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Ordnance Handlers/Reporters Prepare for Deployment

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030509-16

Release Date: 5/9/2003 12:35:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Mike Miller, Naval Reserve Center Avoca Public Affairs

CHARLESTON, S.C. (NNS) -- Atlantic Ordnance Command (LANTORDCOM) held its second ordnance exercise (ORDEX) in as many months, in preparation for possible deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sailors from seven Reserve Centers, as well as LANTORDCOM Headquarters (HQ) and Cargo Handling Battalion 4, converged on Naval Weapons Station Charleston, S.C., for the two-day ORDEX-03 Charleston May 3 and 4. Rear Adm. Robert Ryland Percy III, commander, Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force and Cmdr. John Dillender, OPNAV N41 representative, observed the ORDEX.

Why prepare for possible deployment after the president has announced the end of combat operations in Iraq? Simple: LANTORDCOM's Deployable Ammunition Reporting Teams (DART) and Deployable Ammunition Handling Teams (DAHT) do not just deliver the goods; they bring them home, too. Unexpended ordnance must be carefully inventoried, properly stowed, and transported back to the United States and other parts of the world for possible contingencies.

Lt. Cmdr. Paul Pender, LANTORDCOM Reserve HQ unit executive officer, Expeditionary Force CONUS (continental United States) liaison officer and exercise ordnance staging area coordinator, said, "We have conducted two exercises in as many months to prepare for the possibility of relieving SELRES (selected Reserves on active duty) currently in theater since Jan. 4. Working with Cargo Handling Battalion 4 to lift ordnance from the USNS Santa Barbara (T-AE 28) adds another level of reality to the exercise. It's fantastic to see all the weekend training on blocking and bracing, forklift operating and the use of multitude of ordnance publications, culminate in a successful exercise."

DART/DAHT personnel are charged with the 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 issuing, 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.