Clock ticking on clothing, equipment recovery directive

By Don Kramer, Northwest Guardian

Though training calendars are full, Fort Lewis commanders are taking time to conduct inventories of organizational clothing and individual equipment and rapid-fielding-initiative equipment as part of an Armywide recovery program — and the clock is ticking.

The I Corps commanding general, Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. has directed that all Fort Lewis units get back to basics with a 100-percent inventory of Soldiers’ OCIE and RFI issues to identify shortages and excesses. His senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Maj, Frank A. Grippe reviewed the Frag Order that put the CG’s directive in motion.

The Department of the Army two years ago identified a disturbing wartime trend toward losing accountability of clothing and equipment. In keeping with the DA initiative, Fort Lewis launched Operation Total Recall a few months ago, but achieved mediocre results, said Maj. Scott Brown, chief of supply and services in the I Corps S-4 shop.

“Some units did a good job recouping equipment and some units did absolutely nothing,” Brown said. “The CG got a little disappointed and said, ‘You know what guys, we’re going to do this again.’”

Total Recall II was launched in June. One month remains to complete inventories and update hand receipts.

Accounting for military clothing and equipment has more impact on units than merely preparing them for supply inspections. Brown said the inventories affect readiness, save money and promote morale.

“It helps out your fellow Soldier,” Brown said. “If he can’t get the proper helmet, everyone else has a Mitch helmet but he has an old Kevlar because someone else at that post has two, maybe three helmets. The intent was to get things back into the Army system, to help out other people who were having a hard time getting the right type of stuff.”

Brown said units at Fort Drum recently put hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the system with their inventories by recovering “a tremendous amount” of equipment.

Supply officers and NCOs on Fort Lewis hope to do the same thing.

All units are to coordinate with the Central Issue Facility by today to set appointments for reconciling hand receipts. Inventories must be completed by Aug. 22 and hand receipts reconciled with CIF by Aug. 29.