1 The Army Planning, Programmin MSG Ayinde K. Waverly Sergeants Major Course Class 72 Mr. Stewart and SGM Tatro 15 December 2021 2 The Army Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Process and Army Acquisitions The Army's ability to fight and win the nation's wars begins by aligning funding, personnel allocations, and material needs to support national security and defense strategies. The Army Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process is a deliberate, milestone-driven, calendar-based decision support system that considers mission needs and dedicates monetary resources annually. The Defense Acquisition System (DAS) is a user needsbased process. The Department of the Army's management method provides users with high quality, low-cost, and on-time material capabilities. Both processes cater to combatant command and operational environment needs and are deliberate. PPBE provides the funding necessary for acquisitions to occur. The purpose of this Focused Area Writing Assignment (FAWA) is to describe PPBE Process, how it supports the Army warfighting capabilities and details three of the five acquisition phases and the activities within each selected phase. The PPBE Process The Department of Defense (DOD) PPBE process aligns our nation's defense, security, and military strategies, with the sole purpose of allocating the resources needed to meet the requisitioned requirements. It is an annual requirement to facilitate the Department of Defense budget proposal to congress. "The main objective of the PPBE process is to establish, justify, and acquire the monetary and manpower resources needed to accomplish the Army's assigned missions in executing the National Military Strategy (NMS).” (USAWC, 2020). The Assistant Secretary of the Army, along with the Army Deputy Chief of Staff (ADCS) G- 3/5/7, is responsible for program oversight and policy development. (USAWC, 2020). It is a four-phased 3 process beginning with the planning, integrated programming, budget analysis, culminating with budget execution. PPBE: Planning Phase The Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff collaborate on the planning phase with many DOD components. Planning begins with information gathering and analysis of military strategy and National Defense Policy. The information provided weighs current military capabilities versus capabilities needed and helps determine required resources, in what capacity, and distribution of resources. "Planning guidance developed in this phase informs the DOD Components on the capabilities needed to support the National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and National Military Strategy; highlights specific issues; and establishes departmental priorities.” (DA, 2016). Once planning is complete, program origination will assume. PPBE: Programming Phase The DOD Components prepare and present Program Objective Memorandums (POM) and Budget Estimate Submissions (BES) following previous planning, future programs, and financial requirements. These programs demonstrate a comprehensive study of objectives, alternative approaches to fulfilling them, and optimal resource allocation. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reviews the programs and offers a risk assessment that meets the specific needs of the composite force to execute the strategy agreed upon during the planning. With discriminated and approved POM’s and BES’s the ADCS G-3/57 may now establish budgeting policy through the budgeting phase. PPBE: Budgeting Phase 4 The Department of Defense Components prepares budget estimate submissions (BES) for their projects to comply with fiscal and joint programming. Budget reviews run concurrently as program reviews occur. The Deputy Secretary of Defense reviews discrepancies, and Component POMs undergo revisions intending to integrate them into a wider range program that adheres to direction and priorities. The Office of Management and Budget reviews and considers the changes. The DOD budget is then included in the President's Budget Request to Congress to be actioned and executed. PPBE: Execution Phase Annual evaluations by DOD Components assess how well programs meet joint warfighting needs. The execution phase begins on October 1 once the President signs funding and approval bills passed by congress. Often, execution results flow back into successive phases of the process. For example, execution can influence Army integrated program and budget choices. The results inform the Secretary of the Army and other senior leaders' past resource allocation choices and performance metrics to help the execution evaluation. PPBE: Supports the Army Warfighting Capabilities. The PPBE process provides a deliberate strategy of input and analysis of capabilities and resources needed across the joint force to congress for budget approval. PPBE supports the Army Warfighting functions by first identifying capability gaps and inabilities to achieve a set standard's desired effect in an operational environment. An example is how the Army developed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. As Intercontinental Ballistic Missile threats became more prevalent, the military recognized a critical gap in tactical ballistic missile defense coverage. The THAAD system filled the void, and a congressional budget allocated funds to address hostile missile threats at a higher engagement window, thus meeting 5 presidential intend to defend critical assets. Once budgeting is complete, and funding is available, the process to develop and provide material means to fill critical DOTMLPF-P gaps must ensue. Army Acquisitions Phases The Defense Acquisition System manages the delivery of high-quality, reasonable, and prompt products to the operator. It is a five-phased system with the essential phases being material solutions and analysis, technology and development, and engineering and manufacturing development. An acquisition program offers new or upgraded material, weapons, information systems, or services in response to an approved requirement. Material Solution and Analysis Phase Army acquisitions begin with the material solution and analysis phase. The purpose of this phase is to identify possible material solutions for the proposed capabilities gap and meet Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) requirements for the next milestone. An Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) identifies systems or technologies best qualities that are physically and fiscally effective and determines which capabilities will go forward to the next milestone. A gap analysis determines if a new technology meets development criteria or if the capability will be an off-the-shelf product. Upon MDA approval, acquisitions will move to the next milestone. Technology Development Phase “The primary production engineering efforts during the TD phase should be to identify manufacturing and product feasibility of design approaches, determine industrial base capability, and identify manufacturing technology barriers.” (DA, 2018). The purpose of this phase is to reduce technological risk, identify state-of-the-art equipment for a platform, evaluate vital technologies on trial models, and finalize project proposals. Along with demonstrating relevant 6 technology, program managers must plan for the future sustainment of the new capability. An example would be the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP) hasty development with no sustainability or maintenance plan. Once capabilities meet MDA approval, the acquisition decision memorandum passes, and engineering can occur. Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase The purpose of the engineering and manufacturing phase is to integrate and necessary subsystems and components, and reduce systems and operational risk throughout the manufacturing process. During this phase, multiple levels of quality control, product reviews, and critical design reviews occur to ensure user safety and protect investor interest. The engineering and manufacturing process ends with the ultimate production and distribution of new capabilities. An example of this is how Patriot Advanced Capabilities 3 (PAC-3) missiles have autonomous self-detonation features to enhance the friendly protect wartime function. Conclusion The purpose of this FAWA was to describe the PPBE process, how it supports the Army warfighting capabilities, and details three of the five acquisition phases and the activities within each selected phase. Funding is the fresh air of all military operations, and the PPBE process is the lung that facilitates the acquisitions process life-breath. Both methods are deliberate and require several layers of planning, review, and approval before providing capabilities. Resources are finite, so the processes set forth are not only fiscally necessary, they are critical to the mission and national success. 7 References U.S. Army War College (USAWC). (2020, January 29). How the Army Runs: A Senior Leader Reference Handbook. Department of the Army. HTAR 2019-2020 (Online Version).pdf (blackboard.com) Department of the Army (DA). (2016, May 23). Army Regulation 1-1, Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution. Headquarters, Department of the Army. untitled (army.mil) Department of the Army (DA). (2018, September 17). Department of the Army Pamphlet 70-3, Army Acquisition Procedures. Headquarters, Department of the Army. ARN11426_DAPam70-3_FINAL.pdf (army.mil)
