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D R A F T part E History of the Army's reform efforts (really the introduction)

United States Army Futures Command
Founded1 July 2018
Country United States
Branch United States Army
TypeArmy Command
Garrison/HQAustin, TX
Motto(s)"Forge the future"[1]
Websitearmy.mil/futures
armyfuturescommand.com
Commanders
Commanding General[3]GEN John M. Murray
Deputy Commanding Generals[3]LTG James M. Richardson
LTG Thomas H. Todd[2]
Command Sergeant Major[3]CSM Michael A. Crosby
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia[1]

United States Army Futures Command (AFC)[4][5] is a United States Army command aimed at modernizing the Army.[6][7][7][8] It currently focuses on six priorities:[Note 1] 1— long-range precision fires,[9][10] 2— next-generation combat vehicle,[11] 3— future vertical lift platforms,[12] 4— a mobile & expeditionary Army network,[13] 5— air & missile defense capabilities,[13] and 6— soldier lethality.[14][15] AFC's cross-functional teams (CFTs)[6][7] are Futures Command's vehicle for sustainable reform of the acquisition process for the future.[16][17] [18]

Futures Command (AFC) was established in 2018 as a peer of FORSCOM, TRADOC, and Army Materiel Command (AMC), the other Army commands (ACOMs—providing forces, training and doctrine, and materiel respectively).[19][20] The other Army commands focus on their readiness to "Fight tonight" when called upon by the nation. In contrast, AFC is focused on future readiness[21] for competition with near-peers, who have updated their capabilities.[22][23]

AFC declared its Full Operational Capability (FOC) in July 2019,[24][25] after an initial one-year period.[26] The FY2020 budget allocated $30 billion for the top six modernization priorities over the next five years.[27] The $30 billion came from $8 billion in cost avoidance and $22 billion in terminations.[27][28] Over 30 projects[29][30] are envisioned to become the materiel basis needed for overmatching any potential competitors in the continuum of conflict over the next ten years,[31][32] in Multi-domain operations (MDO).[33][34][35][36][37]

Headquarters (HQ) and commander

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On 13 July 2018, U.S. Army Secretary Mark Esper said AFC's headquarters would be based in Austin, Texas.[38] AFC spreads across three locations totalling 75,000 square feet;[39] one of the locations in a University of Texas System building at 210 W. Seventh St. in downtown Austin,[40][41] on the 15th and 19th floors.[42] The UT Regents will not be charging rent to AFC until December 2019.[42] The command began initial operations on 1 July 2018.[43]

On 16 July 2018, Lieutenant General John M. Murray was nominated for a fourth star and appointment as Army Futures Command's first commanding general.[44][45] His appointment was confirmed 20 August 2018[46] and he assumed command during the official activation ceremony of AFC on 24 August 2018, in Austin, Texas.[39]

Value stream

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The AFC commander, in a hearing before Congress' House Armed Services Committee, projects that materiel will result from the value stream below, within a two-year time frame,[17] from concept to Soldier. The commanding general is assisted by three deputy commanders.

  • the Futures and Concepts Center,[47] led by AFC deputy commanding general Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley,[48][49] who is seeking 4 value streams for reducing the time invested to define a relevant requirement:[50][51][52]
  1. Science and technology (S&T: discovery / collection of ideas with usable effects)[53][54]
  2. Experiments (Testing of a system to a known expectation of effects, or else observation of that system, in the absence of a specific expectation of effects)
  3. Concepts development[55] (Development of a relevant idea about that system)[56][57]
  4. Requirements development (Development of the terms and conditions for that system)[35]
  • Combat Development element,[58][59] Army Futures Command.[47] Lt. Gen. James M. Richardson is the deputy commander. He assists the commander with efforts to assess and integrate the future operational environment, emerging threats, and technologies to develop and deliver concepts, requirements, and future force designs to posture the Army for the future.[60][61][62]
    • The Capability development integration directorate (CDID) of each Center of Excellence (CoE), works with its CFT[Note 1] and its research, development and engineering center (RDEC) to develop operational experiments and prototypes to test.
    • The Battle Labs and The Research Analysis Center (TRAC)[63][56] prototype and analyze the concepts to test.
    • JMC is capable of providing live developmental experiments to test those concepts or capabilities, "scalable from company level to corps, amid tough, realistic multi-domain operations".[64][22][65]
    • RDECOM becomes the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), part of the Combat Development element, on 3 February 2019.[58][66][67][68][51][52]
  • Combat Systems Directorate[59] was to be led by the ASA(ALT)'s Principal Military Deputy[69][70] (Principal Military Deputy (PMILDEP) to the ASA(ALT))[71]: AD2018-15, 6b:PMILDEP will additionally be AFC director, Combat Systems  [72] who will produce those developed solutions and seek feedback.[73][74]
    • Gen. Robert Abrams has tasked III Corps with providing Soldier feedback for the Next Generation Combat Vehicles CFT, XVIII Corps for the Soldier feedback on the Soldier lethality CFT, the Network CFT, as well as the Synthetic training CFT, and I Corps for the Long Range Precision Fires CFT.[75]
    • Combat Systems refines, engineers, and produces the developed solutions from Combat Development.[76][77]
    • An analysis by AMSAA can then assess that concept or capability, as a promising system for a materiel development decision.[78]

... what I do think you will see is some of the capabilities the cross-functional teams are working will be in production and being delivered and in the hands of soldiers in the next two years" —Gen. John "Mike" Murray (2018).[17]

Army Chief of Staff Milley is looking for AFC to attain full operational capability (FOC) by August 2019.[26][32][79]

[80]

I think we have been actually executing the mission for the last six to eight months if not longer.[24] —Gen. John "Mike" Murray, 19 July 2019

Commanding General

No. Commanding General Term
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
John M. Murray
General
John M. Murray
1 July 2018Incumbent6 years, 135 days

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The capabilities as prioritized by the Chief of Staff, will use Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in the realms of requirements, acquisition, science and technology, test, resourcing, costing, and sustainment, using CFTs for:
    1. Improved long-range precision fires (artillery):—(Fort Sill, Oklahoma) Lead: BG John Rafferty ... PEO Ammunition (AMMO)
    2. Next-generation combat vehicle—(Detroit Arsenal, Warren, Michigan) Lead: BG Ross Coffman ... PEO Ground Combat Systems (GCS)
    3. Vertical lift platforms—(Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama) Lead: BG Wally Rugen ... PEO Aviation (AVN)
    4. Mobile and expeditionary (usable in ground combat) communications network (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland)
      1. Network Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence— Lead: MG Pete Gallagher ... PEO Command Control Communications Tactical (C3T)
      2. Assured Position Navigation and Timing— (Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama) Lead: William B. Nelson, SES
    5. Air and missile defense—(Fort Sill, Oklahoma) Lead: BG Brian Gibson, ... PEO Missiles and Space (M&S)
    6. Soldier lethality
      1. Soldier Lethality—(Fort Benning, Georgia) Lead: BG David M. Hodne ... PEO Soldier
      2. Synthetic Training Environment —(Orlando, Florida) Lead: MG Maria Gervais ... PEO Simulation, Training, & Instrumentation (STRI)
    • Above, 'dotted line' relationship (i.e., coordination) is denoted by a ' ... '

References

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  1. ^ a b c Futures Command reveals new insignia as it 'forges' ahead; by Sean Kimmons, Army News Service; dated 6 December 2018, last accessed 3 February 2019
  2. ^ Thomas H. Todd, III (July 2020) Deputy Commanding General for Acquisition and Systems Management
  3. ^ a b c Army Futures Command: Meet Our Leadership
  4. ^ Army Futures Command Task Force (Wednesday, 28 March 2018) Army Futures Command
  5. ^ Vergun, David A. (13 July 2018). "Austin to be U.S. Army Futures Command location, says Army". Army.mil. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  6. ^ a b Army Directive 2017-33 (Enabling the Army Modernization Task Force) (7 November 2017) References Decker-Wagner 2011
  7. ^ a b c Vergun, David A. (7 December 2017). "US Army Futures Command to reform modernization, says secretary of the Army". Army.mil. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  8. ^ Roper and Grassetti (1 October 2018) Seizing the High Ground – United States Army Futures Command
  9. ^ Capt. Steve Draheim and Maj. Paul Santamaria (22 June 2018) Long-range, short term
  10. ^ Ed Lopez (21 June 2018) Picatinny Arsenal, PEO (AMMO) Army modernization advances with early team collaboration
  11. ^ John Liang (27 August 2018) Inside the Army highlights
  12. ^ New Army aircraft will be durable, lethal, unmanned for modern conflicts
  13. ^ a b Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (22 July 2019) CCDC's road map to modernizing the Army: the network 4th in a series
  14. ^ Bridgett Siter, Communications Director, Soldier Lethality CFT (10 September 2019) Soldier Lethality team delivers first big win for AFC Enhanced night vision goggle - binocular (ENVG-B) significantly aids marksmanship by the Close Combat Force
  15. ^ Maj. Gen. John A. George, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (2 January 2020) CCDC's Road Map to Modernizing the Army: Soldier lethality
  16. ^ Phillip B. Fountain, U.S. Army Futures Command (8 October 2019) Army Futures Command to highlight modernization efforts at 2019 AUSA
  17. ^ a b c Matthew Cox (14 Sep 2018) Head of Army Futures Command Fields Tough Questions From Congress
  18. ^ Michael A. Grinston, James C. McConville, and Ryan McCarthy (October 2019) 2019 Army Modernization Strategy as cited by Sydney Freedberg, Jr. (16 October 2019) Army Launches 16-Year Plan To Tackle Russia, China Summary
  19. ^ Source: Organization, United States Army. For detail, see AR10-87
  20. ^ Army Commands, Army Service Component Commands, and Direct Reporting Units ARN2541_AR10-87_WEB_Final.pdf section 20-2a, p.27
  21. ^ Arpi Dilanian and Matthew Howard (1 April 2019) The number one priority: An interview with Gen. Mark Milley: Readiness (both current and future)
  22. ^ a b Gen. David G. Perkins, U.S. Army (Nov-Dec 2017) Multi-Domain Battle: The Advent of Twenty-First Century War
  23. ^ Sébastien Roblin (11 Oct. 2019) China's stealth drones and hypersonic missiles surpass — and threaten — the U.S.
  24. ^ a b Scott Maucione (19 July 2019) Army Futures Command fully operational, dinged by GAO on announcement
  25. ^ Sean Kimmons, Army News Service (10 July 2019) Embracing a new culture at Army Futures Command
  26. ^ a b DVIDs video, 24 August 2018 press conference
  27. ^ a b Army Devon L. Suits, Army News Service (26 February 2019) FY20 budget proposal realigns $30 billion
  28. ^ Sydney J Freedberg Jr (29 May 2019) Army Big 6 Gets $10B More Over 2021-2025
  29. ^ Michael A. Grinston, James C. McConville, and Ryan McCarthy(2019) 2019 Army Modernization Strategy revision 7, CFTs' 31 signature efforts
  30. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (19 September 2019) Can Army Control Costs Of Its New Weapons? Currently the Army has 692 programs of record
  31. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (14 March 2019) Army ‘Big Six’ Ramp Up in 2021: Learning From FCS
  32. ^ a b Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (11 January 2019) 12 Moments Of Truth For Army Modernization In 2019
  33. ^ TRADOC Pamphlet 525-3-1 (6 December 2018) The U.S. Army in Multi-Domain Operations 2028 "describes how US Army forces, as part of the Joint Force, will militarily compete, penetrate, dis-integrate, and exploit our adversaries in the future."
  34. ^ APG News (13 June 2018) News Briefs: The U.S. Army Modernization Strategy
  35. ^ a b CRS Insight (IN11019) (17 January 2019) The U.S. Army and Multi-Domain Operations
  36. ^ Yasmin Tadjdeh (10/10/2018) Army to Focus on Defeating Enemies’ Standoff Capabilities Summary of standoff
  37. ^ Sydney Freedberg, Jr. (14 January 2020) Army Chief Seeks ‘Minimally Manned’ Vehicles, Joint C2 LRPF, ITN, IBCS, FARA, FLRAA, and "We need a joint command and control system" —Army Chief of Staff James C. McConville
  38. ^ "Army Futures Command: U.S. Army Secretary Mark Esper announces that Austin has been chosen as the location for the new Army Futures Command". C-SPAN. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  39. ^ a b Sean Kimmons, Army News Service (15 August 2018) Army Futures Command aims to tap into innovative culture in Austin and beyond
  40. ^ (13 July 2018) University of Texas System to serve as home base for U.S. Army Futures Command
  41. ^ Stripes.com: Army’s new Futures Command to set up headquarters at University of Texas
  42. ^ a b Ralph K.M. Haurwitz - American-Statesman Staff (10 August 2018) UT regents give Army’s Futures Command free use of space temporarily
  43. ^ "Army announces Austin as the home of new Army Futures Command". C-SPAN. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  44. ^ "PN2622 — Lt. Gen. John M. Murray — Army". U.S. Congress. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  45. ^ McBride, Courtney (24 May 2018). "General selected to lead Army Futures Command". Inside Defense. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  46. ^ Austin gets its general; Army Futures Command leader confirmed
  47. ^ a b YouTube clip (7 December 2018) ARCIC Transition of Authority Ceremony 7 Dec 2018 to Futures and Concepts Center, AFC
  48. ^ FCC Leadership (20 February 2020). "Futures and Concepts Center". Futures and Concepts Center. Retrieved 20 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  49. ^ (15 August 2018) Army Futures Command aims to tap into innovative culture in Austin and beyond
  50. ^ Army has picked a location for its new Futures Command, but now comes the hard part
  51. ^ a b Lt. Col. Thomas "Bull" Holland, PhD, U.S. Army (15 January 2019) Proposed Army Futures Command Process Tenets
    1. 'Scientific research is a fundamentally different activity than technology development';
    2. Incorporate 'scientific research into "Appendix C: Functional Concepts" and specify pathways for technology development';
    3. Buy into the 'fail fast' mentality;
    4. '6.3-funded projects to produce knowledge (technical data) that can be consumed by requirements developers as opposed to PMs';
    5. Use 'evidence-based requirements process' (early hypothesis testing) with citations for evidence:
      • All projects will be executed in no less than two increments.
      • No new requirements once an increment is started.
    6. Summary: 'advances on the battlefield requires comprehensive, coordinated changes in the entire acquisition system';
  52. ^ a b The RAND Corporation (2000) Discovery and Innovation: Federal Research and Development in the Fifty States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico RAND MR1194 Appendix B: Government-Wide and DOD Definitions of R&D See Appendix B p.615 for DOD Financial Management Regulation (Volume 2B, Chapter 5)
  53. ^ As an example, any number of effects can be weaponized (see p.1 The New York Times 2 September 2018 "Invisible strikes may be cause of envoy's ills", describing the Microwave auditory effect), or else countered. Hypersonic vehicles are a countermeasure to ballistic missiles.
  54. ^ Joyce M. Conant, ARL Public Affairs (19 Feb 2016) ARL West hires its first employee, meet Dr. Benjamin T. Files
  55. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (25 October 2017) Can The Pentagon Protect Young Innovators? Fixing the 'up or out' culture, which favors generalists
  56. ^ a b TRADOC Analysis Center. Combined Arms training center. Fort Leavenworth
  57. ^ Mission Command Battle Lab
  58. ^ a b Argie Sarantinos-Perrin, CCDC HQ Public Affairs (31 January 2019) RDECOM transitions to Army Futures Command
  59. ^ a b Sydney Freedberg (10 Dec 2018) US Army’s Brain Transplant: Futurists Move To Futures Command
  60. ^ AFC:"Who we are":"Meet our leadership":Lt. Gen. James M. Richardson :wiki: James M. Richardson (general)
  61. ^ Patrick D Morgan (TRADOC) (18 March 2019) STE CFT Cuts Ribbon in Orlando
  62. ^ David Vergun (5 September 2018) Richardson confirmed as Futures Command deputy commander
  63. ^ Tisha Swart-Entwistle (6 December 2018) TRAC makes official move to Futures Command
  64. ^ Maj. Brett Lea,24th Press Camp Headquarters (5 Sep 2018) "Army establishes Futures Command; U.S. Army JMC at Fort Bliss is operational arm" Fort Bliss Bugle
  65. ^ US Army (4 Sep 2018) U.S. Army Pacific Commander Gen. Robert Brown: State of the Pacific
  66. ^ Army R&D Chief: ‘I Don’t Think We Went Far Enough’ – But Futures Command Can
  67. ^ "... another thing we’ve not done very well — is doing the prototyping and experimentation with soldiers from the beginning, so we got soldier input into a program before it ever becomes a program of record" —Gen. 'Mike' Murray: Freedberg (31 Jan 2019) Army Completes Biggest Reorg In 45 Years: Can Futures Command End Weapons Disasters?
  68. ^ CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs (29 April 2019) Army selects senior research scientist for terminal ballistics Fewer than 50 STs across the Army: An ST is a general-0fficer equivalent
  69. ^ Jen Judson (6 September 2018) Military deputy to US Army acquisition now has two bosses
  70. ^ Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski Bio
  71. ^ 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
  72. ^ Ms. Audra Calloway (Picatinny) (19 September 2018) With new Army Futures Command, senior acquisition leader discusses role of Program Executive Offices
  73. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (13 Sep 2018) Futures Command Won’t Hurt Oversight, Army Tells Congress
  74. ^ ASA(ALT) (20 September 2019) Army Acquisition Reform
  75. ^ Myers (27 March 2018) Abrams: Army units will be tasked to work on each of Futures Command’s priorities
  76. ^ Arpi Dilanian and Matthew Howard (18 July 2019) The Cheese Has Moved: An Interview With Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski
  77. ^ Ft Meade Soundoff! (19 July 2018) New site for Army Futures Command
  78. ^ Richard Simonetti (23 April 2018) "US Army turns to new technologies"
  79. ^ GAO report: GAO-19-132 (23 Jan 2019) ARMY MODERNIZATION: Steps Needed to Ensure Army Futures Command Fully Applies Leading Practices
  80. ^ Arpi Dilanian and Matthew Howard (1 October 2019) Bridging the gap to Army 2028: An interview with Gen. John "Mike" Murray
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