Monday, February 22, 2016 –
A new way to manage Army readiness is in the works and coming to operations planners across the Army.
The Mission Analysis, Readiness & Resource Synchronization (MARRS) system helps the total force put eyes on the entire Army Reserve, from looking at units and their capabilities, down to individual Soldiers. MARRS experts from U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) have been travelling to installations across the Army to demonstrate the system, including a stop at Fort Sam Houston Feb. 22-23.
The Army Reserve is the Army’s major source of individual Solders and trained units, and provides many unique capabilities that are uncommon or even nonexistent in the Active Army and National Guard. With so many assets located in 1,200 communities across the nation it can be a challenge for planners to know which assets are available, and at which times. The MARRS system was designed to remedy that.
“This is a big improvement,” said Capt. Brian Jackson, an Army Reserve Engagement Cell Planner for U.S. Army South. “We’re able to look at everything down to the individual Soldier in real time.”
The MARRS program leverages the Reserve component Manpower System and other unique data to better facilitate the full range of capabilities of the Army Reserve. Previously, many of the data bases that provided information regarding units and Soldiers within the Reserve did not have current or up to date information.
“The components are the equipment information, the personnel information, all the data points on a person, their MEDPROS (medical readiness), their training, as well as unit information, how many people are supposed to be in the unit, and what equipment should be in that unit,” said Capt. Mathew Young, an overseas deployment training manager with USARC.
With all the information provided, leaders and operational planners are able to use MARRS as a tool to find the best unit available within the Reserve component for various events, from short-notice missions such as disaster response in support of U.S. Army North, to long-term planning for supporting a partnership program in Latin America for U.S. Army South.
“For the Army Reserve this is a revolutionary step in the way that we’re approaching readiness, training, equipping, manning the force because it’s not just looking at exercises, but looking at our ability to stay operationally relevant,” said Lt. Col. Benito Rodriquez the G-37 for USARC. “We now have the tools that allow us to leverage on the capabilities we have generated to employ those supporting the combatant commanders whether it’s stateside or overseas.”
The Army Reserve is structured so it is able to manage specialized capabilities, including those not present anywhere else within the Joint Force. The MARRS program will effectively allow the Reserve component to maintain readiness across the component.
“Recently, I heard 1st Army General Tucker talking about how we’ve had a lot of missed opportunities in our training events and [MARRS] is a tool that can helps us get closer to not missing great opportunities and increasing our readiness,” said Young, an Edmond, Okla., native.