ACQUISITION AND THE ARMY PROFESSION


professional development to ensure that our Army Professionals strive for and meet these criteria.


IT TAKES MANY SPECIALTIES


The 42,000-plus dedicated acquisition professionals in the Army ranks are highly skilled in pro- gram management, contracting, science, engineering, logistics and dozens of other specialized areas in support of the Soldier. Here, Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment conduct a traffic control point as the Logistical Support Team of 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regi- ment travels through Kandahar province, Afghanistan, May 23. (U.S. Army photo by SSG Shane Hamann, 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


You are professionals, in whom the nation places great trust based upon your expert knowledge of and adherence to the high- est ethical standards. I can think of no better description for all of you who are charged with developing, acquiring and fielding the capabilities that give our Sol- diers the decisive edge, and doing so in a way that is fair to the taxpayer.


QUALITIES OF THE PROFESSION Tere are five essential characteristics of the Army Profession: trust among pro- fessionals and with the American people; military expertise; honorable service; esprit de corps; and stewardship of the profes- sion. As the Army Acquisition Workforce, we must strive to embody these qualities consistently in our day-to-day mission.


Te expertise is easy to see. Te 42,000- plus dedicated acquisition professionals in our ranks are highly skilled in pro- gram management, contracting, science, engineering, logistics and dozens of other specialized areas. Tat’s not just my assess- ment: Tomson Reuters, the multimedia and information conglomerate, recently named the Army one of the world’s most innovative research organizations after we earned more than 300 patents for new technologies in a three-year period.


TOOLS OF THE TRADE


While members of the acquisition community do not directly deliver lethal blows, they deliver the howitzers, small arms, ammunition, protective gear, aircraft and many other systems that make our Soldiers the most lethal weapon on the battlefield. Here, Ward Eldridge, business development coordinator for PEO Soldier’s Project Manager Soldier Weapons, explains the XM25 Counter Defi- lade Target Engagement System to Soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division Jan. 24 during a Weapons, Ammunition and Devices Symposium held on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. The XM25 fires 25 mm grenades that are set to explode in midair at or near the target. (U.S. Army photo by SPC Glen Shackley)


It is gratifying to see our acquisition teammates, many within the U.S. Army Materiel Command and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)), recognized at such a high level for the hard work they do to provide Soldiers with the best technology avail- able. But we’re not satisfied with where we are now. We recognize that we must


92 Army AL&T Magazine July–September 2013


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