Rightsizing for Cost Savings and Efficiency, the Army Way

Until recently, United States Army Europe (USAREUR) held over 10,000 buildings in its inventory of real property assets. Inventory validation and utilization profiling allowed USAREUR to employ Army troops and physical assets more efficiently – saving operations and maintenance dollars in a process that more than paid for itself.

Maintaining complete and accurate data on the use and condition of USAREUR’S assets was a time-consuming, technically demanding challenge. USAREUR needed decision support in reducing the footprint of its installations (kasernes).

In two separate projects, USAREUR hired VISTA to ensure the validity of its real property inventory data, and to survey the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), to determine how it might be consolidated.

VISTA designed a software application specifically to manage data gathered in inventory validation. Establishing several teams of experts to visit each facility and review its use, VISTA was able to quickly develop a comprehensive database of key performance indicators for the USAREUR real property inventory.

In addition to inventory validation, VISTA also updated the facility occupancy records for the Army Stationing and Installation Plan (ASIP) database. The validation led to production of several reports that updated the USAREUR facilities inventory.

Using the updated inventory as a reference, USAREUR now has all the necessary supporting information for better decisions ranging from European troop draw-downs to installation realignment or closure.

VISTA’s evaluation of the KMC involved organized, systematic utilization profiling. VISTA surveyed the KMC installation facilities, using both population and real property inventory. In its recommendations for closures and adjustments to the installation footprint, VISTA presented study findings detailing three options for square footage reduction and savings to the KMC budget.

The study gave USAREUR the confidence – and justification – to close one installation and realigning the others. The result was an appreciable savings both in operations and maintenance funds.

Asked about the success of the study, the USAREUR project manager replied, “We were able to close one kaserne. That alone was worth the cost of the project.”

For more information on these projects, email info@vistatsi.com