REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. –
The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command held a virtual iteration of AMCOM 101 for Missiles March 23-24, broadcasting the forum live from the Bob Jones Auditorium on Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
The intent of the annual leadership and professional development forum is to increase Army leaders’ awareness of the tools and resources available to improve readiness in Army missile units.
“Given the high [operational tempo] of the missile community, it is imperative that we, as an enterprise, do everything we can to enable their readiness,” said Maj. Gen. Todd Royar, AMCOM commanding general. “AMCOM 101 is one way to inform Soldiers and commanders in the field how they can better leverage support available to them.”
The first day of the forum featured presentations from AMCOM, Program Executive Office – Missiles and Space, Air and Missile Defense Cross Functional Team, Letterkenny Army Depot, U.S. Army Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment Activity and closed out with remarks from Lt. Gen. Karbler, commanding general for Space and Missile Defense Command.
Topics covered during day two included readiness drivers and the supply chain, Integrated Fires Mission Command, Short and Intermediate Effectors for Layered Defense, Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, an overview of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and a missile readiness reporting update from Chief Warrant Officer 5 Araceli Rial, AMCOM’s missile maintenance officer.
“AMCOM 101 for Missiles is designed to not only provide relevant, useable information that can be helpful in their sustainment operations for the various weapon systems they manage, but also connect the dots for senior air and missile defense commanders on extended capabilities that can be leveraged to help with readiness,” said Rial. “Information, lessons learned and unit concerns shared at this forum help us in improving how we provide services and capabilities to the warfighter.”
AMCOM has hosted the Missile101 forums since 2014. Following each event, AMCOM leadership solicits feedback to refine and adjust topics of interest for future forums.
More than 80 participants registered for this year’s event and 78 joined various sessions over the course of the forum, many of whom expressed appreciation that the forum is continuing despite the pandemic.
“AMCOM 101 for Missiles was a great event this year, and I appreciate AMCOM for taking the time and effort to put this together,” said Brig. Gen. Frank Rice, deputy commanding general of 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, South Carolina National Guard. “I gained insights into the future of the Avenger weapon system and Stinger missiles that I can use as we plan for future operations.”
Sessions were recorded and are available for viewing through the Microsoft Teams link in the agenda, also located on AMCOM’s command information portal. For more information about the Missiles 101 forum, send an email to araceli.r.rial.mil@mail.mil or call at 256-876-9846 (DSN 312-746-9846).