The Joint Munitions Command (JMC) at Rock Island Arsenal hosted a pivotal meeting on July 30, bringing together Career Program-33 (CP-33) managers from across the United States and Korea. This gathering of activity career program managers and organization aimed to refine strategies to support and develop the ammunition management workforce, a critical component of U.S. Army logistics and readiness.
The Ammunition Management Career Planning Board convened recognizing a crucial need: to precisely define the competencies required for personnel engaged in ammunition management and logistical operations. The discussions centered on methods to streamline the identification and prioritization of essential training and development initiatives. These efforts are designed to bridge competency gaps within the workforce, ensuring mission success and maintaining a high state of readiness.
This proactive approach is underscored by the impending retirement eligibility of a significant portion of the ammunition management workforce. Statistics indicate that approximately 46 percent of careerists in U.S. government general schedule positions within this field will be eligible for retirement by 2019. To mitigate potential workforce shortages, the Army is looking towards intern programs as a vital recruitment resource. Furthermore, opportunities for wage schedule careerists to transition to general schedule positions will be available, contingent upon acquiring necessary additional training.
Patricia Huber, JMC’s Deputy to the Commander and the Functional Chief Representative for the CP-33 program, directly addressed the core challenge: “How do we achieve this training and how do we address the non-technical skills this workforce needs?” This question spurred a series of actionable suggestions from the Career Program Managers (CPMs).
Proposed solutions included leveraging the existing CP-33 Army Civilian Training Education Development System intern program, the Civilian Education System, opportunities for continued education, and the potential implementation of a formal certification program. Susan Carlson, Chief of Munitions Division, Department of the Army, Logistics, emphasized the importance of disseminating the meeting’s outcomes: “It is incumbent upon us to pass along any information shared here to our workforce, so they understand this is how the training is going to be from here on.”
Robin Jett, Career Program Specialist from the Ammunition Management Career Program office, highlighted the strategic importance of the board’s work: “We need to think forward and think strategically. This board is the perfect body to impact the CP-33 program.” The initiatives discussed at this meeting are set to shape the future of Career Program 33, ensuring a well-trained and competent ammunition management workforce ready to support the U.S. Army’s global mission.
Operating from its headquarters at Rock Island Arsenal, the JMC oversees a vast network of conventional ammunition plants and storage depots. It plays a crucial role in providing on-site ammunition expertise to U.S. combat units worldwide, serving U.S. forces across all military branches, other government agencies, and allied nations.
