Running Head: Todays Army: Lean Mean and Green Mission Ready for the 21st Century By Deniece

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Upon reflection, it was interesting deciding upon a topic to present as my Artifact II. My impressions and thoughts were continually finding and discarding topics for use until finally I realized what helpful parties were sharing with me, find something of interest to you, something you can tie back to your life. So then it hit me. What has had an impact on my life? The United States Army was a central part of my life for twenty-two years. Armed with this information I realized there was much that speaks to sustainability in the United States Army. Their

A "green" roof at Fort Bragg

Photo: www.Army.mil

sustainability programs speaks to implementing sustainable principles and practices, that will decrease future mission constraints, increase flexibility and resilience, safeguard human health, improve the Armys quality of life, and enhance the natural environment. Because I can see the necessity of this effort, I have designed this artifact to reflect the efforts that has being designed to support this endeavor. The Army has an ongoing commitment to support sustainability. This effort is supported through the emerging technologies of fuel cell, net zero, reuses systems, RENEWS (The Reusing Existing Natural Energy, Wind & Solar System), new vehicle program, REPPS (Rrucksack Enhanced Portable Power System), mini-grids, , and operational energy.

Running Head: Todays Army: Lean Mean and Green According to research findings from the Armys Sustainability Report 2012, four tenets are identified as the Armys sustainability plan. The first initiative is designed to develop, produce, field, and sustain material that is more energy efficient; is capable of using renewable energy resources; minimizes the use of hazardous material; and generates less waste. The second initiative looks at ensuring the Army has sufficient access to training and testing resources, and incorporating sustainability into operational planning and execution, so the army can continue to effectively train today and in perpetuity. The third initiative instills the Armys

commitment into all levels of Soldier and Civilian educational programs. The last tenet looks to providing services and operating facilities in a manner that reduces consumption of energy, water, and other resources; promotes the use of renewable energy sources; enhances quality of life; and continues to protect the environment. The Armys use of these tenets, materials; readiness; human capital; and services and infrastructure will serve as a roadmap for the Armys stand of protecting the environment for ongoing generations. The 2012 Sustainability report addresses the four tenents as follows. The materials initiative incorporates all items necessary to equip, operate, maintain, and support military activities without distinction as to its application for administrative or combat purposes. This initiative includes such items as tanks, self-propelled weapons, and aircraft, as well as support equipment, but it doesnt include real property, installations, and utilities. The Armys sustainability team recognizes in order for the Army to be sustainable, they must develop, produce, field, and sustain material that is more energy efficient, that minimizes the use of hazardous material, and that minimizes waste and other negative impacts to the welfare of soldiers, workers, and the environment.

Running Head: Todays Army: Lean Mean and Green The readiness initiative addresses all concerns that will affect the Armys ability to be prepared to fight and meet the demands of the National Military Strategy. It looks to ensuring the capability of its personnel, weapons systems, equipment, and other assets to perform their intended purpose. The human capital effort speaks to people, the Armys most valuable resource. This initiative recognizes that people at every level operate as a team, catalyzed by leadership to accomplish the Army mission and make a decisive difference. The Army reflects its commitment to sustainability in its culture, through incorporation of sustainability in Army

values and Soldier and Civilian education programs at all levels. Army policy dictates that Army leaders reflect the principles of sustainability through their words and actions, and recognize their subordinates activities and efforts that increase Army sustainability. Civilian training and advancement are also considered as essential requirements to integrating sustainability into the daily decisions of the Army workforce. To support this endeavor the Army is employing portable professional development classrooms that can be set up virtually anywhere. Currently, the Army has virtual classrooms set up in Afghanistan and Iraq. The classrooms are noted to be so portable that one unit in Afghanistan reportedly created a plywood structure to house theirs. The Army news report these mini-schoolhouses too be the result of an initiative called the Deployed Digital Training Campus, or DDTC, which was developed by the Armys Distributed Learning System, aiming to provide soldiers that are deployed with the ability to secure a quality education while being deployed overseas. Hence, by providing brigade-sized units with a DDTC as part of their deployment equipment, the Armys leaders can ensure their soldiers can continue their education even while stationed at primitive sites. Each DDTC is equipped with 20 laptop workstations, internet accessibility, video tele-training, voice over IP or VOIP,

Running Head: Todays Army: Lean Mean and Green designated satellite access, and can be set up in less than two hours. The DDTC also puts Soldiers in direct connection with more than 1,200 pre-loaded Army Learning Management System courses. By providing Soldiers with this opportunity they have access to the equipment needed to continue their professional development thus, keeping them on track for their promotion progression. Lastly, the service and infrastructure initiative looks to addressing the buildings, roads, utilities, and related support services essential to the operation of the army. The Army

recognizes that their installations are the platforms from which it mobilizes and deploys military power, while sustaining military families. They further see the importance of these installations to both training the force and reconstituting it for soldiers returning from deployment. Army installations encompasses tens of thousands of people that work and live on installations, utilizing huge quantities of energy and water resources and greatly impacting the environment, land, water, and air. Hence, with this in mind the Army continues to improve resourcing and incentivizing approaches that reduce energy, water, and other resource consumption to better protect the environment and improve the quality of life (www.army.mil). In sum, the Armys sustainment program works to ensure it Army family is Safe, Secure, and Happy. By continually working to support and improve their sustainment efforts through their stated initiatives the Soldiers will continue to Serve and Protect.

Running Head: Todays Army: Lean Mean and Green

References

http://www.army.mil/article/56977/Digital_Training_Campus_available_for_deployed_Soldier/ http://www.army.mil/media/298316/
US Army. (2012). Sustainability Report 2012. http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/downloads/269536.pdf