Posted on Mar 12, 2015
Do you know how to get equipment not on the MTOE creating an Operational Needs Statements (ONS)?
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I am seeking advice about Operational Needs Statements (ONS) Please read all.
This can also inform about Operational Needs Statements (ONS)
I haven't written an ONS in a long time but now I find myself working as a Squadron S4. I have a transition period as the outgoing S4 will be in place until he can transition out. This presents an opportunity to learn my job, assess logistics/sustainment systems within the Squadron and Brigade. This also gives me the opportunity to tackle needs that the Troops and Companies have for equipment. 2-108th CAV has a unique set of missions for the state’s “All Hazards Mission” while still maintaining combat readiness. In a recent discussion about qualifying with personal weapons by CW3 (Join to see) https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/personally-owned-sidearm-to-qualify?urlhash=527510 the topic of ONS came up.
I realized the aforementioned opportunity and then the fact I have a huge collection of individuals many of who may have good advice about writing and ONS.
Some of you may have advice for an S4 serving in the National Guard, since I spent most of my time on Active Duty there are intricacies to the National Guard. I am seeking advice on what I may not know that I don’t know.
This can also inform about Operational Needs Statements (ONS)
I haven't written an ONS in a long time but now I find myself working as a Squadron S4. I have a transition period as the outgoing S4 will be in place until he can transition out. This presents an opportunity to learn my job, assess logistics/sustainment systems within the Squadron and Brigade. This also gives me the opportunity to tackle needs that the Troops and Companies have for equipment. 2-108th CAV has a unique set of missions for the state’s “All Hazards Mission” while still maintaining combat readiness. In a recent discussion about qualifying with personal weapons by CW3 (Join to see) https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/personally-owned-sidearm-to-qualify?urlhash=527510 the topic of ONS came up.
I realized the aforementioned opportunity and then the fact I have a huge collection of individuals many of who may have good advice about writing and ONS.
Some of you may have advice for an S4 serving in the National Guard, since I spent most of my time on Active Duty there are intricacies to the National Guard. I am seeking advice on what I may not know that I don’t know.
Logistics
Equipment
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 5
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The key part of the ONS is the "O." This has to be tied to operational necessity. You must be able to argue this from a requirement that makes your unit non-mission capable if it is not on hand. If you cannot, you will fail, but you probably already know this. The MTOE is what you are authorized and if you haven't tied one of your "favorites" to FMS Web, you need to now. Understand the MTOE and what the unit is supposed to be doing with its METL. If there is a D-METL, then you can justify it with that, but I assume you don't have that yet. It's problematic for the guard who could be called on to do state disaster response missions without specific equipment. I think it would be hard to justify a "just in case" requirement, but I've seen stranger things. They expect you to be able to respond because of the amount of people you have, not necessarily because you have specific equipment that makes you capable of doing your job as a disaster response element. They rely on your ability to accomplish missions in general and I suspect that they would be happy with you the way that you are equipped. Good luck.
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We did this before deploying, but never really saw it get approved unless you were deploying. We did it to get M4s.
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Alright, it's been a while, but I've helped write these both in service, and when I was a government supplier. Big things to remember:
These are all and/or statements:
1) True need. Make's it Impossible, Improbable, Difficult to complete SPECIFIC types of missions. Number of specific types of mission you complete per fiscal year.
2) Not available in the normal supply system (this is the big one), and/or delay in acquiring through the supply chain. It's great if you can acquire it through normal chains, but it's bad if it takes 8 months, and your mission happens every 2-3 months.
3) Is this a one time purchase, or will you need to replenish it periodically? How often? (This changes the tone, and can justify future purchases on a charge card) Is it serialized gear?
4) Are you requesting a contract purchase, a GSA/GSA Advantage purchase, or a "off the shelf" charge card purchase?
5) Does purchasing this through your method offer significant advantage to the government?
6) Can the purchase wait til close of fiscal year (end of year funds aka "mad money" or use it or lose it)?
That's what I have off the top of my head.
These are all and/or statements:
1) True need. Make's it Impossible, Improbable, Difficult to complete SPECIFIC types of missions. Number of specific types of mission you complete per fiscal year.
2) Not available in the normal supply system (this is the big one), and/or delay in acquiring through the supply chain. It's great if you can acquire it through normal chains, but it's bad if it takes 8 months, and your mission happens every 2-3 months.
3) Is this a one time purchase, or will you need to replenish it periodically? How often? (This changes the tone, and can justify future purchases on a charge card) Is it serialized gear?
4) Are you requesting a contract purchase, a GSA/GSA Advantage purchase, or a "off the shelf" charge card purchase?
5) Does purchasing this through your method offer significant advantage to the government?
6) Can the purchase wait til close of fiscal year (end of year funds aka "mad money" or use it or lose it)?
That's what I have off the top of my head.
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