The purpose of this article is to provide informative information to Army National Guard Company Commanders about the Unit Status Report and AR 220-1. This is by no means an end-all solution. Instead, I want to provide you basic fundamental knowledge about the Unit Status Report and AR 220-1. Let’s get started.
In the Army, units must be prepared to accomplish their wartime mission. The ability to accomplish your wartime mission is often referred to as “wartime readiness.” At a tactical level, commanders must have a clear assessment of their unit’s ability to accomplish its wartime mission. At a strategic level, senior Army leaders need a way to measure all Army units’ wartime readiness. To do so, the Army developed the Unit Status Report. The Unit Status Report is dictated by AR 220-1.
AR 220-1 provides guidance to the user-level Soldiers creating and submitting the Unit Status Report. It is frequently known as the Unit Status Report Bible. Whether you are a current Company Commander, Small Unit Leader or Battalion Staff Officer, you should download a copy of AR 220-1 off the Internet and read it.
In the Army National Guard, units are required to complete a Unit Status Report every 90 days (JAN, APRL, JUL, and OCT). The purpose of the Unit Status Report is to provide a commander’s assessment of his unit’s wartime readiness.
Unit readiness indicators include personnel readiness, equipment and supply readiness, on-hand and available equipment readiness/serviceability and unit training proficiency. These measured areas are frequently referred to as “PSRT.” Let’s cover each area in a little more detail below.
- Personnel Readiness (P-level): This consists of three major areas: (1) assigned strength, (2) MOSQ percentage, and (3) senior grade composite level. Assigned strength is simply the number of Soldiers assigned to your unit divided by the authorized strength from your manning document. MOSQ percentage is the number of Soldiers MOSQ divided by the required strength. And the senior grade composite level is determined by comparing the available and required strength in each of five senior grade categories.
- Equipment and Supplies On-Hand/Available (S-level): Army measured units determine and report a S-level by determining by line item number (LIN) the on hand/availability status of designated critical equipment items (pacing items) and the on–hand/availability status of the other mission essential equipment items (ERC A) that are listed on the unit’s MTOE or TDA.
Note that for this S-level measurement, the on hand/availability status of equipment items is based solely on those equipment items currently in the unit’s possession, under its control or, when applicable, available to it within 72 hours for mission execution. The S-level measurement is not based solely on property accountability records, and it does not consider the operational readiness/serviceability of the equipment items.
A discrete measurement is accomplished at the LIN level of detail by comparing the equipment items currently in the unit’s possession, under its control or available to it within 72 hours, to the equipment items required to accomplish its core functions/designed capabilities, and an S-level rating is determined for each measurement. The applicable MTOE or TDA that reflects the unit’s core functions/ designed capabilities is the authoritative source for the unit’s equipment requirements. The unit’s S-level rating is determined in accordance with a methodology that considers each of these by LIN S-level measurements.
- Equipment Readiness/Serviceability (R-level): Army measured units will measure the operational readiness or serviceability of the critical equipment items that are in their possession, under their control or available to them within 72 hours, and that are designated by HQDA via the Maintenance Master Data File (MMDF) as reportable for maintenance.
Separate measurements will be accomplished for each maintenance reportable pacing item and for all maintenance reportable equipment currently in the unit’s possession (aggregate). An R-level rating is determined for each measurement, and, subsequently, the unit’s R-level rating is determined in accordance with a methodology that considers each of these R-level measurements.
- Unit training level proficiency (T-level): Commanders of Army measured units will report the training status of their units based on the percentage of the unit’s METs trained to standard. While Army measured units also are required to determine and report additional training data (for example, required training days, squad/crew/team manning, and qualification status, and so forth) the training level is determined solely based on the results of the MET proficiency assessments associated with the unit’s core functions/designed capabilities.
To put all of this in layman terms, your unit’s wartime readiness consists of four categories. They are:
- Personnel – Do you have your authorized personnel? Are they deployable? Are they MOS qualified? If you have personnel shortages, is there a game-plan to fix the problem?
- Equipment on Hand – In other words, do you have the equipment you are authorized? If you don’t have your authorized equipment, is there a plan in place to get it soon?
- Equipment Readiness – Is the equipment that you do have fully mission capable? In other words, does it work? Could you deploy with it right now and perform your wartime mission?
- Training – Can your unit accomplish its wartime mission? In other words, can you accomplish your mission essential tasks, also known as your METL? Can your Soldiers perform their MOS and Warrior Tasks, too?
Army Regulation 220-1 reports on operational status of units as compared to documented requirements. Unit status reports are adversely affected by the major modernization program in equipment and by the documentation procedures for new equipment and force structure. The Army decided that this would be a good time to revise AR 220-1 and insure that the Army is doing the best possible job of measuring status as an indicator of readiness. ~ Defense Technical Information Center
In the Army National Guard, most company sized elements submit a USR Feeder Report to their Battalion Headquarters once per month. In return, the Battalion S-3 consolidates the information from all of its companies and submits a consolidated Unit Status Report for the Battalion. That information is submitted to the Brigade S3, who completes a Unit Status Report for the entire Brigade.
Eventually, the Unit Status Report works its way up through the Army channels and eventually passes through the Adjutant General’s Office to the National Guard Bureau and then to Headquarters, Department of the Army.
As a Company Commander, you should be involved with your Readiness NCO and First Sergeant to complete the Feeder Report for the Unit Status Report. Your Readiness NCO will consolidate the information and submit it to the Battalion S3 Office, but you should provide command oversight.
To achieve success as a Company Commander, you must also make “wartime readiness” a top priority. To do that, you must place a command focus on “wartime readiness.”Here are some simple things you can do to improve your unit’s wartime readiness.
- Review Your UMR for Quick Fixes – Sometimes the UMR has people in the wrong MTOE positions. If you see a Soldier who is slotted in the wrong position (or is non DMOSQ), move him or her over to a position where they would be MOSQ. In addition, check for Soldiers who might be slotted as excess to see if they could transition to a vacant slot with the same MOS.
- MOSQ – Send Soldiers to school. Sit down with your Soldiers and counsel them on the importance of DMOSQ. Find a slot in ATTRS and get them enrolled immediately.
- Maintenance Program – You must have an effective Army Maintenance program. This includes PMCS and scheduled services. Everything starts with you. You must make maintenance a top priority. During Motor Stables put on your overalls and work in the motor pool. Spot-check your Soldiers to make sure they are using the right TM to conduct PMCS. You might also want to take your Maintenance Sergeant or Warrant Officer out to lunch to pick their brain and get help.
- Meet with Your Property Book Officer and Supply Sergeant – If your company has equipment shortages, you should find out why. You should sit down with your Supply Sergeant and PBO to find out what the game plan is to fill those shortages. If there is no available equipment, find out if there are authorized substitutions.
- Validate Your Company METL – Review your Company METL. Validate each Company METL task. Refer to your ARTEP and ensure that your Company METL hasn’t changed. If you make any revisions to your Company METL, submit those changes to your Battalion Commander for approval.
- Conduct Warrior Task training monthly – Whenever possible, incorporate Warrior Task Training into your training schedule. When time permits, schedule Warrior Task Training as hip-pocket training. Remember, the Warrior Tasks are some of the most important things a Soldier needs to know how to do: shoot, move, and communicate.
Finally, you should create a simple Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that you can update each month. This spreadsheet will be utilized to track your unit readiness. Your spreadsheet should include:
- MOSQ%
- NONMOSQ%
- APFT Results
- Soldier Profiles
- Individual Weapons Qualification (IWQ) %
- Warrior Task Training (WTT)%
- Eligible for Promotion
- Dead-lined Equipment
- Company METL status
- Equipment on Hand
On the last day of each month, you should update your spreadsheet. That way, you can track your unit readiness progress each month. You can identify trends and also see where you are making improvements. In addition, when your OER is due, you can record the improvements you made during your time in command.
Even if you aren’t a new Company Commander, you should still follow the same advice I listed above. Even if you never did anything with your unit readiness before today, you can start fresh. Make an assessment in each area, set goals and create an action plan. You will notice an immediate improvement in your unit readiness.
If you need additional information about the Unit Status Report, or Unit Readiness, you should refer to AR 220-1.
If you have any questions or comments, please post them below, and I will answer as soon as possible.
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Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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Do you have an example excel sheet you use to update monthly? I think that would be helpful for our new S3.
This is an excellent step by step guide on the AR-220. Filling it out seems difficult, but it is a step by step process and shouldn't be that difficult.
The more taxing part can be trying to fix any deficiencies or shortfalls you may have. It's not good enough to fill out the form and throw it in the drawer. You need to make an effort to make changes, if possible.
Also, this is ultimately the commander's job, so while it is good to have people helping make sure you are checking all the work and doing some of the legwork yourself.
The USR is very important and should NOT just be tracked by the AGR staff! A commander should always have their hands in this and be well versed in their unit’s status.
I like how you empower people to take charge of their military career and excel in positions of leadership, such as the Company Commander. Recommending that unit stats be tacked monthly in s spreadsheet is solid advice. It’s nice to be able to have information at hand in an understandable format when you need a quick overview.