First system success is among the administration’s
initial steps toward Iraqi military self sufficiency

Torres Advanced Enterprise Solutions (Torres), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, delivered the enterprise-wide Oracle 11i e-Business ERP Human Resources Management (HR) and Payroll systems that are now the primary management resources for the Iraqi Ministry of Defense including Army, Special Operations Forces, Air Force, Navy and civilian defense personnel. The Oracle systems are used to manage the Iraqi Armed Forces personnel, their careers and to pay the approximately 200,000 strong Iraqi military and civilian defense workforce located throughout Iraq. This achievement is the U.S. Department of Defense’s first and major strategic systems success in moving the Iraqi military towards self reliance.

The Oracle Human Resource and Payroll systems are a critical step towards the stabilization of the Iraqi Armed Forces by reducing wide-spread corruption and providing enterprise-wide resources to manage key human resource processes such as recruitment, troop training, assignment, career development, force management, unit mobilization, personnel retirement, etc. It is also the first major step in moving the Iraqi Armed Forces from a cash-based payroll system to check distribution and direct deposits in an effort to eliminate payroll robberies as Iraqi military personnel move cash from banks to units to pay troops.

A Robust Human Resources and Payroll Implementation:

The final delivered system includes approximately 200 primary and secondary screens and approximately 50 personnel and payroll reports. Many HR and Payroll modules are accessible via the web using Oracle e-Business self service features. This capability accelerates system roll out to units in remote areas throughout Iraq and reduces the need for heavy communications infrastructure investment. It also allows the troops to use self service features to check their pay status, change benefit elections and plan their careers.

Integrated Biometrics – Oracle Database within a Storage Area Network (SAN):

As part of the delivery, the Torres team implemented biometrics infrastructures and a biometrics database to store fingerprints, retina scans, voice recordings and photos of the 200,000 strong Iraqi MOD workforce. The team then integrated the biometrics system with Oracle HR modules to form a seamless biometrics-human resources system solution. Because of the volume (terabytes) the biometrics data is stored within a state of the art Storage Area Network solution (SAN) that the Torres team designed and installed. They also implemented Oracle’s RAC (SAN Management System) to mange the SAN and databases. The biometrics data is used to identify profiled extremists and criminals that try to enter the military. It is also used to manage troops throughout their careers in manners similar to the U.S. Armed Forces.

Trained over 500 Iraqi Military and Civilian System Users:

The Oracle team trained over 500 Iraqi Human Resource and Payroll end users and super users. They also trained the Ministry’s technical staffs in the LINUX Operating System, Network Administration, SAN Applications, Oracle Database Administration and Oracle screen customizations and report writing.
To establish their training facilities, the team literally started from scratch. When they arrived in Baghdad, the facilities promised did not exist. So they set about the business of finding a suitable location. Unfortunately the only available space was dead center in the most frequently attacked area in the Green Zone. What they found was a warehouse-like aluminum building with paper thin walls. From this facility, they built a state of the art training lab complete with a Local Area Network consisting of training client work stations that seated 30 students and training servers and video teleconferencing. They also installed basic infrastructures including power generators to produce electricity. They established their own web access by installing a satellite communications (VSAT) system that has better connectivity, reliability and response time than most ISPs in the United States.

Installed Satellite Communications (VSAT) Systems throughout Iraq:

One of the deployment challenges was to provide access to the Human Resource Systems for the units in remote locations. These units required access to manage and report troop strength and movements, and to manage the careers of the troops within their commands. Many of the units were frequently on the move or in locations where infrastructure is non existent or sporadic. The team therefore installed satellite communications systems at 40 strategic locations throughout Iraq that provides access to the Human Resource systems.

A Remarkable Team - Hit by Mortar Fire, Rockets and Bullets:

From February throughout August 2007, the Torres team experienced an unusually high level of mortar, rocket and small arms attacks. Mortar rounds, rockets and machine gun fire routinely hit within killing radius of the team's office, training facilities and sleeping quarters. During July 2007 the International Zone experienced one of the highest levels of attacks since 2004 resulting in several casualties. In one day for example, 32 mortar rounds hit the IZ with almost half hitting the team's camp and facilities including their office, restroom, water source, training lab, and sleeping quarters. None of the team members were injured thanks to their discipline and quick reaction "duck and cover" routine. And despite continued attacks, shrapnel damage and bullet holes in their office walls, the team brushes itself off and goes right back to work.

Quotes:

Chief Information Officer, Iraqi Ministry of Defense

“This system is expected to have a major impact on the day-to-day lives of our armed forces, due to improved business processes, expedited payroll and HR functions, and reduced corruption. Torres’ team has been effective in providing user and technical training for our staff so we can quickly achieve these benefits,” said [Dr. Ali Taresh, Chief Information Officer, Iraqi Ministry of Defense].