Photo By Theodore Beaupre | Patrick J. Murphy, Under Secretary of the Army, was the keynote speaker for TACOM’s...... read more read more
DETROIT ARSENAL – The Under Secretary of the Army, Patrick J. Murphy, shared some of his military and Congressional experiences as the keynote speaker for the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command's Acquisition in Transition conference here Oct. 13.
The theme of the one-day conference was Acquisition Challenges. Murphy talked about doing more with less, the Army's new ideas program, and the importance of telling the Army story for recruiting.
"When I left Congress almost six years ago, the Army budget was $243 billion," he said. "We've taken almost a $100 billion cut -- a 39 percent cut -- so last year's budget was $148 billion. Six years ago we didn't have ISIS, or Russia invading other countries, or the issues in the South China Sea, so I appreciate what you all do because we are all doing more with less and you are doing phenomenal work."
Murphy, who is also the Army's chief management officer, highlighted recent savings of $4 million here through improvements to supporting requirements for the mine-resistant, armored-protective vehicles, known as MRAPs. He also referred to a $16 million savings by converting printed technical manuals to electronic versions.
"We need to make sure that our Soldiers don't have a fair fight, that they have the technical and tactical advantage over our enemies," he said. "There are so many initiatives that you have done. We're working harder than ever, but we're also working smarter. When we talk about operational excellence -- especially business operations -- I feel like sometimes I'm preaching to the choir because what you're doing here at the Detroit Arsenal as well as at TACOM is absolutely remarkable. So from the bottom of my heart I want to thank you. I want to thank you when I talk about doing more with less."
Murphy also announced the launch of the Army Ideas for Innovation program, or AI2, which replaces the Army Suggestion Program that was suspended in 2013. It provides a platform for Soldiers and Army civilians to share innovative ideas and creative solutions that positively affect the Army through cost savings, increased productivity and process improvement. "Put your idea down. You can comment or vote on other people's ideas. Stand up and say 'I have an idea. This is my experience and I think we can do this better.' Users also can track the progress of idea submissions on the site, which is accessible through milSuite.
A former Army officer with deployments to Bosnia and Iraq, Murphy also talked about the importance of sharing the Army's story to aid recruitment.
"We are in a defining moment right now in our nation's history. [Oct. 7] was the actual 15th anniversary of when we counter-attacked in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11. Afghanistan and Iraq are the longest wars in American history. What that means for us as an Army team, an Army family, is that we all are recruiting officers -- including civilians. You are all part of this family and we need to make sure we retain our resources."
Murphy pointed out that Detroit has the only active-duty Army post in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. "You are the experts when it comes to the Army," he said. "And when people have questions about it they should be ready to turn to you."
He said that 98 percent of Americans ages 18-24 get their information on Facebook. "I understand the culture of the Army is to be selfless servants, but the problem is that we have to have a swagger about our team. That's why I flaunt about it, I like being on America's varsity team" he said. "Do you have a teammate that you're proud to serve with? Are you proud of what our Soldiers are doing right now in North Carolina or South Carolina, or what they did in Louisiana? Or that we're taking the fight to ISIS, who is doing some horrendous things to people? If you're proud of that, then tell the story. If you see an article that's positive, put it up on Facebook and comment about it so people can share it."
In FY16, the Army met its active-duty, Reserve and National Guard recruiting goals for the first time in five years, Murphy said. "But I'll tell you, that's getting harder and harder as we have six years of job growth, as we have a country that is further and further away from 9/11 and that patriotism. It's getting harder to recruit Americans. We need you to be recruitment officers. Tell your stories, be a recruitment officer, tell people how the Army has helped you and your family."
Murphy concluded by saying, "We have done a lot of great work in improving the acquisition program and I will tell you that it has frankly saved lives. And what professionals like yourselves have done as far as with the … MRAP vehicles has been absolutely phenomenal in saving American lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you for what you do for our war fighters. It truly, truly makes a difference."
| Date Taken: | 10.13.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2016 09:35 |
| Story ID: | 218373 |
| Location: | WARREN, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 59 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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