Pentagon to Destroy $1.2 Billion in Surplus Ammo

[Stugotz]

OutdoorHub Reporters Daniel Xu +
| April 30, 2014 |

Inefficient data sharing between different branches of the United States Armed Forces has led to a large and expensive to maintain ammo surplus.

A new Government Accountability Office report found that the Pentagon is planning to destroy an estimated $1.2 billion worth of ammunition. According to the report, the stockpile slated to be destroyed is a part of the $70 billion worth of ammunition managed by the Department of Defense (DOD) through the Army.

This immense ammo reserve weighs about 1.7 million tons and is utilized by all of the nation’s military forces, although it is currently stored in eight large Army depots. Other services have their own inventory systems to account for ammunition, but only the Army uses the Pentagon format, which makes data exchanges between the services difficult. This problem is alleviated in part by a meeting of the armed services every year called the Quad Services Cross-Leveling Review, where the branches identify surplus ammunition and redistribute it among themselves or US allies. After this meeting, any ammunition not accounted for is then slated for possible disposal, even though the ammo in question may still be perfectly functional.

“We simply cannot afford this type of waste and ineffectiveness,” US Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware) told USA Today. “The (Pentagon) has a responsibility to efficiently manage its ammunition stocks, not only because it is important to be fiscally responsible, but also because our antiquated ammunition inventory systems can shortchange our war fighters and compromise their ability to complete their mission.”

The report concludes with several suggestions to improve data sharing between the services and to prevent further waste of taxpayer money. One of the most important steps, the report says, will be designating an authoritative inventory system to be used across all the services.

“We need to adopt systems to where the Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Army can all share information about different types and amounts of ammunition they have that’s excess to their foreseeable needs,” retired Army general Bill McClain told KTRH News.

Not all of the ammunition will simply be destroyed. Army officers say that a portion of the ammo slated for the scrap heap will end up on the range during “mad minute” exercises. These training sessions involve a short period of intense weapons fire, which officers say provide valuable experience for soldiers and helps to burn through surplus ammunition.

The term “mad minute” was originally coined by British soldiers to describe shooting 15 rounds through a 12-inch target at 300 yards in under one minute using a bolt-action rifle.

[Sigfan220]

Sweet maybe some pull down powder and bullets will hit the market.

[steve4102]

It's not "Ammunition", it's munitions. Lots of high dollar missiles and such on the list.

[LarryFlew]

It's not "Ammunition", it's munitions. Lots of high dollar missiles and such on the list.

source for that info as opposed to the OPs?

[dupa]

when I was in the field artillery (1990's) we were using rounds dating from the 50's when I started and the 60's when I ended... can't imagine how old this stuff must be.

[photogpat]

It's not "Ammunition", it's munitions. Lots of high dollar missiles and such on the list.

source for that info as opposed to the OPs?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/poli ... e/8145729/

Every article I've read, other than the frothing at the mouth ones, lists it as ammunition, munitions and missiles.

Small arms ammo, when properly stored, will last indefinitely. When improperly stored, it goes bad at some point. Ditto with rocket propellants, HE loads on shells, etc... I read in some of the articles that the military can't account for the storage conditions...therefore....

More of a matter of a round going " click" when you're looking for a "bang". Or worst case scenario, going " B-A-N-G!!!!!!!!" when you're looking for "bang".

Not saying .gov waste is acceptable...but its not like this is all 5.56 and 7.62 either.

[Tomh]

Dupa, "Batallion, 3 rounds, Fire for Effect, Over"


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[LarryFlew]

OIC

[farmerj]

I can remember disposing of more than a couple rounds dated 1944-1946 with ma duece. It got to be a challenge to see who could find the oldest ammo. And that was I. Th 90's.

[jshuberg]

There is undoubtedly a pattern here. Draw down our forces to the lowest levels in nearly a century, turn a blind eye to treaty obligations concerning national defense, close bases and decommission ships, and now the destruction of munitions.

At the end of the day what all of this comes down to is a destruction of our ability to defend ourselves. None of us want war, but many of us believe that being prepared so we don't have to fight one is better than weakening yourself to the point where you are incapable of fighting one.

[Mn01r6]

There is undoubtedly a pattern here. Draw down our forces to the lowest levels in nearly a century, turn a blind eye to treaty obligations concerning national defense, close bases and decommission ships, and now the destruction of munitions.

At the end of the day what all of this comes down to is a destruction of our ability to defend ourselves. None of us want war, but many of us believe that being prepared so we don't have to fight one is better than weakening yourself to the point where you are incapable of fighting one.

Something is not adding up. We need to follow the money - because it IS going SOMEWHERE.

[dupa]

FIRE MISSION!!!

and I would imagine with the way combat has changed much of this stuff is outdated and just not used any longer. so why keep it? or sell it to some third world country that will turn it into a roadside bomb.

spent some time as an ammo supply nco. we were not allowed to return unused ammo. we would go open up a range and fire it up.

[MaryB]

How much is going to be diverted to the DHS?

[gunsmith]

Forget where I heard this but you look at the graph and China's defense budget fits into our graphy 5 times...well....we have 5 times the threats to prevail in Pacific, Atlantic, Mideastern.

World's police man....shure....who else is going to do it.

The Chinese need to operate in a small sphere....we have threats behind and to the side.

To use this graph improperly is intellectually dishonest....(not accusing any poster here)


[/quote]

[FJ540]

How much would that shrink if we closed half our foreign bases?

We really only use them for treating wounded and storing equipment closer to where we're doing wrongful hostilities anyway, right?

How about pulling back from the world police and instigations (oops, there went the CIA), and concentrate on real threats (Mexican border)?

Too many people equate what we're doing now with national security, and I'd infer that we wouldn't have so many people to defend against if we weren't so busy bombing their children abroad.