Joint Modernization Command

The U.S. Army Joint Modernization Command or JMC,^[3] (formerly U.S. Army Brigade Modernization Command, or BMC) is based in Fort Bliss, Texas. It gains insights from "Fight Tonight" units about future ways of fighting, future technology, and force structure during realistic live, constructive, and/or simulated training exercises. Joint Modernization Command is subordinate to the Army Futures and Concepts Center (FCC) in Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; both report to Army Futures Command (AFC) based in Austin, Texas.^[4]

U.S. Army Joint Modernization Command
JMC emblem
Active	June 15, 2006–present
Country	United States
Branch	U.S. Army
Type	Army command
Size	250 employees[1]
Part of	U.S. Army Futures Command
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bliss, Texas
Motto(s)	"Forge the Future"
Mascot(s)	The Hammer
Website	Official website link
Commanders
Commanding general	BG Daniel Hibner[2]
Command Sergeant Major	CSM Will L. Langes
Insignia
Worn shoulder sleeve insignia

Joint Modernization Command (JMC) plans, synchronizes, and executes field experiments to inform modernization efforts to enable a Multi-Domain Capable Force by 2028.^{[further explanation needed]}

Purpose

Source:^[5]

• Execute realistic field experiments and assessments to gain Soldier and Leader feedback focused on Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) Concepts, Capabilities, and Formations at echelon.
• Execute exportable and scalable field experiments to assess MDO Concepts, Capabilities, and Formations for the 2028 MDO-Capable Force.^[6]
• Execute Joint Warfighting Assessments (JWA) resulting in a focused Initial Insights Report and Joint Exercise Report.
• Provide field experimentation and assessment support to Army Cross Functional Teams and their 31 Signature Efforts^[buzzword] in accordance with the Army Modernization Strategy.^[7]
• Coordinate and manage MDO Concepts, Capabilities, and Formations in all Army Live Prototyping Assessment (ALPA) events.
• Build Readiness for the units participating in assessments; JMC synchs commander's training objectives with experiment/assessment requirements.

Leadership

Front of the Joint Modernization Command HQ building on Fort Bliss, Texas

JMC's commanding general was previously Brig. Gen. Johnny K. Davis, who took command on June 14, 2018,^[8] succeeding then BG Joel K. Tyler.^{[needs update][9]} Davis was formerly the eightieth commander^[10] of 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard); Tyler assumed command of U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command.^[11]

History

On June 15, 2006, the Future Force Integration Directorate (FFID), as part of the U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC), was established at Fort Bliss, Texas, under a Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) directive to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) – ARCIC being a subordinate unit of TRADOC. The FFID was established as an on-site organization, facilitating development, testing, and evaluation of the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. Another of FFID's roles was to prepare, evaluate, and synchronize delivery of FCS-related products with the Program Manager, Future Combat Systems, Brigade Combat Team (FCS BCT).^{[further explanation needed][12]}

FFID was officially designated as the direct authority over the Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF), in support of the modular future force^[buzzword]. The AETF was activated on December 16, 2006 as the 5th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. BG James L. Terry, FFID's first Director, was welcomed in a formal ceremony on April 6, 2007.^[12]

In August 2007, FFID's mission was modified to include the managing of modernization efforts in support of Army transformation to provide FCS-enabled modular brigades in fiscal year 2011 (from 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2011), and an FCS BCT at full operational capability in 2017.^[12]

FFID conducted training and testing events as well as demonstrations of FCS capabilities for senior Department of Defense and Army leadership, congressional leaders and staffers, business executives, and national and local news media representatives.^[12]

In April 2009, after the Secretary of Defense terminated the FCS program, the FFID assumed responsibility for managing the evaluation management role in the follow-on BCT modernization program.^[12]

2010s

Brigade Modernization Command logo, 2011

Soldiers firing the M777 Howitzer at White Sands Missile Range during an assessment in July 2010

In 2010, the Army Vice Chief of Staff directed that FFID, along with Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range, become the Army's centerpiece for network integration^[buzzword]. Since this would require a full BCT to assess the network, the Chief of Staff of the Army directed the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division to assume the AETF mission.^[12]

On Feb. 7, 2011, the Future Forces Integration Directorate (FFI) was re-designated as Brigade Modernization Command (BMC),^[13] by directive from the Chief of Staff of the Army, with a mission to conduct physical integration^[buzzword] and evaluations of the network and capability packages to provide Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy recommendations to the Army. BMC focused its efforts on integrating test and evaluation events to deliver the Mission Command Network 2020. It conducted two distinct events: first, the Network Integration Evaluation (NIE), being a structured event that tests Army Programs of Record; second, the Army Warfighting Assessment (AWA), which allowed the Army to assess interim solutions to enduring warfighting^[buzzword] challenges by incorporating innovative concepts and capabilities into various formations, including Joint and Multinational forces. In addition to accelerating the rate of Army innovation, AWAs enhanced training, Joint/Multinational interoperability, and future force development.^[12]

The Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) was a series of semi-annual evaluations designed to establish a Network Baseline and then rapidly build and mature the Army's tactical Network. NIEs provided a means to evaluate relevant capabilities in parallel and make incremental improvements based upon a disciplined and professional feedback cycle. The effort was designed to facilitate rapid evaluation of commercial and government network solutions to establish a Network Baseline and then rapidly build from it. The Network Integration Exercise (NIE) 18 at Fort Bliss, Texas, was the final Network Integration Evaluation.^[12]

Army Warfighting Assessments (AWA) were held to assess the capabilities of the Army to meet Army Warfighting Challenges (AWFCs) in a relevant operating environment.^[12]

Effective February 7, 2017, the Brigade Modernization Command was redesignated as U.S. Army Joint Modernization Command (JMC).^[14] At the same time, its Army Warfighting Assessment (AWA) transformed into the Joint Warfighting Assessment (JWA). JWAs are the Army's premier^[buzzword] modernization exercise and field experimentation venue involving Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). JMC conducts JWAs that focus on validating MDO concepts and capabilities, including new ideas, equipment, technologies, doctrine and formations through soldier and leader feedback.^[12]

Joint Warfighting Assessments

Multinational leaders observe new capabilities being assessed during JWA 18 in Germany, May 2018

Multinational leaders participate in a Combined Arms Rehearsal during JWA 19 at Joint Base Lewis McChord, April 2019

A Stryker platoon prepares for a combined arms breach during JWA 19 at Yakima Training Center in December 2019 (photo by PFC Valentina Montano)

Joint Warfighting Assessments are the Army's live multi-echelon joint and multinational capstone exercise aligned to either the Europe or Pacific Area of Operations, informed by existing Operation Plan, and set in a 2028 operational environment to demonstrate and assess Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) Concepts, Capabilities, and Formations.^{[further explanation needed][12]}

JWAs aim to:

• Improve Force Readiness
• Obtain Soldier/leader observations and feedback on modernization solutions
• Integrate and assess MDO Concepts, Capabilities, and Formations at Echelon (CJTF-BCT)^{[expand acronym]}
• Integrate and assess Joint and Multinational Interoperability

The first Joint Warfighting Assessment, known as JWA 18, was held in Europe in the spring of 2018.^[15][16]

Joint Warfighting Assessment (JWA) 19 rotated to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. in 2019,^[17] to assess the Army's Multi-Domain Task Force.^[18][19]

The robotic complex breach concept (RCBC) was demonstrated with "fight tonight"^[buzzword] units during a combined arms breach at JWA 18 and JWA 19. Smoke, breaching assets, and suppression capabilities were all remotely operated while successfully breaching an obstacle.^{[clarification needed][20][21]}

Joint Warfighting Assessment (JWA) 20 rotates back to Europe in 2020. JWA 20 will exercise and assess Multi-Domain Operations, force packages, and capabilities.^{[needs update][22]}