United States Marine Corps cost reduction and the Joint Battle Command Platform

Abstract

The Department of Defense and the United States Marine Corps are under increased pressure to reduce costs and expenditures in response to the austere financial environment. Marine Corps information technology (IT) programs are in jeopardy due to budget shortfalls, which may result in reduced military capability. The purpose of this study is to test the theory of vicious business cycles, which relates cost reduction to return on investment for the Joint Battle Command Platform. The Joint Battle Command Platform is an Acquisition Category II program of record designed to meet joint requirements for a common C2/SA system between the Army and Marine Corps. In an attempt to achieve cost savings, the JBC-P has undergone several cost reduction initiatives. Using several value metrics to measure the impact of cost reductions on the capability provided by the program, this study determines that cost reductions do reduce the value of the military capability provided by the program. These reductions could be an indication of a vicious cycle. Identifying the occurrence of vicious business cycles in IT programs will allow decision makers to more effectively cut costs without reducing military capability.