INDUSTRY LEADERS ADVOCATING FOR THE INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT NEEDS OF THE WARFIGHTER
OUR MISSION: SUPPORT WARFIGHTER READINESS
The Warrior Protection & Readiness Coalition (WPRC) is the voice of advocacy for the individual and unit level equipment needs of the warfighter. The leading tactical equipment, apparel, materials, and technology companies of the WPRC are committed to ensuring that American service members train and fight with superior gear now and in the future.
OUR MOTIVATION:
As a WPRC member, you join leading American manufacturers and suppliers of the U.S. military that represent an industrial base capability critical to national security delivering superior tactical equipment, apparel, armor, and technology to the warfighter. WPRC provides a unified industry voice working to sustain the new standard of innovation and warfighter capability born from the ongoing counterinsurgency conflicts.
The warfighter clothing and individual equipment (WCIE) industry is diverse and in some cases fragmented and fragile. Declining resources and “commodity” based procurement practices put modernization plans at risk, deter investment, and jeopardize the industrial base. The WPRC advocates with impact beyond that achievable by any individual company to support business fundamentals and ensure defense procurement and innovation policies meet warfighters’ requirements for the “Joint Force of 2020” utilizing the full innovation potential of U.S. manufacturers and service providers. Without this advocacy business fundamentals and warfighter readiness will decline. WPRC supports warfighter readiness, domestic industrial capabilities, and member company businesses.
ONGOING INITIATIVES:
Government and Defense Relations – The WPRC supports warfighter readiness by providing a unified industry voice to the U.S. Congress, the Department of Defense (DOD) and other stakeholders. We inform the intersection of the WCIE industry and individual and unit level warfighter readiness requirements in the federal legislative policy process and the DOD planning, programming, budgeting and execution process. Intersections include:
- Promoting investment in research and development.
- Pursuit of a soldier-as-a-system (SaaS) approaches to WCIE acquisition strategies.
- Innovation in procurement and supply chain management practices.
- Sustainment of domestic manufacturing capability.
- Emphasizing performance and value in the procurement of WCIE.
Our strong public policy and legislative advocacy platform enables our membership to provide input to and understand the issues that impact their businesses through WPRC’s continuous campaign of direct outreach.
Grassroots Outreach – The WPRC membership is diverse and includes multi-national corporations, as well as small family-run businesses. The WPRC understands that big or small, the members of the warfighter clothing and equipment industry should speak with one voice. We work with our members and other industry stakeholders to build consensus, foster cooperation, and form strategic partnerships.
We help create communication channels between our industry, the general public, the military public, and relevant defense officials such as, program executive offices, procurement policy executives, clothing and individual equipment requirement developers and resources sponsors.
Industry Knowledge Development and Networking – WPRC research efforts, working committees, and events help generate industry data and idea exchanges to support our mission, share best practices, and provide opportunities for participants to interact. We also monitor legislation, budgets and programs for their impact on our industry and our mission.
Our annual “Hill Day” provides an opportunity for member company representatives to meet directly with their elected representatives and discuss the issues impacting industry’s ability to support warfighter readiness.