By now, you may have heard about MEDLOG in Campaigning, or MiC. But you may not fully understand if or how it will impact your day-to-day mission.
In fact, MiC is going to be a gamechanger for these four reasons:
- Reduce “swivel chair” activities. No one likes having to use multiple systems to order, maintain, conduct inventory management, etc. One of the key functions of MiC is to integrate MEDLOG systems into Sustainment Army Enterprise Systems. Presently, MEDLOG is siloed in its own ordering platform. MiC brings MEDLOG into the Global Combat Support System – Army, commonly called GCSS-A or G-Army, which is the user-level standard sustainment system for supplies and maintenance. This change will reduce systems, training requirements, and overall complications with many common medical logistics functions.
- Simplify and standardize the catalog. One of the biggest challenges with medical materiel ordering is that every installation uses a different catalog with a different part numbers and naming conventions based upon that installation’s hospital or clinic inventory. This variation burdens users to relearn a new catalog every time they change jobs. MiC will create a single medical supply and pharmaceutical (e.g., CLVIIIA) catalog, based upon combat requirements.
- Eliminate process variations so we train as we fight. One of the biggest challenges in MEDLOG was that the old way of doing business meant doing it one way at home station and a different way in an operational environment. MiC will integrate medical materiel into multiclass Supply Support Activities, or SSA. Medical materiel will be received, stored, and distributed in the same facilities and platforms as all other commodities. By shifting medical materiel into the regular sustainment infrastructure, we will reduce redundancy and streamline storage and distribution.
- Improve unit access to maintenance. MiC establishes a home station medical maintenance capability. Presently, most Army units only have organic medical maintenance capability for 10-level maintenance; these units either pay Defense Health Agency-owned military medical activities to maintain their medical equipment or evacuate to a Medical Maintenance Operations Division. MiC adds a maintenance capability to provide ‘LRC-like’ services to Army units. This will align medical maintenance closer to sustainment processes of non-medical army equipment. It also enhances unit medical equipment readiness and reduces overall cost. The first capability will be established at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to provide support to Fort Liberty units.
These changes won’t be easy, which is why we have partnered with many stakeholders including HQDA-G4; U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Europe-Africa Command; U.S. Army Materiel Command; U.S. Army Sustainment Command; Combined Arms Systems Command; Special Operations Command; U.S. Army National Guard Bureau; Defense Logistics Agency; Army Shared Service Center; Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Non Army Managed Items; Sustainment and Medical Centers of Excellence; U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity; Army Health Facility Planning Agency; and the Defense Health Agency.
The first wave of these changes will start soon. A proof of concept will kick off in early FY25 at several locations stateside and overseas, with a variety of units spanning active duty and National Guard. Proof of concept participating locations include:
Fort Liberty, North Carolina
- 82nd Airborne Division
- 1st Special Forces Command
- 44th Medical Brigade
Fort Stewart, Georgia
Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington
- 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
OCONUS
- 2nd Calvary Regiment
- 8th Medical Logistics Company
Army National Guard (ARNG)
- Minnesota Medical Materiel Warehouse (M3W)
- 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division (North Carolina)
- 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team (Iowa)
The goal is to learn during this initial roll out and refine the plan as we move toward execution Army-wide.
If you’re one of the key stakeholders or units involved in MiC, your transformative efforts are deeply appreciated and valued. You are transforming MEDLOG in the Army, improving Army sustainment, and enhancing future unit readiness.
If you’re not yet involved, you will be. These changes will affect every Soldier at every unit and level. So, pay attention. Offer feedback. And stay ready because transformation is underway.
Tell us what you think. How will MiC change your day-to-day mission?