Letterkenny Munitions Center exceeds out-load exercise requirements

Photo By Natasia Kenosky | A Letterkenny Munitions Center employee drives by stuffed containers on a rail dock at Letterkenny Munitions Center.  

CHAMBERSBURG, PA, UNITED STATES

10.09.2018

Story by Natasia Kenosky 

Letterkenny Munitions Center

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – In late August, representatives from Headquarters, Joint Munitions Command, Rock Island, Illinois, visited Letterkenny Munitions Center to assess and verify LEMC’s out-loading capabilities and ensure the depot-to-port movement of ammunition is well-practiced in case of a contingency surge.

LEMC’s two containerization facilities can be used for loading both rail and truck. These facilities, along with 23 other rail docks, give the munitions center the ability to conduct 24-hour out-load operations, in order to meet U.S. Army contingency requirements.

The JMC, LEMC’s higher headquarters, periodically assesses LEMC’s out-load capability to ensure LEMC can meet, or exceed, Army requirements. The team from JMC validates LEMC’s contingency out-load plan and verifies LEMC follows the plan and produces stuffed containers to stated capacity in a 24-hour period. With critical shipping times and departure dates during contingency operations, it is imperative east coast seaports of debarkation receive all containers from LEMC by the departure deadlines to fulfill Department of Defense and allied requirements.

This most recent ammunition surge distribution exercise ensued during operations to send more than 1400 short tons of munitions material by rail and truck to ports, for inclusion on an ammunition resupply vessel destined for theater. The JMC assessment team tested LEMC’s surge out-loading capabilities using munitions requirements from this resupply vessel, as if LEMC was executing contingency out-load operations.

LEMC team members worked two shifts to cover the 24-hour operations during the four-day assessment, during which all of LEMC’s performance targets and safety standards met or exceeded industry standards.

“Given the criticality of munitions delivery to combatant commanders, it is vital to evaluate depot processes for out-loading effectiveness, capabilities, and possible friction points,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Ignatowski, LEMC commander.

LEMC is located on Letterkenny Army Depot and conducts regional and global distribution of munitions, provides missile maintenance, and conducts demilitarization of munitions for the U.S. Army in support of Joint Forces and international partner nations.

• Date Taken: 10.09.2018
• Date Posted: 10.09.2018 10:52
• Story ID: 295761
• Location: CHAMBERSBURG, PA, US