U.S. Army training center uses RFID technology to manage uniforms

Fort Leonard Wood Recruit Training Center (RTC) is one of the first three U.S. Army Recruit Training Centers in the country to use an RFID system to manage uniforms received from the Atlanta warehouse. The warehouse is operated by Lion Company. This ultra-high frequency RFID system is provided by the company and allows RTC and DLA (Defense logistics Agency) to automate clothing receipt and distribution management.

DLA has used uniform tracking RFID systems at several other boot camps, with Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio being the first to try it. Fort Leonard Wood's RFID system was installed in October 2014, followed by the other two training centers. In the future, DLA plans to deploy the system at the Fort Sill Army Training Center.

Fort Leonard Wood accepts 20,000 recruits each year, and they receive their uniforms at the Center for Training and Training Uniform Distribution Point (CIIP).

DLA’s suppliers are responsible for delivering the tagged uniforms to warehouses operated by LVI or other DLA third-party inventory management companies, and then the uniforms are ultimately distributed to training camps. Monique Williams, DLA uniform manager, said that initially, RFID deployment is currently in Phase 1, and suppliers will attach RFID tags to uniforms such as shoes, pants, and T-shirts worn by soldiers for daily training. Smaller, cheaper items like belts, badges and socks are not marked. In fact, some socks made of metal fibers are very difficult to read, said Doug DeLoach, Advantech project manager. In the next phase, dress uniforms for formal events will be added to the marked list.

DeLoach explained that when an order is received from DLA, the uniform provider uses the virtual item management-ARN Supply Chain Automation Processing (VIM-ASAP) software provided by the agency to see which items need to be shipped. Then, the supplier will input the items to be delivered into the VIM-ASAP system, which can be viewed by DLA employees. He said that the system had been in use for 10 years before the RFID system was used. Now, suppliers will also enter the ID number of the tag attached to the item and the ID number of the RFID tag on the outer packaging box.

Angela Richwine, DLA apparel supply chain business process analyst, said that more than a year ago, DLA began requiring suppliers to mark items and their packaging boxes. Richwine also said that 99% of the items in Phase 1 will be delivered to LVI’s warehouse and marked by on-site warehouse employees.

When the goods are delivered to the recruit training center, the VIM-ASAP software creates a manifest. When items are delivered to RTC as ordered, LVI employees mark the unsealed boxes at the warehouse.

These boxes will be transported to the CIIP of the training center. At Fort Wood, employees drive trucks to deliver the items to CIIP's storage area. Drivers drive their trucks through an entrance equipped with Impinj RFID Readers. After reading the tag ID number, the reader will transmit the data to the provided ARN integrated retail module RFID software. At the same time, the RFID software will compare the differences between the read items and the list. As trucks are unloading, warehouse managers need to keep an eye on their computer screens to make sure the goods are received in the correct order and that no items are missing or off-list. Fort Leonard Wood uses IRM to query on-site items and which items need to be distributed. This data can also be shared with DLA, which provides visibility into inventory.

Uniform distribution is the second use scenario of RFID. Recruits come to RTC to receive a list of items that need to be collected. This list will indicate the items that need to be collected and include an application number with a QR code. Fort Leonard Wood RTC staff will distribute items based on this list. Then, the staff walked to the RFID counter (with built-in RFID reader and antenna) and placed the distributed items on the table.

RTC employees then need to scan the QR code on the item list and open the IRM RFID application, which will display the demand list and activate the reader. The reader will then read the item tag ID number, and the IRM RFID software will compare the read ID number with the demand list to ensure that the uniforms distributed are exactly correct. If the system shows no abnormalities, the recruits can receive these items. Next, the IRM software transmits the data to the VIM-ASAP system.

Williams said Fort Leonard Wood is still evaluating the benefits of the technology. "There's a learning curve," he said. For example, to improve reader read rates, the RFID team adjusted the reader power and placed shielding fabric around it. Richwine explained that the training center has been working hard over the past few months to keep the system operational.

This summer, Fort Sill will deploy a similar RFID solution, also involving only training uniforms.