RESTORATION AND MODERNIZATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF ARMY INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER HQ AMC AS A VIABLE REPLACEMENT FOR MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

This paper is intended to examine at a high level the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s (HQAMC) use of restoration and modernization (R&M) capital improvements to existing facilities as a practical alternative to demolition and new construction through military construction (MILCON). The Army has been struggling over the past few years with the ever-declining mission readiness and quality of infrastructure. Lack of MILCON funds hinders efforts to demolish outdated facilities and replace them with newer buildings that are better suited to the needs of the Army. HQAMC has addressed this predicament by investing more of its overall operations and maintenance (OMA) funding into R&M projects to restore and modernize the current inventory. This paper looked at the background of Army real property funding in terms of capital improvements, discussed how funding flowed through the chain of command, and finally, addressed the benefits and risks involved in each type of effort. The conclusion was that, given the current state of the Army budget and the lack of any large financial investments on the horizon, the use of R&M for capital improvements is not only a viable option to MILCON but in many cases should be the first choice when seeking to restore facilities to the start of a useful lifecycle.