m not blind to the reality that the Army will probably mismanage it. Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking.
I believe it was Futures Study Group in TRADOC that designed AFC but that AFC was supposed to have significant acquisitions authorities that were cut.
My info is obviously dated, I thought that the AFC had the authority and cash-money for acquisition. At least it looked that way when we, an AMC working group, provided options to the AFC.