Ed Nolley, a Crane Army leader for blockers and bracers, explains to Army Reserve Soldiers the process for properly securing a load of ammunition on a flat bed, semi-trailer. The Soldiers of the 163rd Ordnance (Company) headquartered in Irvine, Calif...

CRANE, Ind. - More than 200 Soldiers from across the U.S. arrived at Crane Army Ammunition Activity July 12 to participate in the latest national military exercise called "Golden Cargo."

Army Reserve Soldiers from California, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and Michigan will gain valuable, on-the-job experience as they pack, load and haul military munitions. Exercise Golden Cargo allows military members who specialize in logistics, transportation and ordnance to receive hands-on training while providing the Department of Defense a much needed service in re-positioning vital munitions.

The exercise is taking place all across the U.S. during the month of July as the military reconfigures its ammunition stock to better align munitions to meet the military's strategic planning goals. Munitions of various sizes and sorts will be hauled to and from Crane and other ammunition depots throughout the country participating in the exercise.

Golden Cargo 2009 is the latest in a series of annual training operations sponsored by the Joint Munitions Command and executed by members of the U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. This year's exercise organizer is the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, headquartered in Coraopolis, Pa.

Crane Army was established in Oct. 1977 and is a tenant of the Navy Region Midwest, Naval Support Activity Crane. The Army activity maintains ordnance professionals and infrastructure to receive, store, ship, produce, renovate and demilitarize conventional ammunition, missiles and related components.