Brock,

Though I don’t have a wealth of experience with GCSS-A, my initial impressions of the new system are that it has more potential than PBUSE to reduce time wasted on redundant processes.

First and foremost, dispatching procedures show the most promise in terms of minimizing wasted time. We all know that commanders are the final authority on whether a piece of rolling stock is dispatched for use. PBUSE required that the operator/dispatcher have the commander at the appropriate echelon physically sign the dispatch, then go back to the dispatching office to have the PBUSE clerk annotate the signature and print the dispatch. With GCSS-A, commanders have the ability to digitally sign and then print the dispatch. Commanders can also authorize other personnel in their formations to have printing access (i.e. XOs, 1SGs, PLs, and PSGs). Gone are the days of getting your steps in by rushing to the commander’s office to get his/her signature before the PBUSE clerks closed shop! Now operators/dispatchers can submit the requested dispatch to the GCSS-A clerk, who can then digitally send the dispatch to the commander for his/her approval.

Second, GCSS-A generates sub-hand receipts, known as a bill of materials (BOM) in GCSS-A terminology, directly from the most recent, up-to-date TMs that list all COEI and BII for end items. Theoretically, this means that leaders across the Army no longer have to waste hours combing through TMs to recreate the same sub-hand receipts for the same equipment the organization has had for the last decade. This is a step in the right direction, however my experience using BOMs indicates that the methods for generating said lists still needs refinement. Currently, there are numerous errors with what the TM states vice the BOMs, however I anticipate this issue will be resolved with time and bottom-up refinements.

Not sure if this is necessarily helpful in terms of solving any of the problems you or other commanders are experiencing, but just thought I’d provide what feedback I’ve developed from my own experience at the platoon-level.

Good luck!

– Rose