So, the Army is sending me to this professional development class to learn about the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System and the Acquisition Life Cycle. Inspired by former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the JCIDS is how the US military plans for and fields new capabilities. I learned today that it takes about five years from concept to fielded capability, and that this is an improvement over the previous system. The acquisition thing is a creature of Congress and the military bureaucracies. Improvement, I'm betting, is not even in its lexicon.
Back in August, I heard General Pete Chiarelli, the Army's Vice Chief of Staff lament the fact that our enemies can field their capabilities a lot faster than we can. The enemy doesn't have to abide by so many bureaucratic rules. He doesn't have to worry about environmental policies or ensuring that minority contractors are treated fairly. Our five year cycle is only three to him.
Now, tell me again why these two quick wars, Afghanistan and Iraq,are still not won going on ten years now?
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