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Atlantic Ordnance Command ORDEX-03 a Huge Success

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030425-05
Release Date: 4/25/2003 7:01:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Mike Miller, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Northeast Public Affairs

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Atlantic Ordnance Command (LANTORDCOM) held a comprehensive ordnance exercise, ORDEX-03, at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown, Va., April 11, 12 and 13.

More than 100 Reservists from Naval Reserve centers in Avoca, Pa., Bronx, N.Y., Charleston, S.C., Earle, N.J., Pittsburgh and Yorktown, Va., converged on NWS Yorktown to participate.

While the exercise was routine training, a sense of urgency provided heightened motivation to Sailors involved.

LANTORDCOM's new Deployable Ammunition Reporting Team (DART) and Deployable Ammunition Handling Team (DAHT) program is being put to the test in theater - LANTORDCOM Expeditionary Force (LEF) is presently mobilized to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Reservists who participated in ORDEX-03 are training to take the place of LEF personnel in the event they are called upon to do so, thus becoming LANTORDCOM Expeditionary Force 2.

DART/DAHT personnel are charged with the transportation, handling, reporting and stowage of palletized and containerized ordnance and ammunition for Navy and Marine Corps use.

ORDEX-03 provided valuable training in performing these operations efficiently and in accordance with Federal, Department of Defense and Navy Explosive Safety Regulations.

While DART personnel handle inventory control, ordnance receiving and staging, DAHT personnel get the ordnance from where it is stowed, prepare it for transport using blocking and bracing procedures, get it to where it is being used, and secure it from transport for use in theater. Later, if necessary, the process can be reversed to bring unused ordnance and ammunition back home again.

Cmdr. John Yancigay, officer-in-charge of LEF-II, said, "Over 100 Reservists came together for the first time as a unified team. Within a few hours, they were moving efficiently and working together as one force. When called together, these Sailors are no longer thought of as members of individual DARTs or DAHTs; they are LEF-II - one force with a common mission.

"They struggled through cold weather and inclement conditions on the first day of the exercise with no complaints. During the next two days, they trained hard in preparation for possible mobilization. On the second day, night operations simulated actual in-theater conditions. Our first ordnance exercise as LEF-II was a huge success.