Do you know how to get equipment not on the MTOE creating an Operational Needs Statements (ONS)?

2015-03-12T23:43:42-04:00

I am seeking advice about Operational Needs Statements (ONS) Please read all.
This can also inform about Operational Needs Statements (ONS)
I haven't written an ONS in a long time but now I find myself working as a Squadron S4. I have a transition period as the outgoing S4 will be in place until he can transition out. This presents an opportunity to learn my job, assess logistics/sustainment systems within the Squadron and Brigade. This also gives me the opportunity to tackle needs that the Troops and Companies have for equipment. 2-108th CAV has a unique set of missions for the state’s “All Hazards Mission” while still maintaining combat readiness. In a recent discussion about qualifying with personal weapons by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/personally-owned-sidearm-to-qualify?urlhash=527510 the topic of ONS came up.
I realized the aforementioned opportunity and then the fact I have a huge collection of individuals many of who may have good advice about writing and ONS.
Some of you may have advice for an S4 serving in the National Guard, since I spent most of my time on Active Duty there are intricacies to the National Guard. I am seeking advice on what I may not know that I don’t know.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2015 11:49 PM

2015-03-12T23:49:58-04:00

I posted this elsewhere in a sub thread but feel it is relevant here and adds to the discussion.

I have written a few myself and found if you spend the time (equal to the amount of time spent on a resume) developing a sound, clear and concise case behind your ONS, you can often get at least a portion of the request fulfilled. Commanders drive the approval process but they need the ONS to be air tight so they do not lose creditability in the process. If an ONS is kicked back, it could be budget but not entirely. The cause for rejection is budget but is the pay-off as valuable as the dollars spent. If everyone is fighting for the same money then you have to proportionally increase your effort in crafting the ONS. Now as you increase you effort to when the dollars, you have to ask yourself is the effort worth the dollars.
Gentlemen, as a new S4, I am looking at sustainment/logistic within my unit in terms of dollars and the overall impact to cost of operations. So I can inform my Squadron XO so he may present to the Brigade XO and inform the Squadron Commander's decision making process. Ultimately the goal is to equipment my Squadron's Command Team to advocate for the unit's needs. They do not know this about me yet because, I am waiting until I can anticipate what it is they want to focus on. Not that they do not communicate. They definitely communicate but I am new and can only look at supporting operations planning and training. However, I hope to develop the ability to anticipate my leadership's needs as well within the next few months. Sorry if I went on a tangent but this conversation inspired some good thinking. The best part most of this work will not require others to do more than they do now. In fact I might do more so they do less.
So why do I share this inspiration? Simply feedback, I am giving it and soliciting it.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 13 at 2015 7:33 AM

2015-03-13T07:33:37-04:00

Well writing an ONS (Operational Needs Statement) and getting an item on your MTOE are two separate processes.

I spent 15 months as a Deputy Brigade Commander in Iraq during the Surge, and we did many, many, many ONSs, but those were items needed for the specific environment and mission set we were in the midst of. That did not mean these were things we need on the Combat Support MP Company MTOE for the long haul. The ONS process is great for getting what you need quickly in theater, but it is designed specifically operational needs, and speed; speed is relative. Changing an MTOE, means you want Army-wide changes to an organization, and that is a different process.

The ONS process is largely a S-3/G-3/J-3 operations process, wherein an MTOE change is a joint effort/process between S-4/G-4 side, and the S-3/G-3 FMD folks. Also, changing an MTOE requires the Schools to be involved, as the 18+ branch schools are the Army Proponents for DOTMLPF (Doctrine, Organizations, Training, Material, Leader Development, Personnel, and Facilities) for their branches. The Commandant's have to convince Army G-3 FMD that force changes are needed. Then within that DOTMLPF construct, each branch has proponency for Army-wide (sometimes Joint) requirements. Eg. Infantry School is all small arms and light weapons, even though all use the; Transportation School is all general purpose wheeled vehicles; Chemical School has all Joint CBRN programs.

The other process you did not mention, is the JCIDS (Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System), which is the process we follow to make emerging requirements programs of record (POR). For example... you do an ONS for the item needed in theater, and it is new item... Does the Army or Joint Force need this just for the current mission, is it needed at all, or is needed for the future (MTOE).

Want to really make your head hurt, check out the JCIDS diagram...

And, also don't forget the RFI (Rapid Fielding Initiative).

https://dap.dau.mil/aphome/jcids/Pages/Default.aspx

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 13 at 2015 7:37 AM

2015-03-13T07:37:15-04:00

Alright, it's been a while, but I've helped write these both in service, and when I was a government supplier. Big things to remember:

These are all and/or statements:

1) True need. Make's it Impossible, Improbable, Difficult to complete SPECIFIC types of missions. Number of specific types of mission you complete per fiscal year.

2) Not available in the normal supply system (this is the big one), and/or delay in acquiring through the supply chain. It's great if you can acquire it through normal chains, but it's bad if it takes 8 months, and your mission happens every 2-3 months.

3) Is this a one time purchase, or will you need to replenish it periodically? How often? (This changes the tone, and can justify future purchases on a charge card) Is it serialized gear?

4) Are you requesting a contract purchase, a GSA/GSA Advantage purchase, or a "off the shelf" charge card purchase?

5) Does purchasing this through your method offer significant advantage to the government?

6) Can the purchase wait til close of fiscal year (end of year funds aka "mad money" or use it or lose it)?

That's what I have off the top of my head.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 8:47 PM

2015-03-13T20:47:52-04:00

The key part of the ONS is the "O." This has to be tied to operational necessity. You must be able to argue this from a requirement that makes your unit non-mission capable if it is not on hand. If you cannot, you will fail, but you probably already know this. The MTOE is what you are authorized and if you haven't tied one of your "favorites" to FMS Web, you need to now. Understand the MTOE and what the unit is supposed to be doing with its METL. If there is a D-METL, then you can justify it with that, but I assume you don't have that yet. It's problematic for the guard who could be called on to do state disaster response missions without specific equipment. I think it would be hard to justify a "just in case" requirement, but I've seen stranger things. They expect you to be able to respond because of the amount of people you have, not necessarily because you have specific equipment that makes you capable of doing your job as a disaster response element. They rely on your ability to accomplish missions in general and I suspect that they would be happy with you the way that you are equipped. Good luck.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 8:57 PM

2015-03-16T20:57:35-04:00

We did this before deploying, but never really saw it get approved unless you were deploying. We did it to get M4s.