Army Cpl. Zachary Lozano, an infantryman assigned to the Lethal Unmanned Systems Platoon, Strike Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, prepares a Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport before Exercise Combined Resolve 25-1 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center on Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Jan. 24, 2025. During Combined Resolve 25-1, the U.S. Army is implementing its Transforming in Contact initiative, utilizing new technologies and systems designed to enhance its warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crisis or conflict. Source: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jacob Nunnenkamp
they must enter MCA at Milestone C and include all of the JCIDS and MCA required documentation for that milestone. But does this make sense? If a pro- gram has been producing an asset for multiple lots and performing OT&E in alignment with Test and Evaluation’s requirements for MTA programs (DoDI 5000.89), what is the logic in producing all the documentation re- quired for Milestone C entry? Hasn’t that ship sailed? Wouldn’t entry into the MCA pathway using the criteria for a Full-Rate Production Decision Review be a more appropriate entry point in most of these cases? While every case is unique, many organizations view the AAF diagram provided in DoDI 5000.02, which graphically shows RF entering MCA as Milestone C as the gospel truth. Thankfully, some organizations have taken the more commonsense approach. For example, the Army’s Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) transitioned to Major Capability Acquisition post
Milestone C in Full Rate Production. The S-MET vehicles initially fielded under the MTA-Rapid Fielding are being sustained utilizing Interim Contractor Logistics Support with transition to organic support planned. Follow-on additional production will be competed using the data pro- cured under the MTA effort and the Capability Development Document concurrently approved. Yes, the MTA is growing up. Ev- eryone is still learning how to use this powerful tool to get disruptive, innovative technology into the hands of our Warfighters so we can prevail against any threat. With Congress’ continued interest in MTA and OSD’s demonstrated flexibility of policy changes via the AAFDID instead of having to wait for “Change 2” to ar- rive, it seems we are well structured to adapt with our Warfighter in mind. How will you take advantage of it? RIEL had a 20-year Air Force career and sev- eral years working with industry and is happy to be part of the DAU team teaching the next generation of DoD program managers the ins and outs of the defense acquisition business.
SHEPHERD is a professor in Systems Engin- eering and Test for DAU South Region in Huntsville, Ala. He has over 40 years’ expe- rience in DoD materiel acquisition, program management, science and technology devel- opment, systems engineering, and test and evaluation. He was named Redstone Chap- ter Association of the United States Army DoD Civilian of the Year in 2021 for research and consulting related to the Middle Tier of Acquisition. The authors can be contacted at
david.riel@dau.edu and seth.shepherd@dau.edu .
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors alone and not the Department of Defense. Reproduction or reposting of articles from Defense Acquisition magazine should credit the authors and the magazine.
DAU Resources • Middle Tier of Acquisition • Middle Tier of Acquisition:
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22 | DEFENSE ACQUISITION | May-June 2025
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