Stand-To!- Ammunition and explosives incidents - March 12, 2008

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Edition: Wed, March 12, 2008
Rich-text Version
SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING
"I just wanted to take some time to thank our recruiters for their  
service. They face tough challenges every day and the explosion  
outside their station made the day even tougher. I also wanted to  
thank the NYPD, the federal authorities involved, and our Corps of  
Engineers for the hard work they are all doing."

-Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, visiting the Times Square military  
recruiting station March 10 to talk to recruiters and survey the  
repairs made after an explosion damaged the station last week.

CAC commander visits Times Square recruiting station
TODAY'S FOCUS
Ammunition and explosives (A&E) incidents

What is it?

A&E incidents are defined as unplanned explosions or functioning of  
explosive materiel or devices. Recent examples of these incidents  
include: improper head space and timing associated with the M2 50- 
caliber machine gun, applying tape to the safety pin/spoons on hand  
grenades, mixing dummy or inert rounds with live rounds of ammunition  
and picking up unexploded ordnance.

What has the Army done?

The Army leadership is taking a proactive approach to raise  
awareness, to include, “VCSA” and “Wallace” Sends messages and the  
posting of information on the Total Ammunition Management Information  
System for worldwide visibility. The Army Combat Readiness/Safety  
Center (USACRC) also published several articles in Knowledge Magazine  
and on their Web site:

Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center

In addition to the actions listed above, the Army G-3 Training  
Directorate sergeant major distributed information on the issue  
throughout the senior NCO leadership and the information was  
presented to the Training and Leader Development General Officer  
Steering Committee. Joint Munitions Command also published ammunition  
information notifications (AIN): AIN 06-08, 06-08A and 06-08B,  
discussing the safety risk for taping grenades. See:

Ammunition information notices

What does the Army have planned for the future? Engage Army  
leadership to reduce the occurrence of these incidents. The director  
of Army Safety, USACRC, Army G-3/5/7 and USADAC will conduct a trend  
analysis. The analysis will address doctrine, organizations,  
training, leader development, materiel, personnel and facilities  
(DOTLMPF) issues. The Army is also looking at the development of  
training products that will provide reference materiel. This will  
assist Army leadership in the areas of ammunition and explosives  
safety such as safety standards, malfunctions, storage policies and  
procedures, the dangers associated with A&E incidents, mishap  
reporting and weapons familiarization. The following publications  
provide additional information:

AR 75 – 1 "Malfunctions Involving Ammunition and Explosives" Army  
administrative publications AR 385 – 10 "The Army Safety Program," DA  
PAM 385 – 10 "Army Safety Program," and DA PAM 385 – 64 "Ammunition  
and Explosives Safety Standards" Army administrative publications.

Information on the use and maintenance of weapons information can be  
found here:

Doctrine and training publications

Ammunition information notifications are maintained by Joint  
Munitions Command on this Web site:

Joint Munitions Command

Why is this important to the Army?

The recent increase in A&E incidents has caused needless fatalities  
and injuries, as well as significant damage to Army property,  
adversely affecting Army readiness.
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
• 2007 Strategic Communication Guide - Read the 2007 Army Strategic  
Communication Guide for key messages and updates

• Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace

• Army Public Affairs Portal

• Stories of Valor

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WORLD VIEW
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WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS
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The decline in homegrown terror (WPR)
India roundup (HJ)
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