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                      SCALP AND THE TEMPLATING TECHNIQUE
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         I.  The SCALP Story.
 
              "SCALP" stands for Scenario-determined Computer Assisted
         Logistics Planning.  It is  an automated tool originally dev-
         eloped for  use  in rapidly planning logistical  requirements
         for a deploying force.  SCALP is also an ideal tool for doing
         "What-If" analysis of contingency plans.
 
              In December, 1983, the CG, US Army Logistics Center, LTG
         R.L. Bergquist,  directed  that a microcomputer-based program
         be developed to provide logistics  requirements  for  a task-
         organized force deploying on short notice to  any part of the
         world.  The  SCALP  Task  Force was organized to develop this
         planning tool.
 
              The target customer for  the prototype SCALP product was
         the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.  It was delivered in
         June 1984, and feedback was very positive.   Since  that time
         SCALP has  been  developed for 1st Special Operations Command
         (SOCOM) units,  and is being  developed  for  Mechanized  and
         Armored Divisions as well.
 
              SCALP has  undergone  several  enhancements   since  the
         original version.     With    SCALP,    a   logistician   now
         accomplishes, in an hour  or  two,  the same tasks that would
         take days to do in a manual mode.
 
              The SCALP   template   uses  a  commercially   available
         program, LOTUS   1-2-3,   to   manipulate   data   from   the
         organization's MTOE, other unit-specific information (such as
         the prescribed basic load of ammunition and CTA 50-900 issued
         on station)  and  selected   planning   factors.   It  varies
         according to  the mission scenario and commander's  guidance.
         The current   version   of   SCALP   can   provide   specific
         requirements for Class I,  III, V, water, and CTA 50-900.  It
         can also   provide   selected  information   on   Class   IX,
         Maintenance, Medical   considerations,  and  region  specific
         guidance for the deploying force.
 
              The user   identifies    those   units   scheduled   for
         deployment, the number of days before resupply  (by  class of
         supply), ration mix, climate and geographical area, and basic
         load adjustment.  This input is provided in the form of typed
         responses to  menu  questions.  Thus, little understanding of
         the commercial program, or  for that matter, of computers, is
         required.
 
              During the development of SCALP a few  key  points  were
         apparent:
 
              o  Any  logistician is able to easily use this  kind  of
         tool to make his job easier.   No  "programmer"  is  required
         to translate  the  logistician's  thoughts   into  "computer"
         language.
 
              o  Using  industry-standard  hardware ensures that there
         is a continual stream of  new,  "state  of  the art" software
         being developed  to  make  automated  tasks  even  easier  to
         accomplish.
 
              o  By  developing  "templates" for popular, commercially
         available software (as opposed  to  writing new software from
         scratch),  we  can  harness  the  power  of  industry-leading
         software such  as  LOTUS 1-2-3 and dBASE III, and can provide
         that same capability to any other user of these programs.
 
         II.  The TEMPLATING Technique.
 
              A template is a set of prearranged formulas, algorithms,
         menu choices,  and/or automatic  keystrokes  which  tailor  a
         commercial program  such a LOTUS 1-2-3 and  dBASE  III  to  a
         specific useful  application.   Because the formatting of the
         necessary data, and the program commands, are already "built-
         in", what is initially a relatively user-friendly program has
         become an even more simple  yet  powerfully  structured tool.
         The user  needs  only  to  provide answers to  topic-oriented
         menus and  questions;  the template controls the execution of
         the program to produce the  necessary  outputs.  As a result,
         the need to learn the commercial program,  or  to  setup  the
         program for   specific,  routine  applications  is  virtually
         eliminated when templates are used.
 
              When non-routine applications  become  desirable for the
         intermediate user, the benefit of having the  program  itself
         becomes apparent   because  of  the  relative  simplicity  of
         commercial, off-the-shelf,  software  to the user, especially
         when compared  with  a  programming  language.    The  reason
         programs such as LOTUS 1-2-3 and dBASE are so popular is that
         they are at the same time very powerful and very easy to use.
 
              Sophisticated templates   such   as   SCALP   require  a
         considerable investment of  time  and  talent to learn how to
         develop from scratch.  However, most applications,  and  most
         of your  daily  tasks,  require  only  simple calculations or
         manipulations of data and variables.  Because of this, you or
         members of your staff can  easily  develop  templates of your
         own.  Also, when the need to change a more  complex  template
         occurs, a  user  of intermediate experience can make changes,
         again without  having  to  consult  (or  become)  a  computer
         programmer.  This template represents at most an intermediate
         level of  complexity  as  far  as LOTUS 1-2-3  templates  are
         concerned.
 
         III.  THE LOGISTICS MANAGER Series.
 
              This series of templates addresses many of the recurring
         tasks performed   by   S4/G4   officers   and   their   staff
         subordinates.  They  have  been  selected  from  a  virtually
         unlimited field  of  candidates  for automation, with several
         objectives in mind:
 
              o  To  free  up  the   S4/G4  staff  for  "higher-order"
         thinking, planning, and LEADERSHIP tasks, by taking over many
         of the routine, time-consuming, MANAGEMENT tasks.
 
              o  To make the S4/G4's life a little easier.
 
              o  To  actually  improve the S4/G4's effectiveness,  and
         thereby improve the effectiveness of the command.
 
              Major areas covered by the LOGISTICS MANAGER are:
 
              o  SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
              o  MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT
              o  BUDGET/RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
              o  FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
              o  FOOD SERVICE
              o  TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
 
              This  project  began  in   early  1985,  and  additional
         templates, when completed,  will be provided on request.  For
         a complete  listing and further information,  call  or  write
         (just a hand-written note will do) to:
 
         Mail:     Commander
                   US Army Logistics Center
                   ATTN:  ATCL-LE (SCALP TF)
                   Fort Lee, Virginia 23801-6000
 
         Phone:    AUTOVON 687-5339
                   FTS 927-5339
                   Commercial (804) 734-5339
