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2007 - APS Strategy 2015

In November 2007, the Army Senior Leadership approved the revised reconstitution plan introduced in the APS Strategy 2015. APS Strategy 2015 is similar to APS Strategy 2013 but also includes a Light Infantry Battalion and some Motorized Augmentation Sets. The Army deferred the full reconstitution of APS from 2013 to 2015 so that the equipment and stocks can meet competing current institutional andoperational demands. The strategic choice was between addressing certain, near-termequipment demands or reconstituting APS for strategic contingency requirements. As of 2008 it was decided that the Army would not pursue additional deferments and will reconstitute APS with a balanced suite of capabilities for multiple roles in accordance with the Defense Department's Guidance for Employment of the Force. Replenishing APS will result in improved strategic responsiveness by FY10, with APS completely reconstituted by FY15.

The APS Strategy 2015 positions land-based modular HBCTs and afloat modular Infantry Brigade Combat Teams with wheeled augmentation sets, at strategic locations worldwide. The APS sets are enhanced with essential combat support/combat service support unit sets, hospitals/medical support sets, watercraft, OPROJs, munitions, and major and secondary item sustainment stocks to support operations in austere environments. Army Prepositional Stocks employment concepts have been expanded to include support to emerging COCOM rotational unit concepts, homeland defense, and humanitarian assistance. Finally, APS equipment will continue to be modernized to match home-station equipment to reduce training requirements upon deployment. The implementation of APS Strategy 2015 will provide combatant commanders with responsive capabilities to execute lesser contingencies and theater security cooperation activities, while reducing lift requirements in the early phases of military operations under the traditional APS role.

The APS program supports the National Military Strategy by strategically prepositioning warfighting stocks afloat and ashore at critical worldwide locations. APS reduces deployment response times for modular, expeditionary Army units. The APS program consists of pre-positioned unit sets of combat equipment, operational projects (OPROJ), sustainment stocks, and war reserve stocks for allies (WRSA). The OPROJ sets provide specialized capabilities above normal unit equipment authorizations. Major and secondary item sustainment stocks are prepositioned in or near a theater of operations to last until re-supply at wartime rates and sea lines of communication are established. Finally, WRSI are located in selected countries which support Allied Force requirements. The centrally managed APS program supports the combatant commanders (COCOM) across the range of military operations.

The six years from 2003 through 2009 demonstrated the strategic responsiveness of APS.

• In 2003, the Army three APS brigades and supporting equipment (218 units sets) to the 3rd Infantry Division for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
• The Army also issued OPROJ stocks, such as the force provider modules, to provide base camp support for both OIF and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
• Over time, the Army reconstituted a portion of APS. In 2007, the Army issued APS-3 afloat and APS-5 South West Asia equipment to quickly outfit additional Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) deploying to OIF and to accelerate the equipping of two new BCTs.
• The Army improved the methodology for determining the war reserve secondary items (WRSI)-such as rations, tents, chemical defense equipment, packaged petroleum products, barbed wire and other barrier materiel, medical supplies, and repair parts-we buy based on OIF/OEF demands.
• The Army also developed a new APS strategy to configure and position campaign-quality expeditionary capabilities to meet the emerging 21st Century strategic realities. For example, the maintenance readiness of the brigade sets in Korea was raised dramatically while they were reconfigured to the new modular Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) and sustainment brigade designs to support the COCOM needs.

The APS has fulfilled its strategic purpose of enhancing Army strategic responsiveness and agility, but in order to restore balance to the Army's strategic posture, it is now necessary to fully replenish the APS stocks. The Army extended the completion of APS reconstitution from 2013 to 2015 so that required critical equipment and stocks would be available to meet current operational demands.

• At least 90% of on-hand equipment in at least Fully Mission Capable condition, with goal of all equipment in TM-10/20 condition in accordance with established Army Maintenance standards
• Detailed unit set DRSS-A readiness reports (to include overall C- ratings) are classified
• Unit Status (Overall) Rating (C - Rating)
• Equipment on Hand (S - rating)
• Readiness Rating (R - Rating)

FY07 Level:

• APS-1 (Backup stocks in Continental United States) - Some of Operational Projects issued for OEF/OIF being reset.
• APS-2 (Europe) - Issued to support OIF.
• APS-3 (Afloat) - Combat brigades issued for equipment to build additional Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) for the Grow the Army initiative. A portion of one Sustainment Brigade (SUS BDE) placed aboard ship to provide port opening capability; two ammunition support ships available.
• APS-4 (Northeast Asia) - On-hand stocks being reset and shortages being filled.
• APS-5 (Southwest Asia) - Issued for OIF

FY10 Target:

• APS-1 - Full Operations Projects
• APS-1 (CONUS) - Fully-outfitted Operational Projects.
• APS-3 (Afloat) - 1 Infantry BCT (IBCT) with motorized augmentation (gun trucks) and port-opening portion of one SUS BDE aboard ship. Two ammunition support ships available.
• APS-4 (NEA) - 1 Heavy BCT (HBCT) and one SUS BDE (to include watercraft). Reconfigured APS-4 (Korea) to the new modular Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) design two years ahead of schedule.
• APS-5 (SWA) - 1 IBCT with motorized augmentation (under theater control to support prepare to deploy on orders (PTDO) reinforcement requirements) and 1 HBCT with motorized augmentation

Goal:

• APS-1 (CONUS) - Fully-outfitted Operational Projects.
• APS-2 (Europe) - 1 HBCT in Italy. Plans call for APS-2 to establish a Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) while maintaining select OPRJ stocks and WRSA.
• APS-3 (Afloat) - 2 IBCTs and 2 SUS BDEs uploaded on LMSRs with supporting initial sustainment and ammo Ships. APS-3 is scheduled to provide for two Army Strategic Flotilla Infantry BCTs with wheeled augmentation sets and two Army sustainment brigades.
• APS-4 (NEA) - 1 HBCT and 1 SUS BDE (with Watercraft) in Korea/Japan, with initial sustainment. The APS-4 in Korea has equipment and materiel for an HBCT supported by a customized sustainment brigade, Army watercraft units, medical support units, and OPRJs.
• APS-5 (SWA) - 1 HBCT with motorized augmentation (gun trucks), 2 SUS BDEs (one with watercraft), 1 Infantry Battalion taskforce with motorized augmentation, with initial sustainment. APS-5 will be reset to meet the US Central Command's requirements. It will have an HBCT, two sustainment brigades, a fires brigade, OPRJ, Army watercraft units, and medical support units.

NLT 2015: All unit sets and Operational projects reconstituted and sustainment stocks on hand. (Actual reset timeline for unit sets is classified). When the new APS strategy is fully implemented, modular Heavy Brigade Combat Teams (HBCTs) will be land-based and afloat at strategic locations worldwide. These sets will be supported by essential combat support/combat service support (CS/CSS) unit sets, to include medical support and watercraft to support deployment into austere environments. The most significant strategic change, however, involves the evolution of the afloat APS to multi-apportioned Army Strategic Flotillas (ASF) providing both combat and support capabilities. The ASF-HBCT and ASF-Support packages will support and sustain the full range of military operations for early arriving forces.

The importance of APS to an expeditionary Army at war is demonstrated by continuing support to OIF/OEF. The APS remains a critical element of the Army Power Projection Program (AP3) and supports in the Overseas Contingency Operations [formerly known as the Global War on Terrorism]. The APS configuration will allow for interface with current and future lift platforms and improve access globally. The reconstitution of APS unit equipment sets directed in the APS Strategy 2015 will provide the COCOMS with responsive capabilities to execute lesser contingencies and theater security cooperation activities, while reducing lift requirements in the early phases of military operations. This balanced suite of capabilities for multiple roles in accordance with the Department of Defense's Guidance for Employment of the Force will result in improved strategic responsiveness by FY10, with APS completely reconstituted by FY15. The OPROJs will continue to provide specialized capabilities, such as inland petroleum distribution systems, force provider base camp modules, mortuary affairs materiel, special operations forces support, bridging equipment, and more. Prepositioned sustainment supplies provide deploying units initial materiel support that fills the gap until lines of communications are opened. The APS capabilities remain a critical component of the Army's strategy for fielding the forces of the future.

Sustained continuing operations have taken a toll on the condition and readiness of military equipment, and the Army faces a number of ongoing and long-term challenges that will affect both the timing and cost of equipment repair and replacement, particularly to its prepositioned stocks.

The 2007 Authorization Act directed the Secretary of Defense to take necessary steps to ensure that financial resources are provided to reconstitute equipment and materiel in prepositioned stocks in accordance with the requirements under the APS Strategy 2012 or subsequent strategy. Additionally, the act directs the Secretary to include in the budget justification materials a clear and detailed description of the amounts requested for reconstitution of equipment and materiel in prepositioned stocks. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 20088 directs DOD to submit an annual report on the status of materiel in the prepositioned stocks, including the department's timeline and funding requirements for reconstituting shortfalls in prepositioned stocks.

Army officials have stated that its worldwide APS equipment sets, including APS-3, would be reconstituted in synchronization with the Army's overall equipping priorities when properly funded and in accordance with the official Army worldwide APS reconstitution strategy known as Army Prepositioned Strategy 2015 (APS Strategy 2015). According to DOD officials, the Army's equipping priorities will be based on evolving conditions and operations such as the availability of equipment and duration of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, for example.

Full implementation of APS Strategy 2013 would total somewhere between $10.6 billion and $12.8 billion throughout the 2008 Program Objective Memorandum (POM), which included requests for 5 years beyond the current fiscal year 2008 budget request. The fiscal year 2008 POM estimates included about $3.6 billion for procurement; $4.2 billion for operations and support; and $2.8 billion for war reserve secondary items. The fiscal year 2008 POM did not include requests for APS reconstitution costs. However, the Army's fiscal year 2008 budget requests for the care and maintenance of this equipment were not adjusted to reflect the fact that the equipment was no longer included in the prepositioned set. Furthermore, future budget requests for reconstitution of the APS equipment sets are difficult to distinguish because they may also include funding for other equipment-related budget requests, including Army modularity, modernization, and equipment reset, or requests to fill equipment shortages.