CAMP RIPLEY-For three weeks in June 2017 logisticians of the Minnesota National Guard attended a training program on Camp Ripley focused on the conversion to the Global Combat Support System-Army, GCSS-Army.
"This is a significant game-changer for rapid, ready logistical methods and how we interact as a force," said Col. Lowell Kruse, director of logistics for the Minnesota National Guard.
The GCSS-Army is a current, web-based resource for ease of operations for logistics and support units working in any type of environment. The program improves on current business processes to achieve a more fluid assimilation with appropriate commands and organizations.
Included in this New Equipment Training or NET fielding, 219 Minnesota National Guard soldiers were introduced to the program though a week of classroom presentation followed by a step process for migrating the information and data use.
"The program is comprised of two components, a tactical system that supports Army and Joint transformation and an Army business functions component that helps track and monitor the costs for a piece of equipment over its life cycle," said Sgt. Maj. Denise Casperson, of the Maintenance Division for the Department of Logistics.
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"This has been the most significant advance in logistical management for the Army in 20 years. For the first time in its history the Army is enabled by this program to be audit-ready, as required by the Congress," added Kruse.
GCSS-Army works to meet the soldier's need for appropriate support when and where it is needed the most. It will also improve unit commander's situational awareness with accurate and responsive information. The system replaces five logistics management tools which currently operate in several echelons and will allow the interface or integration with applicable systems on a much wider network.
"The principles of logistics are unaffected but it's a different way we use methods of getting from A to Z," said J4 Management Analyst 1st Lt. Osa McGillick.
Additionally, the programs satisfies the Army's vision of a technologically advanced management enabler to account for the flow of logistics, resources and information.
"This mean we are no longer required to use multiple systems and reprocess data, one system that stays with the Soldier as they move through the force," said McGillick.
Since the launch of a revised version in early 2016, the GCSS-Army program increased a better buying power to produce more timely, precise and effective information needed by the warfighter to move, track, maintain and account for equipment and supplies.
"The process of learning how this system works ground maintenance, property management and data validation was done very well by the instructors," said Casperson.
Several awards were earned by members of the class who organized and took part in the training. Sgt. Maj. Todd Christianson of the J4 was recognized for his efforts in arranging the necessary training event.
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"Conversion to GCSS-Army made our STAMIS systems of PBUSE and SAMS-E obsolete. It is like burning the ships on the beach upon discovering a new world; there is no going back. The conversion moves us closer to total cost of ownership for Army property and a truer accounting of data," Christianson added. "GCSS-Army operations focuses the initiation of actions at the unit level forcing them to take ownership of their own readiness."
