MARADMINS : 164/04
R 090156Z APR 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL MARADMIN(uc)
MARADMIN
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
MARADMIN 164/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/LP LPC//
SUBJ/ACCOUNTABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL COMBAT CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
/(ICCE)//
REF/A/MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC/011900ZMAR2004//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/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.//