Page 69 - Leverage and Learn

Leverage Allied Investments and Combat Learning Experience in Modernizing the U.S. Military

The ATG is directly supported by elements of Operation ACCORDION including the Theatre Communications
Group, Air Mobility Task Group, and the Expeditionary Airbase Operations Unit, whose mission is to provide
airbase and aviation operational support to sustain air operations in the MER.

There are up to 300 personnel deployed at any one time to the Air Task Group, with an additional 100 personnel
deployed in direct support of Operation OKRA.

Australian Department of Defence
June 15, 2017

CONCLUSION

As the Pentagon reforms its acquisition approach, the ability to mobilize assets and to support them as was
well as to accelerate modernization are clear priorities.

But missing from the discussion is the allied dimension in terms of accelerating US combat modernization. The
shift from slo mo to preparing for high tempo and high intensity operations is a major challenge for the US
military and its allies. It is about a culture shift, a procurement shift, an investment shift. But mobilization is
even more important than modernization.

To get ready for the shift, inventory needs to become more robust, notably with regard to weapons. In
visiting US bases, a common theme in addition to readiness and training shortfalls, is the challenge of basic
inventory shortfalls.

The Trump Administration has come to power promising to correct much of this. But there simply is not enough
time and money to do readiness and training plus ups, mobilization and rapid modernization.

Donald Trump as a businessman might take a look at how DoD could actually functions as an effective
business in equipping the force and having highlighted the question of allies might be pleased to learn of
significant allied investments in new combat systems which his own forces can use, thus saving money and
enhancing capability at the same time.

One way to do so would be leverage extant allied programs and capabilities which if adopted by the US
forces would save money but even more importantly ramp up the operational capability of the US forces and
their ability to work with allies in the shortest time possible. By so doing, the US could target investments
where possible in break through programs which allies are NOT investing in.

st
And at the heart of building a 21 century combat forces is the multi-mission software upgradeable platforms,
such as Wedgetail, the F-35 or the P-8. And here the interactive relationship with allies is a key driver for
change, but to really leverage it requires a significant change in perspective.
As the head of the USAF materiel command, General Ellen Pawlikowski, put it:

“Agile Software development is all abut getting capability out there.

“The systems engineers approach drive you to a detailed requirements slow down.”

She highlighted that this cultural barrier, namely reliance on the historical systems engineering approach, needed
to be removed.

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