Various personnel from across 8th Army attended GCSS-Army training hosted by the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Support Operations Supply Branch. This training was provided to Supply Support Activity and Resource Management personnel in advance of their GCSS-Army Wave 1 fielding currently scheduled for the May/July 2014 timeframe.

The GCSS-Army Advance Lead User Training (ALUT) Program is designed to equip organizations "up front & early" with a single representative with the knowledge required to conduct pre-fielding coordination across their respective commands. The training consists of an overview of the GCSS-Army program, fielding and NET execution, data conversion requirements, introduction to materiel management, supply and finance integration and the End User Manual-Plus (EUM+).

ALUT classes are normally 4 days in length and are usually conducted at the PM, GCSS-Army facility in Petersburg, VA. The PM funds one Retail Supply Representative and one Resource Manager to participate in the ALUT Training. Class slots are allocated by the PM fielding staff based on converting RICs (during Wave 1) in accordance with the fielding schedule. Commands can receive additional slots on a space available bases and at the command expense.

In certain instances, as was the case with Korea, it is more economically feasible to send a training team forward.

Materiel Management Training is provided in a continuous effort to preposition a trained and ready Material Management support structure well in advance of fielding. The GCSS-Army team conducted both Level II & Level III MM training with the 19th TSC.

The level II & III Materiel Management program of instruction covers a suite of decision support tools designed to prepare materiel managers for mission assumption as their customer base is fielded. The students worked as small groups to complete practical exercises that required interactive use of the live GCSS-Army system.

One of the biggest challenges encountered during GCSS-Army training is referred to as Language Bridging. GCSS-Army does not use many of the legacy terms that logisticians and resource managers are accustomed to. Adding complexity to this particular training were the Korean National students who provide host nation support. The solution, according to Tony Ocasio, Chief of the GCSS-Army Training and Transition Branch, was to ensure the class room was organized into teams of three with one of the three being bilingual. This approach overcame what he called the “Three Dimensional Language Bridging” challenge. “It worked, and I was extremely impressed with the way U.S soldiers supported their Korean counterparts” stated Ocasio.

As stated earlier, ALUT is normally held at the GCSS-Army Program Management Office in Petersburg, VA. However, conducting training at the unit becomes opportunistic as more students are able to attend. In order to meet the training requirement the unit Log Automation Support and Logistics Training Team worked hard to ensure computer systems were ready prior to the scheduled training date. Preparation started in October and included running CAT V cable, programming additional switches and re-imaging additional computers. Their effort paid huge dividends as 60 personnel were able to receive this important training in support of the upcoming GCSS-Army Wave 1 Fielding. In addition, the classroom will support future sustainment training requirements.

Click Here to receive the GCSS-Army ALUT Welcome Package containing travel (DTS) procedures, security requirements, building access, visitor parking information, hotels, directions, area maps and class agenda. 

Click Here to see when your unit is scheduled for ALUT.