thedrifter
12-08-06, 04:24 PM
December 08, 2006
Message mandates missing weapon accountability
Commanders must turn in paperwork for small arms by Dec. 15
By Kimberly Johnson
Staff writer
The Corps wants to keep better records of small arms and is requiring inventory documentation by the end of the year, according to a new directive.
The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have created a revolving door as thousands of small arms have moved in and out of the battlefield. This constant rotation has “created significant accountability challenges for commanders to maintain accurate supply records,” states MarAdmin message 566/06.
Consequently, the directive says, some paperwork reporting weapons as missing, lost, stolen or recovered is delinquent. Such recordkeeping must now be turned in by Dec. 15, the directive said, and units must conduct inventory sweeps of small arms by Jan. 15. However, units that deployed prior to Dec. 1 are exempt from the deadlines.
Additionally, all units that deploy after Dec. 1 must complete small-arms reconciliation at least 45 days prior to shipping out and again within 60 days upon their return, the guidance said.
The directive does not create new policy but is an effort to standardize the Corps’ database, said Maj. Ronald Branley, a supply policy officer with Marine Corps Installations and Logistics.
The directive “is a preventative measure,” he said. “To date, the Marine Corps has no documentation to indicate there is a problem with missing weapons. However, we have found instances where the accuracy and proper documentation of small-arms transfers between units can be improved.”
Ellie
Message mandates missing weapon accountability
Commanders must turn in paperwork for small arms by Dec. 15
By Kimberly Johnson
Staff writer
The Corps wants to keep better records of small arms and is requiring inventory documentation by the end of the year, according to a new directive.
The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have created a revolving door as thousands of small arms have moved in and out of the battlefield. This constant rotation has “created significant accountability challenges for commanders to maintain accurate supply records,” states MarAdmin message 566/06.
Consequently, the directive says, some paperwork reporting weapons as missing, lost, stolen or recovered is delinquent. Such recordkeeping must now be turned in by Dec. 15, the directive said, and units must conduct inventory sweeps of small arms by Jan. 15. However, units that deployed prior to Dec. 1 are exempt from the deadlines.
Additionally, all units that deploy after Dec. 1 must complete small-arms reconciliation at least 45 days prior to shipping out and again within 60 days upon their return, the guidance said.
The directive does not create new policy but is an effort to standardize the Corps’ database, said Maj. Ronald Branley, a supply policy officer with Marine Corps Installations and Logistics.
The directive “is a preventative measure,” he said. “To date, the Marine Corps has no documentation to indicate there is a problem with missing weapons. However, we have found instances where the accuracy and proper documentation of small-arms transfers between units can be improved.”
Ellie