FORT DETRICK, Maryland (December 7, 2018) – Army Materiel Command Commanding General Gen. Gus Perna emphasized the need to measure "real readiness" during a visit with key leaders from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Dec. 7.

"We need to think operationally, beyond just data and metrics," said Perna. "Factors such as funding and our historical ways of doing business cannot be what drives us today. Today, we must focus on 'real readiness.' See yourself, see your enemy, see your environment, and adjust."

As the Army's senior logistician, Perna emphasized the need to synchronize, integrate and better align resources to mission requirements in order to deliver materiel readiness.

"We have to make tough choices about funding and priorities," Perna told the team of medical researchers, acquisition experts, and logisticians. "More than ever, it is important to be able to describe how your mission and projects directly relate to the operational needs of the Warfighter."

USAMRMC and Fort Detrick Maj. Gen. Barbara R. Holcomb highlighted the organization's success rate of delivery life-saving solutions to the battlefield – a message that was well-received by Perna who said he trusts his subordinate command leaders to carry out their missions and "call the ball," meaning commit to a course of action.

"For me, it is all about leadership and gaining trust," said Perna. "If you are applying leadership, you will have my support."