Support services office at Shafter activated

Advertiser Staff

Secretary of the Army Thomas E. White recently activated the U.S. Army Installation Management Agency, which brings together all installation support services under one umbrella to try to ensure the best care, support and training for soldiers.

IMA is based in the National Capital Region, with regional offices at Fort Shafter; Fort Monroe, Va.; Fort McPherson, Ga.; Rock Island Arsenal, Il.; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Heidelberg, Germany; and Seoul, South Korea.

The new agency is the result of the Army goal to streamline headquarters, create more responsive staffs, reduce layers of review and approval, and focus on mission.

The new agency will oversee all facets of installation management, including environmental programs, construction, morale and welfare, family care, force protection, logistics, public works and the planning, programming and budgets for the functions.

Shadow vehicle program approved

The Army has authorized the Shadow 200 RQ-7A Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program to enter into full-rate production.

The contract with AAI Corporation will provide 41 Shadow aerial vehicles for the active Army, to include all six Stryker brigade combat teams. The fiscal 2003 program is expected to finance nine systems at a cost of approximately $99 million.