MARCH 18, 2025 – The Organic Industrial Base is undergoing the greatest modernization of its storied history, and Army leaders are ensuring that the OIB’s most important asset – its people – are included in the process.
In October 2024, the OIB officially kicked off its Modernization Implementation Plan (MIP), focused on synchronizing the potential investment of more than $18 billion across 15 years to bring facilities, processes and the workforce in to the 21st century. Recognizing the powerful role that OIB artisans play in generating readiness, a key piece to the modernization plan is the OIB Human Capital MIP (HCMIP), which will ensure the Army is training, hiring and developing the workforce needed for the modernized facilities and processes.
“The OIB HCMIP sets the path for a ready, resilient and relevant OIB workforce,” said Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, Army Materiel Command’s deputy commanding general and acting commander. “The Army values the artisans within our OIB workforce and their contributions in support of the mission.”
A part of the defense industrial base, the Army OIB consists of 23 depots, arsenals and ammunition plants that manufacture and reset Army equipment, generating readiness and operational capability. The OIB must be able to support current unit readiness, maintain the ability to surge, and modernize and retool to sustain the next generation of equipment.
The OIB workforce modernization team is in the process of identifying and analyzing the human capital requirements to upskill and reskill the workforce. They are linking each of these human capital initiatives to the OIB MIP to ensure they are in line with overarching efforts. Also, AMC hosted focus groups at each OIB site to understand what is important to the workforce.
With more than 16,000 employees across 23 sites, planning these investments for each different occupation is not cut and dry, according to Mcdermott. Using the example of a welder, she highlighted how the skills are fundamentally the same, but each site has uniquely different work, so the training needed to advance their career at one installation might be different at another.
“We want to equip our OIB workforce with the tools to modernize at all levels, so we are asking, ‘how can we give them the tools that fit their environment?’” said Mcdermott.
One such tool is to create the OIB’s first-ever talent management career mapping capability. This will provide artisans with the ability to chart out their careers and see what training and experience they need to progress to future levels.
“This will be the first time our OIB workforce can see recommended paths for a potential promotion,” said Mcdermott.
As well, the team plans to develop a modernized training package which will increase the ways artisans can obtain the training they need to grow in their careers. This includes options like virtual reality training and creating micro-credentialing through digital learning.
“We are doing analysis on the jobs within the OIB, going line by line to understand what our workforce needs,” said Torri Mcdermott, AMC’s lead for OIB HC MIP. “This is about investing in our artisans and making sure they know how much we value them.”
Story by Megan Gully
U.S. Army Materiel Command