Accountability of Individual Combat Clothing and Equipment (ICCE)
This MARADMIN addresses the critical need for accountability of Individual Combat Clothing and Equipment (ICCE), particularly Outer Tactical Vests (OTV) and Small Arms Protective Inserts (SAPI), which are life-saving items that have been difficult to procure. It emphasizes that unauthorized sale of government equipment is illegal and violates core values, and announces enhanced property management measures including redesignation of OTV and SAPI as non-expendable and pilferable property requiring additional safeguards and quarterly inventories.
Issued: April 9, 2004
1. MARINES AND SAILORS ARE DEPLOYED ALL OVER THE GLOBE, MANY IN HARMS WAY. THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT MISSION THAN TO ENSURE THAT EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IS OUTFITTED WITH THE BEST INDIVIDUAL COMBAT CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT (ICCE) AVAILABLE. SOME ICCE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO PROCURE IN TIME FOR DEPLOYMENT; PARTICULARY, THE NEW OUTER TACTICAL VEST (OTV) AND SMALL ARMS PROTECTIVE INSERTS (SAPI). THESE ITEMS ARE CRITICAL AND MANY HAVE ALREADY SAVED LIVES. 2. GIVEN THE CRITICALITY OF THESE ITEMS AND THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR FIELDING, UNIT AND INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED. THE OTV AND SAPI ARE ACCOUNTABLE ITEMS THAT ARE ESPECIALLY PILFERABLE, GIVEN THEIR LIMITED AVAILABILITY. NO CONDUCT WILL BE TOLERATED THAT PREVENTS OR DISTRACTS FROM GETTING THESE ITEMS TO OUR DEPLOYED OPERATING FORCES. IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE SALE OF ICCE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT BY UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS IS ILLEGAL AND VIOLATES OUR CORE VALUES. VIOLATORS MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE AND/OR FEDERAL CRIMINAL CODE. 3. EFFECTIVE ACTIONS TO STRENGTHEN PROPERTY AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ICCE ARE ONGOING. SUPPLY SYSTEM CODING WILL DESIGNATE THE SAPI AND OTV AS NON-EXPENDABLE AND PILFERABLE PROPERTY, IDENTIFYING THE MATERIAL AS HAVING READY RESALE VALUE AND/OR CIVILIAN APPLICATION FOR PERSONAL POSSESSION MAKING THEM ESPECIALLY SUBJECT TO THEFT. THE NEW CODING WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STORAGE SAFEGUARDS AND QUARTERLY INVENTORIES. OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL BEGIN TO EVALUATE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THESE ITEMS DURING THEIR INSPECTIONS AND AUDITS. INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE ILLEGAL SALE OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY WILL BE ACCESSIBLE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. ALL FUTURE ISSUES OF THE OTV AND SAPI WILL BE MADE THROUGH OUR CONSOLIDATED ISSUE FACILITIES (CIF) TO FURTHER IMPROVE SUPPLY ACCOUNTABILITY. 4. LAST MONTH, CMC PUBLISHED A COPY OF A MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY DETAILING HIS EXPECTATION OF ETHICAL CONDUCT; THE REF (ALMAR 013/04). THE MESSAGE STATES: THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PUT THEIR TRUST IN US AND NONE OF US CAN BETRAY THAT TRUST...IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL PUT ETHICS ABOVE PERSONAL GAIN...WE PAY FOR OUR PEOPLE, VEHICLES, AND EQUIPMENT WITH TAXPAYERS' MONEY, AND SO WE MUST USE THEM TO ONLY ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION, NEVER FOR PERSONAL CONVENIENCE OR OTHER UNAUTHORIZED PURPOSES. UNQUOTE. OUR MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPON IN THIS FIGHT IS THE VIGILENCE OF OUR TRUSTED MARINES, CIVILIAN MARINES, AND SAILORS.