Brig. Gen. Stephane Ovaere, commanding general of the French Joint Ammunition Agency or le Service Interarmees des Munitions (SIMu), and four members of the general's staff visited Blue Grass Army Depot for a briefing and tour Wednesday, March 21.
The French delegation's visit to the depot was part of a week-long tour for the French in the United States. The purpose of their visit was to research the infrastructure and daily operations of the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command (JMC), BGAD's higher headquarters located in Rock Island, Ill. The SIMu is a joint ammunition command, activated one year ago, responsible for all ammunition support to the French Army, Navy, and Air Force both in France and deployed.
Ovaere and his team visited BGAD because ammunition storage depots play a key role in JMC's mission.
"We visited Blue Grass Army Depot to see how an American depot operates," said Ovaere.
During their visit, the French delegation received a command brief from BGAD Commander Col. Brian L. Rogers. The delegation also went on a tour of the depot's ammunition-related facilities, including the Ammunition Operations Center, the small arms warehouse, the ammunition inspection building, Loading Platform 92, an ammunition igloo, and the detonation chamber.
Although most of the depot's operations were similar to operations in France, Ovaere said the depot stood out to him because of its "company spirit". He liked how the depot operates more like a business.
Ovaere was also interested in learning about depot security, pyrotechnics, risk management, and the possibility of getting a detonation chamber for his agency in France.
After the tour, Ovaere and his staff enjoyed an American lunch provided by the depot's Family Morale Welfare and Recreation.
During the lunch, Rogers presented Ovaere with a framed photo and depot coin, a history book about the Battle of Richmond, and a University of Kentucky T-shirt. The French delegation presented a gift to Rogers and coins to everyone present at the luncheon in appreciation for the visit.
Ovaere also invited Rogers to come and visit his installation in France.
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