Strength in Diversity: training ammunition manager keeps U.S. Army Europe Soldiers locked and loaded

By Maj. Jennifer R. Johnson, 7th Army JMTC Public AffairsFebruary 23, 2010

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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Every commander knows the best training plans in the world are useless without the proper resources. When training, Soldiers needs more than motivation when they head into a fire-fight. They need ammunition. That is where Roy Hale, U.S. Army Europe's (USAREUR) Deputy Training Ammunition Officer, comes in.

"Units in this theater do not suffer from a lack of training ammunition to support required annual training," said Hale. "That is a testament to the dedication and attention to detail the entire ammunition team demonstrates on a daily basis."

As a former Soldier, Hale says his connection and interaction with Soldiers today comes naturally.

With 26 years of federal service under his belt, he doesn't plan to stop anytime soon

"I enjoy coming to work every day. Each day presents a different challenge," said Hale.

Hale is responsible for resourcing over $200 million worth of training ammunition annually for USAREUR.

"The authorizations that Mr. Hale manages and validates on a daily basis allows all soldiers throughout Europe to qualify on their assigned weapons, and all weapon platforms to be able to train/sustain proficiency to go to war," said Chief Warrant Officer Ronnie D. Henry, chief of the USAREUR Training Ammunition Management Office and Hale's supervisor.

Hale's customers hail from units throughout Europe, including U.S. Europe Command (USEUCOM), USAREUR, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), Kosovo Forces (KFOR) and separate units whose higher headquarters reside in the continental United States.

One unit who depends on his expertise to guide them through the ammunition acquisition process is the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT).

"Mr. Hale's support allows my BCT to effectively execute all training," says Chief Warrant Officer 2 Julian F. Price, the 170th IBCT ammunition officer. "He takes a personal stand and pride while using his immeasurable ammunition knowledge to advise myself about training ammunition management to ensure that I can best support my unit to meet the BCT CDR's training intent."

It is important for unit ammunition managers to know the difference between a 9mm round and a mortar round.

"From the safety aspect, if a soldier accidently placed the wrong caliber of ammo in a weapon, it could cause the weapon to explode causing loss of limb or life," Said Henry.

Hale's dedication to supporting the Army team was recognized when he won the 2008 Department of the Army Award for Excellence in Ammunition Management in the Government Service (GS) level 12/13 category.

It was an unexpected honor.

"My first feeling was one of disbelief," said Hale. "I know most of the ammo managers in the field. Anyone of them could have equally won this award, which makes me humble."

Interfacing with the commanders and Soldiers on the ground, as well as the policy-makers in the Pentagon, and the ammunition item managers at the National Inventory Control Point (NICP) are some of the perks of the job says Hale.

Units can reap the benefits of his experience by taking the Training Ammunition Management course (TAMC) offered at the Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC) Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

"We teach the grassroots of ammunition management that include forms, publications, how to determine an ammunition requirement for a weapon or weapon platform, an individual range, FY ammunition requirements, and how to forecast," said Hale.