The U.S. Marine Corps' rapid acquisition system has failed repeatedly, unnecessarily delaying and, in some cases, denying urgent requests by Marines for equipment, according to a document made public by POGO today. The document was first reported on by the Associated Press last week. It can be viewed here (pdf).
The document consists of briefing slides which were part of a cancelled March 2007 presentation to the Defense Department's Office of the Director for Defense Research and Engineering by the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force's (I MEF) technology staff, after a year long deployment in Iraq. Though the document is unclassified (it is marked "For Official Use Only"), only the first eight pages are being made available due to some schematics which give insight into how some of the requested systems work. POGO has, however, transcribed the names and timelines of those systems below.
Despite over 130 urgent need requests (known as Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONs) or Urgent Universal Needs Statements (UUNSs) from 1 MEF while it was deployed in Iraq, less than 10 percent were fulfilled and many were "cancelled, delayed" or led to solutions which were not asked for.
Before November 2006, the document says that the requests "frequently languished" at Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) level until Central Command Chief of Staff (CoS CENTCOM) "intervened," restoring urgency to the process.
Among the most "outstanding urgent deficiencies," according to the slides, is the need for Counter Improved Explosive Device (CIED) technology, including Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, and for Area of Responsibility (AOR)-wide surveillance, including Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The AP story last week describes the delays in the MRAP program and Wired News today broke news on the Scan Eagle deficiency.
The presentation describes some of the most dire threats Marines face such as an anticipated larger number of explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) and more victim-operated improvised explosive devices (VO IEDs), also known as suicide bombers.
The Congress should undertake an in-depth investigation into the situation with rapid acquisition at the Defense Department to ensure that the right balance is struck between getting equipment into the field rapidly while maintaining accountability.
There is obviously some healthy tension between the traditional acquisition community's desire to ensure that money is spent well on tested and robust systems and the need to get systems into the field rapidly, but Marines in the field cannot wait years while known and proven off-the-shelf solutions exist. The authority for rapid acquisition is there, unfortunately breakdowns in the system are leading to unnecessary delays.
-- Nick Schwellenbach with assistance by Jesse Ferantella
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles (from page 10 of 2007 Presentation)
10 July 2005 I MEF Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
21 May 2006 I MEF Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
28 Sep 06 I MEF Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) denies UUNS 05, citing expenses, M1114, and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) initiative
Total Time Elapsed:
19 months (Feb 2005 – Sep 2006)
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Ground Based Observation and Surveillance System (G-BOSS) (from page 9 of 2007 Presentation)
6 June 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement signed
7 Jan 2007 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
Additional Notes:
- Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) supporting with over $100 million is enabler of C-IED mission
- Growing implementation delays with programmatic resistance
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Tier II Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) (from page 11 of 2007 Presentation)
27 July 2006 UAV Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
7 January 2007 G-BOSS Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
Additional Notes:
- 60 UAV JUONS for Tier II currently at JRAC
- Resistance to SE due to alternate program paths and priorities
- Delays negatively affecting operations
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Biometrics Local and Wide Area Gateway Network (BLAN-WANG) (from page 12 of 2007 Presentation)
4 Feb 2007 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
Additional Notes:
-JUONS currently at Central Command (CENTCOM)
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Dual Effects Stand-Off IED Neutralization System (DESINS) (from page 13 of 2007 Presentation)
28 Nov 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
23 Dec 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS and UUNS at Central Command (CENTCOM) and Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), respectively
- Army concerns with interference with the reactive DUKE
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Advanced Roller IED Neutralization System (ARINS) (from page 14 of 2007 Presentation)
25 Jan 2007 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS currently at Central Command (CENTCOM)
- Prototype developed by CDR Carey and employed successfully
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of MRAP Explosively Formed Penetrator Total Defeat Capability (from page 15 of 2007 Presentation)
7 Jan 2007 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
13 Jan 2007 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS and UUNS at Central Command (CENTCOM) and Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), respectively
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Angel Fire Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Capability (from page 16 of 2007 Presentation)
15 Sep 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
1 Dec 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS approved by Joint Rear Area Coordinator (JRAC)
- Angel Fire first spiral will support MNF-W beginning in the summer of 2007
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Precision Airborne Standoff Directed Energy Weapon (PASDEW) System (from page 17 of 2007 Presentation)
20 Nov 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
3 Dec 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS and UUNS at Central Command (CENTCOM) and Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), respectively
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Long Range Non-Lethal Weapon System (LRNLWS) (from page 18 of 2007 Presentation)
12 Nov 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
1 Dec 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- Joint Rear Area Coordinator (JRAC) approved LRNLWS JUON with ADS
System 2 leading off
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Directed Energy Low Altitude Air Defense System (DELAADS) (from page 19 of 2007 Presentation)
16 Dec 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
29 Dec 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS and UUNS at Central Command (CENTCOM) and Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), respectively
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Small Unmanned Combat Arial Vehicle (SUCAV) armed Tier II UAV (from page 20 of 2007 Presentation)
30 Sep 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
23 Nov 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS and UUNS at Central Command (CENTCOM) and Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), respectively
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Cognition-Based Electromagnetic Pattern Analysis System (C-BEMPAS) (from page 21 of 2007 Presentation)
1 Nov 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
1 Dec 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS and UUNS at Central Command (CENTCOM) and Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), respectively
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Ground Penetrating Radar System (GPRS) (from page 22 of 2007 Presentation)
26 Sep 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Compact High Power Laser Dissuasion (CHPLD) Capability (from page 23 of 2007 Presentation)
9 Jun 2005 II Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF) Urgent Universal Needs
Statement (UUNS) signed
29 Dec 2006 I Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF) Urgent Universal Needs
Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- Timely purchase and use of systems bureaucratically delayed
- Programmatic resistance to CHLPDs due to previous sole sources decisions
- Subject has received press coverage and Congressional interest, which has led to rapid, positive resolution of many remaining issues
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Tactical Concealed Video System (from page 24 of 2007 Presentation)
22 Feb 2005 1st Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
12 Dec 2006 2nd Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- First spiral shortfalls in power and an unattended operation is identified
- 2nd UUNS validates the urgent need for this technology, calling for power accessories and broader fielding, as well as R & D for future capabilities.
- Currently there is still no System Command (SYSCOM) action, but Congressional interest is high
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Counter Vegetation Urgent Universal Need Statement (UUNS) (from page 25 of 2007 Presentation)
31 Oct 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- Systems Command (SYSCOM) procurement and fielding of desired capabilities still on-going
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Fast- Tracking Attack Weapons System (F-TAWS) (from page 26 of 2007 Presentation)
29 Jan 2007 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- Under Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) consideration in the near future
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Alternative Energy Sources (from page 27 of 2007 Presentation)
29 Jan 2007 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) currently at Central Command (CENTCOM)
- JUONS subject of Pentagon article in 2006
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Sniper Location Acoustic Triangularization System (SLATS) (from page 28 of 2007 Presentation)
28 Jan 2007 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- UUNS to be considered by Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC)
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Mobile Acoustic Shooter Detection & Neutralization System (MASDANS) (from page 29 of 2007 Presentation)
18 Oct 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
13 Dec 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Additional Notes:
- JUONS and UUNS at Central Command (CENTCOM) and Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), respectively
- HMMWV-based CSV program has generated resistance to MASDANS
- MASDANs have developed a fielding delay
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) (from page 30 of 2007 Presentation)
6 Jun 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) signed
Aug 2006 Side by side evaluation confirms preference for LRADs over
the Sound Commander 3660
Additional Notes:
- Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) and System Command (SYSCOM) preferred the Sound Commander 3660 and later insisted on using this device, although none were delivered by Feb 2007
- I Marine Expeditionary Forces (IMEF) executed purchase of 28 LRAD 500s to fulfill need
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Robotic Vehicle IED Terminator – Terramax UGV (from page 31 of 2007 Presentation)
10 Jun 2006 Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) signed
Additional Notes:
- Forerunner of this model was deemed ineffective and dangerous to operators
- JUONS at Central Command (CENTCOM)
Timeline of Important Events regarding Use of Automatic Language Translation System (ALTS) (from page 32 of 2007 Presentation)
Apr 2006 Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) submitted
26 Sep 2006 MROC approval of $2 Million
Additional Notes:
- Release delayed with 18 months of market research
- Focus is on a laptop-based TRANSTAC program at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
It burns me every time I read of the heroic efforts to speed needed items to the troops. In WWII (no, I wasn't there), R&D by companies and creative short-term solutions were super-accelerated. Things got done relatively fast. People worked three shifts and cooperated with a range of government agencies and companies, if necessary, to get something done. Now, of course they don't, and no one, up to Bush, is ever held accountable in industry or the government.
The key success factor more than 60 years ago, despite having 13 million people in uniform, was the procurement decisionmakers were a small handful, and there was no humongous, slothful (yes, a favorite word) bureaucracy, and lazy suppliers, to take their own sweet time while our troops were killed. Bush is right,--most people have not made a sacrifice, and it is in some respects his fault, but not all his fault. He is in a position to motivate the bureaucracy and companies, to some extent. But he doesn't. To use one his favorite phrases, "...and it's hard..."
But he doesn't try, and the incompetents at the next level (not Gates or England), but a really slow-moving set of political appointees at DoD and in the MILDEPS, as well as a swollen flag officer corps who don't move fast, are the ones with blood on their hands for keeping vital items from the troops. There is no good excuse for the body armor and Humvee armor debacles, but notice that no one has paid the price. (That isn't why Rumsfeld was fired. One could, however, borrow one of his most famous pronunciamentos: you go to war with the bureaucracy, officials, and suppliers you have, not the ones you may want.)
Note to AJ: you sound like you could be a very effective whistleblower. Please consider it to get the USMC moving on these issues.
Posted by: | Jun 08, 2007 at 12:19 PM
One thing to consider, there's always 2 sides to everything. I happen to be involved with this issue and the info you've gotten isn't the whole story. The people leaking this info are well intentioned, but misguided. Many of the UUNS/JUONS you have posted in your story (some of which are sensitive material, by the way) are technologically immature. Also, the individuals involved have attempted to circumvent the UUNS process based on personal feelings. The objective of the Urgent Universal Needs statement is to request a "capability" for something, not a stubborn demand for one specific piece of gear (e.g. the CHP laser dazzler was DEMANDED by a unit, bought with unit funds, used in the field and was NOT approved by the LRSB, the board that approves lasers to ensure they are eye-safe, which is was not. Of note, higher headquarters in the Marine Corps approved an alternate solution that was eye safe, bought them, have fielded to units in Iraq and have had great success with them dealing with Iraqi civilians....something you probably haven't heard). Be aware of personal agendas and please be looking for a response by the Marine Corps to clear this up. No subterfuge, just the facts. Thanks for your time...
Posted by: AJ | Jun 07, 2007 at 08:04 AM