GCSS-Army Wave 2 Training Strategy
By Mr. Tony Ocasio
Mr. Tony Ocasio discusses the Change in Approach for GCSS-Army Wave 2 training. Photo provided courtesy of Sherrel Satterwaite
GCSS-Army Wave 2 will impact every Command, unit supply room, field maintenance activity and property book office in the Army, totaling 140,000 users. GCSS-Army will replace the Property Book Unit Supply Enhanced (PBUSE) System, the Standard Army Maintenance System-Enhanced (SAMS-E), the Standard Army Maintenance System Installation Enhanced (SAMS-IE), Materiel Management Workstation (MMWS) and the Fleet Logistics Management System (FLMS), and bring all functionality into a single, integrated common operating picture. This is the most significant logistics transformation effort in the history of the Logistics Information Systems (LIS).
GCSS-Army is being fielded utilizing the Wave approach: Wave 1 was SSA centric and utilized the SSA as the “Axis” of our fielding event, tying integrated financials while branching out to all supported customers. Wave 2 is Property Book centric and modernizes over 2200 property books, their unit supply and all supported maintenance activities.
The Wave 2 conversion strategy to minimize the fielding complexity is a 240 day data preparation and organizational change management period prior to black out. The strategy involves monthly site calls or visits, monthly data preparation checks and user training.
Resource Constrained Environment
As the program team completed 33% of the Wave 2 units it encountered resource constraints that prevented it from completing Wave 2 fielding with the allotted resources.
This prompted a modified training delivery strategy leveraging online Web Based Training to complement onsite activities.
The New Equipment Training (NET) delivery strategy will involve a hybrid approach that combines “boots on the ground” Instructor Facilitated Training (IFT) with involved and interactive online Web Based Training (WBT) designed to cover all user populations across 3 COMPOs.
- 1. Part 1 involves the Active Army (COMPO 1) and provides:
- a) Web Based Training (WBT)
- b) Lead User Training sessions
- c) Online Computer Based Training (CBT)
- d) Instructor supported events ( Data Validation, Post Go Live Activities (PGLA), and Over the Shoulder (OTS) support.
- e) Help Desk Support
- 2. Part 2 involves the ARNG (COMPO 2) /USAREUR and provides:
- a) Familiarization WBT
- b) Lead User Training sessions
- c) Instructor supported events ( NET, Data Validation, Post Go Live Activities (PGLA)
- d) Virtual OTS support (30 days)
- e) Help Desk Support
- 3. Part 3 involves the USARC (COMPO 3) and provides:
- a) Web Based Training (WBT)
- b) Lead User Training sessions
- c) Instructor supported events (NET, Data Validation, Post Go Live Activities (PGLA)
- d) Virtual OTS support (30 days)
- e) Help Desk Support
The target implementation for this strategy is Fielding Group 21
Finally, this revised training delivery strategy is intended to complete the remainder of Wave 2 fielding requirements within a significantly constrained resource environment.
Mr. Tony Ocasio is the Product Training & Transition Support Lead, Logistics Division, Global Combat Support System-Army. He is a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 and a member of the Quartermaster Hall of Fame.