United States Army Futures and Concepts Center

Futures and Concepts Center
Futures and Concepts Center
	FCC emblem
Active	2006–present
Country	United States
Branch	U.S. Army
Type	Army command
Part of	U.S. Army Futures Command
Garrison/HQ	Fort Eustis, Virginia
Website	Official website link

The U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Center or FCC (formerly U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center, or ARCIC) is located on Fort Eustis, Virginia, as a subordinate unit of the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC). FCC is tasked with testing management and requirements establishing for the Army's materiel, systems, training, and doctrine.^[1]

History

On 1 October 2003, the U.S. Army Futures Center (FC), alternatively TRADOC Futures Center (FC), was established as a subordinate unit to the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).^{[needs context]}^[2]

The TRADOC FC consisted of five directorates and a forward operating element:^[3]

Combat Development and Experimentation Directorate
Capabilities Developments Directorate
Requirements Integration Directorate
Architecture Integration and Management Directorate
International Army Programs Directorate
Futures Center (Forward), a liaison office located in Washington, D.C.

Army Capabilities Integration Center

On 15 February 2006, the TRADOC Futures Center was re-designated as the U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC), with headquarters at Fort Monroe, Virginia.^{[needs context]}^[2]^[4] ARCIC had a lead role in the integration of the army's BCT Modernization into the army.^[4]

The ARCIC was organized as three directorates and one command:^{[citation needed]}

ARCIC Plans & Operations Directorate
Concept Development and Learning Directorate
International Army Programs Directorate
Joint Modernization Command or JMC (formerly Brigade Modernization Command or BMC)

Transfer to Army Futures Command

Army Futures Command shoulder sleeve insignia (left) and distinctive unit insignia (right)

On June 4, 2018, the Headquarters, Department of the Army published General Order 2018-10, "Establishment of the United States Army Futures Command," formally transferring ARCIC from TRADOC to the new command effective July 1, 2018.^[5]

The full transition of authority from TRADOC to AFC took place at Fort Eustis, VA on 7 December 2018, with a reflagging of the Center and repatching of the Commander and CSM.^[6] Also in December 2018, the center, under Futures Command, was re-designated as U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Center (FCC).^[2]^[6]

The FCC is organized as two directorates and one command:^[7]

Directorate of Concepts (DoC)
Futures Integration Directorate (FID)
Joint Modernization Command or JMC

References

^ Army creates new capabilities integration center
^ ^a ^b ^c "ARCIC to Transition From TRADOC to AFC (Media Advisory #18-11-002)" (PDF). www.tradoc.army.mil. US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Public Affairs Office, Fort Eustis, VA. 29 November 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025. November 29, 2018 (___enter___); ARCIC to Transition From TRADOC to AFC (___enter___); FORT EUSITIS, Va. – A (...) ceremony is scheduled to take place here [on] December 7, (...) transition[ing] [the] authority of U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center from U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to U.S. Army Futures Command. ARCIC will be re-designated as the Futures and Concepts Directorate but will remain here [at Fort Eustis, VA]. (___enter___); (...) (___enter___); ARCIC was established as the Futures Center on October 1, 2003, and assigned to TRADOC. In February 2006, the Futures Center was re-designated as ARCIC. ARCIC is responsible for the development of the future Army, ensuring force requirements and capabilities needed to meet future national security challenges are identified and integrated across the Army and the joint force. (___enter___); (...)"; in full: "November 29, 2018 (___enter___); ARCIC to Transition From TRADOC to AFC (___enter___); FORT EUSITIS, Va. – A historic ceremony is scheduled to take place here December 7, at 10:30 a.m., signifying the transition of authority of U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center from U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to U.S. Army Futures Command. ARCIC will be re-designated as the Futures and Concepts Directorate but will remain here. (___enter___); Gen. Stephen Townsend, TRADOC commanding general, will host the ceremony, and will be joined by Gen. John Murray, AFC commanding general, and Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley, ARCIC director. (___enter___); ARCIC was established as the Futures Center on October 1, 2003, and assigned to TRADOC. In February 2006, the Futures Center was re-designated as ARCIC. ARCIC is responsible for the development of the future Army, ensuring force requirements and capabilities needed to meet future national security challenges are identified and integrated across the Army and the joint force. (___enter___); (...)
^ "Organization and Functions – US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC Regulation 10-5)" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, VA. 22 December 2005. pp. 5, 47 / pdf p. 5, 47. AD1206792. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025. 1-1. Purpose. This regulation is TRADOC's capstone document that defines and delineates organizations, functions, and responsibilities for the headquarters (HQ) staff and subordinate organizations. (___enter___); 4-2. Organization of TRADOC FC. The TRADOC FC consists of five directorates and a forward operating element (see fig 4-1, below). The directorates include: Concept Development and Experimentation; Capabilities Developments; Requirements Integration; Architecture Integration and Management; and, International Army Programs. The forward operating element is Futures Center (Forward), which is a liaison office located in the National Capital Region.
^ ^a ^b "Army creates new capabilities integration center". www4.army.mil. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 25 June 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2025. WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 22, 2006) – The Secretary of the Army signed a General Order Feb. 15, to roll out the Army's organization responsible for integrating Future Combat^[sic] (.) (___enter___); Systems capabilities into the force as soon as practical. (___enter___); The Army Capabilities Integration Center, or ARCIC, was formed from the resources and organization of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Futures Center. (___enter___); With the new name and new mission, the ARCIC will be the lead Army agency for coordinating how best to integrate warfighting capabilities into the force and among the military services and with other agencies. (___enter___); "We are retaining the complete mission set from the Futures Center and adding the tremendous responsibility for integrating capabilities into the modular force," said Lt. Gen. J. Mark Curran at a media roundtable Feb. 16 during the Winter Association of the United States Army conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Curran, formerly director of the Futures Center, will serve as the ARCIC's director. (___enter___); "This integration goes beyond materiel items and includes all DOTMLPF [doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leader development, personnel(,) and facilities]^[sic] domains," Curran said. "We must work the synchronization and coordination of agencies across the Army and the Joint community to ensure we accelerate inserting capabilities into the modular force, when these are ready, to meet an essential need." (___enter___); The ARCIC's responsibilities will include the Future Combat Systems, the modernization program for the Army to move from the current force to the future force. The program provides Soldiers with leading-edge technologies to improve their capabilities in fighting the enemy in complex environments. (___enter___); "Our role in inserting [Future Combat Systems]^[sic] capabilities into the force when ready is critical to enabling the Army to evolve rapidly while engaged in this long war," Curran said. "The Future Combat Systems program is the fastest, surest way to modernize the Army." (___enter___); The ARCIC's work will pave the way for brigade combat teams to use Future Combat Systems technologies, according to Army senior leaders. It will provide impetus and direction from concept to capability development for full spectrum operations, as well as shape the future for the next generation of Soldiers. (___enter___); The ARCIC, through the TRADOC commanding general, will be responsible to the Army Secretary and Army Chief of Staff. It will be headquartered at Fort Monroe, Va., with a forward element in Arlington, Va. The National Capitol Region office will be responsible for working with the Army Staff, Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense(,) and other agencies. (___enter___); "The ARCIC is responsible for integrating and synchronizing the activities of many separate agencies and Headquarters Department of the Army elements," said Col. Rickey Smith, director of the ARCIC-Forward. "Currently, many segments of our Army individually provide pieces of the overall DOTMLPF composite picture. The ARCIC will lead in determining if the right force-capability requirements are being worked, or whether we are closing the gaps needed to support our Soldiers and leaders for today's and tomorrow's requirements." (___enter___); This represents a significant change in how the Army does business, Smith said. (___enter___); "The ARCIC represents a real, tangible shift," he said. "Here are two examples. In the very near future, the Army will establish an Evaluation Brigade Combat Team for the purpose of evaluating and testing FCS technologies in order to spin them out to the modular force. The ARCIC will have the key role in determining what the EBCT tests, and determining whether these technologies meet the requirements. (___enter___); "The ARCIC will also serve as the Soldier's representative, ensuring that requirements are being met," he said. (___enter___); Since wargaming, concept development(,) and experimentation across DoD have implications for the fielding of needed capabilities to the current and future Joint force commander, "The ARCIC is a permanent organization designed to serve as the coordinating agent among all stakeholders involved in the force-capability requirements process, including requirements identification and integration," Smith said. (___enter___); "The ARCIC will stay engaged at all levels to ensure integrated current and future force developments are considered in the sister services, Joint Staff and Army acquisition and budget decisions," Smith said. "Decisions that affect Army capabilities now and in the future will cause us to re-examine our operational concepts and shift our priorities and resources accordingly." (___enter___); (Editor's note: Information provided by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Public Affairs Office.)
^ Establishment of the United States Army Futures Command
^ ^a ^b YouTube clip (7 December 2018) ARCIC Transition of Authority Ceremony 07 Dec 2018 to Futures and Concepts Center, AFC
^ "About | Futures and Concepts Center". www.army.mil/futuresandconceptscenter. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025. FCC Directorates (___enter___); Directorate of Concepts (DoC) (___enter___); DoC informs forward-focused Army concepts to design the Army of 2040 and produces the future Army Operating Concept. DoC represents the Army in the development of Joint Warfighting Concepts which describe how the Joint Force will operate in the Future Operating Environment. (___enter___); Futures Integration Directorate (FID) (___enter___); FID supports the transformation of the Army by identifying, synchronizing(,) and prioritizing requirements for AFC and the Army processes. FID identifies and documents Army capability gaps, analyzes and integrates emerging material requirements, and synchronizes material solution resources to support the Army's capability development community of practice in delivering materiel solutions to achieve overmatch for the Army of 2030 and the future Army of 2040.

External links

Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) Official web page - NOTE: no longer active

This United States Army article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[ANS-1] Army creates new capabilities integration center

[:1-2] "ARCIC to Transition From TRADOC to AFC (Media Advisory #18-11-002)" (PDF). www.tradoc.army.mil. US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Public Affairs Office, Fort Eustis, VA. 29 November 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025. November 29, 2018 (___enter___); ARCIC to Transition From TRADOC to AFC (___enter___); FORT EUSITIS, Va. – A (...) ceremony is scheduled to take place here [on] December 7, (...) transition[ing] [the] authority of U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center from U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to U.S. Army Futures Command. ARCIC will be re-designated as the Futures and Concepts Directorate but will remain here [at Fort Eustis, VA]. (___enter___); (...) (___enter___); ARCIC was established as the Futures Center on October 1, 2003, and assigned to TRADOC. In February 2006, the Futures Center was re-designated as ARCIC. ARCIC is responsible for the development of the future Army, ensuring force requirements and capabilities needed to meet future national security challenges are identified and integrated across the Army and the joint force. (___enter___); (...)"; in full: "November 29, 2018 (___enter___); ARCIC to Transition From TRADOC to AFC (___enter___); FORT EUSITIS, Va. – A historic ceremony is scheduled to take place here December 7, at 10:30 a.m., signifying the transition of authority of U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center from U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to U.S. Army Futures Command. ARCIC will be re-designated as the Futures and Concepts Directorate but will remain here. (___enter___); Gen. Stephen Townsend, TRADOC commanding general, will host the ceremony, and will be joined by Gen. John Murray, AFC commanding general, and Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley, ARCIC director. (___enter___); ARCIC was established as the Futures Center on October 1, 2003, and assigned to TRADOC. In February 2006, the Futures Center was re-designated as ARCIC. ARCIC is responsible for the development of the future Army, ensuring force requirements and capabilities needed to meet future national security challenges are identified and integrated across the Army and the joint force. (___enter___); (...)

[3] "Organization and Functions – US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC Regulation 10-5)" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, VA. 22 December 2005. pp. 5, 47 / pdf p. 5, 47. AD1206792. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025. 1-1. Purpose. This regulation is TRADOC's capstone document that defines and delineates organizations, functions, and responsibilities for the headquarters (HQ) staff and subordinate organizations. (___enter___); 4-2. Organization of TRADOC FC. The TRADOC FC consists of five directorates and a forward operating element (see fig 4-1, below). The directorates include: Concept Development and Experimentation; Capabilities Developments; Requirements Integration; Architecture Integration and Management; and, International Army Programs. The forward operating element is Futures Center (Forward), which is a liaison office located in the National Capital Region.

[:0-4] "Army creates new capabilities integration center". www4.army.mil. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 25 June 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2025. WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 22, 2006) – The Secretary of the Army signed a General Order Feb. 15, to roll out the Army's organization responsible for integrating Future Combat^[sic] (.) (___enter___); Systems capabilities into the force as soon as practical. (___enter___); The Army Capabilities Integration Center, or ARCIC, was formed from the resources and organization of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Futures Center. (___enter___); With the new name and new mission, the ARCIC will be the lead Army agency for coordinating how best to integrate warfighting capabilities into the force and among the military services and with other agencies. (___enter___); "We are retaining the complete mission set from the Futures Center and adding the tremendous responsibility for integrating capabilities into the modular force," said Lt. Gen. J. Mark Curran at a media roundtable Feb. 16 during the Winter Association of the United States Army conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Curran, formerly director of the Futures Center, will serve as the ARCIC's director. (___enter___); "This integration goes beyond materiel items and includes all DOTMLPF [doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leader development, personnel(,) and facilities]^[sic] domains," Curran said. "We must work the synchronization and coordination of agencies across the Army and the Joint community to ensure we accelerate inserting capabilities into the modular force, when these are ready, to meet an essential need." (___enter___); The ARCIC's responsibilities will include the Future Combat Systems, the modernization program for the Army to move from the current force to the future force. The program provides Soldiers with leading-edge technologies to improve their capabilities in fighting the enemy in complex environments. (___enter___); "Our role in inserting [Future Combat Systems]^[sic] capabilities into the force when ready is critical to enabling the Army to evolve rapidly while engaged in this long war," Curran said. "The Future Combat Systems program is the fastest, surest way to modernize the Army." (___enter___); The ARCIC's work will pave the way for brigade combat teams to use Future Combat Systems technologies, according to Army senior leaders. It will provide impetus and direction from concept to capability development for full spectrum operations, as well as shape the future for the next generation of Soldiers. (___enter___); The ARCIC, through the TRADOC commanding general, will be responsible to the Army Secretary and Army Chief of Staff. It will be headquartered at Fort Monroe, Va., with a forward element in Arlington, Va. The National Capitol Region office will be responsible for working with the Army Staff, Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense(,) and other agencies. (___enter___); "The ARCIC is responsible for integrating and synchronizing the activities of many separate agencies and Headquarters Department of the Army elements," said Col. Rickey Smith, director of the ARCIC-Forward. "Currently, many segments of our Army individually provide pieces of the overall DOTMLPF composite picture. The ARCIC will lead in determining if the right force-capability requirements are being worked, or whether we are closing the gaps needed to support our Soldiers and leaders for today's and tomorrow's requirements." (___enter___); This represents a significant change in how the Army does business, Smith said. (___enter___); "The ARCIC represents a real, tangible shift," he said. "Here are two examples. In the very near future, the Army will establish an Evaluation Brigade Combat Team for the purpose of evaluating and testing FCS technologies in order to spin them out to the modular force. The ARCIC will have the key role in determining what the EBCT tests, and determining whether these technologies meet the requirements. (___enter___); "The ARCIC will also serve as the Soldier's representative, ensuring that requirements are being met," he said. (___enter___); Since wargaming, concept development(,) and experimentation across DoD have implications for the fielding of needed capabilities to the current and future Joint force commander, "The ARCIC is a permanent organization designed to serve as the coordinating agent among all stakeholders involved in the force-capability requirements process, including requirements identification and integration," Smith said. (___enter___); "The ARCIC will stay engaged at all levels to ensure integrated current and future force developments are considered in the sister services, Joint Staff and Army acquisition and budget decisions," Smith said. "Decisions that affect Army capabilities now and in the future will cause us to re-examine our operational concepts and shift our priorities and resources accordingly." (___enter___); (Editor's note: Information provided by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Public Affairs Office.)

[DAGO-5] Establishment of the United States Army Futures Command

[arcicTransitionOfAuthority,FuturesAndConceptsCenter-6] YouTube clip (7 December 2018) ARCIC Transition of Authority Ceremony 07 Dec 2018 to Futures and Concepts Center, AFC

[7] "About | Futures and Concepts Center". www.army.mil/futuresandconceptscenter. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025. FCC Directorates (___enter___); Directorate of Concepts (DoC) (___enter___); DoC informs forward-focused Army concepts to design the Army of 2040 and produces the future Army Operating Concept. DoC represents the Army in the development of Joint Warfighting Concepts which describe how the Joint Force will operate in the Future Operating Environment. (___enter___); Futures Integration Directorate (FID) (___enter___); FID supports the transformation of the Army by identifying, synchronizing(,) and prioritizing requirements for AFC and the Army processes. FID identifies and documents Army capability gaps, analyzes and integrates emerging material requirements, and synchronizes material solution resources to support the Army's capability development community of practice in delivering materiel solutions to achieve overmatch for the Army of 2030 and the future Army of 2040.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]