Army Direct Report Headquarters - R&D - MHA

PE 0605898A: Army Direct Report Headquarters - R&D - MHA is a Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget line supporting management and technical direction for critical Army transformation and readiness initiatives. The program element funds authorized civilian personnel and related operating expenses for the United States Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) Headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. It also provides research support for the Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program. The objective is to ensure robust oversight and continuous improvement of Army testing, evaluation, and prevention programs essential to both modernization and force protection.

M65: Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) is the primary component of this budget line. ATEC's mission is to plan, conduct, and integrate developmental and operational testing, independent evaluations, and assessments for Army acquisition programs. These activities provide essential data to Soldiers and acquisition decision makers, supporting the American Warfighter and aligning with Army transformation priorities. ATEC also provides direct support to Army Futures Command (AFC), including risk reduction for experiments, demonstrations, requirements analysis, and research and development activities.

Funding for ATEC covers a wide range of management and technical functions, including human resources, safety, security, environmental compliance, strategic planning, operations, engineering, logistics, resource management, test capabilities, policy and standardization, public affairs, legal, Inspector General, Equal Opportunity, and IT support. ATEC provides technical direction to the Army Evaluation Center (AEC) and the Operational Test Command (OTC), which oversees multiple Test Directorates and Major Range and Test Facility Bases (MRTFBs) across the United States. Annually, ATEC directs thousands of developmental tests, hundreds of operational events, and numerous evaluation and safety documents, supporting Army transformation and acquisition programs.

ATEC also funds essential enterprise-level operating requirements, including IT Help Desk services, sustainment of Defense Business Systems such as the Army Test and Evaluation Command Decision Support Systems, video teleconferencing hardware and support, property book management, and minor facility maintenance. These services ensure effective communication, accountability, and operational readiness across the ATEC workforce and facilities. The budget reflects a decrease due to workforce optimization, travel, and service contract rebalancing in line with executive orders promoting government efficiency.

FJ2: Army SHARP RDTE is a smaller but critical research component. This project supports the Army Management Headquarters' research capability to improve the SHARP program, focusing on prevention of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and gender discrimination. Research activities are conducted by the Directorate of Prevention, Resilience, and Readiness in Arlington, VA, and are designed to better understand risk and protective factors, vulnerable populations, high-risk locations, and Soldier experiences. The goal is to inform targeted prevention efforts and science-based strategies to reduce harmful behaviors.

Research under this component supports the implementation of recommendations from the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. Efforts will build on previous findings to identify and address individual and organizational risk factors, improve training to reflect actual Soldier experiences, and develop validated tools and interventions. The research also aims to enhance Army leaders' abilities to build protective environments, reduce tolerance for harmful behaviors, and facilitate access to support services, contributing to improved readiness and retention.