PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – Picatinny Arsenal’s Explosive Safety Program received a rare perfect score of 100% during a Worldwide Department of Defense (DoD) Military Munitions (Ammunition) Logistics/Surveillance/Explosives Safety Review, July 21-25.
The DoD conducts worldwide ammunition logistics, surveillance, and explosives safety reviews to ensure safe and effective management of military munitions. These reviews are mandated by Army Regulation (AR) 700-13 and focus on areas like storage, transportation, and disposal of ammunition.
“The results of the Worldwide Munitions Review reaffirm Team Picatinny’s longstanding commitment to explosives safety – a critical capability given the inherent risks of supporting Warfighter lethality requirements,” said Col. Kevin P. Shilley, Military Deputy, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center.
The review, which is conducted quadrennial (every four years), aims to identify and mitigate risks associated with ammunition handling, storage, and use, ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations. The reviews also aim to improve the Army’s overall ammunition logistics system by conducting assessments against standards within applicable regulatory guidance and provide solutions, resolve, teach and enhance knowledge base.
“Maintaining peak explosives safety is paramount, especially within the complexities of a research, development, test and evaluation environment,” said John Cruz, Installation Explosive Safety Manager. “These excellent inspection results are a direct reflection of the dedication and expertise of our workforce, and their unwavering commitment to the highest standards.”
Commanders can also use review findings as a tool to help assess the overall operational readiness and ability of the installation to conduct its Ammunition and Explosives mission in an accountable, safe and environmentally responsible manner, and identify local and systemic problem areas, while receiving recommendations for corrective actions.
The U.S. Army Defense Ammunition Center (DAC), which is part of the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command (JMC) plays a key role in these reviews through its Logistics, Review, and Technical Assistance Office (LRTAO).
DAC is the Army integrator for explosives safety risk management, hazardous materials certification training, and supporting evolutionary changes in all disciplines of munitions safety, logistics management, quality assurance, as well as shaping explosives safety policy throughout the DoD and other government agencies.
“The score received by Picatinny shows that the ammunition accountability, surveillance, security, and explosive safety programs are performing at a high level, ensuring operational readiness necessary to perform the ammunition and explosive mission in compliance with the standards,” said Sybil Lusardi, Chief, Armaments Center’s Risk Management Division.
Picatinny Arsenal’s passing score on the review exceeded the 85% average for Research and Development (R&D) operations in fiscal year 2024. Picatinny also scored above the Fiscal year 2024 average in each of the seven review topic areas to include: Logistics, Surveillance, Explosives Safety, Ammunition and Explosives Operations, Ammunition and Explosives Storage, Physical Security, and Tenants and Supporting Organizations.
“Although we scored above average, it is critical to the continuous improvement process to leverage the deficiencies and recommendations provided by the review team to continuously improve our procedures and programs,” Cruz said.
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