Managing Prepositioned Munitions in the U.S. European Command

U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) has significantly downsized its forces, infrastructure, and materiel as a result of the end of the Cold War and ongoing DoD transformation. USEUCOM continues to transform its forces to meet future challenges and threats within the European theater and achieve U.S. strategic goals. The USEUCOM Service Components store and manage prepositioned munitions in theater. The downsizing and transforming of USEUCOM forces have allowed munitions managers to identify excess and unserviceable munitions stored in their stockpiles. In 2006, USEUCOM participated in Exercise Turbo Containerized Ammunition Distribution System, shipping 1,465 containers of excess munitions back to continental U.S. ammunition depots. In 2008, USEUCOM munitions managers plan to participate in the exercise again to remove additional excess munitions resulting from ongoing transformation. USEUCOM has an effective ammunition demilitarization program for unserviceable munitions, which is managed by U.S. Army Europe. European contractors are demilitarizing the munitions in theater, avoiding the costs of shipping the munitions to the United States. DoD transformation has streamlined the management of prepositioned munitions. By realigning their forces, the Service Components are able to consolidate munitions infrastructure and reduce their munitions requirements. U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Air Forces in Europe are developing joint ammunition initiatives to support a rapid response by USEUCOM to global requirements. In addition, USEUCOM has sent excess munitions from its theater to fill munitions shortages in other combatant commands. USEUCOM has provided more than 25,000 short tons of munitions to U.S. Central Command's Global War on Terrorism operations. Internal controls were adequate in the USEUCOM munitions storage areas. The IG identified no material internal control weaknesses in the safety or security of the munitions storage areas.