Arms Room Advice: How do you run yours?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:44:05 -0500

There are a lot of non Quatermasters soldiers running the Arms Room of their Unit, How do you run yours? Any advices?
Or, are you an Inspector? How do you run your inspections? What you don't tolerate in an inspection? Anything that should be avoided at all costs?

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 23 at 2015 1:51 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:51:01 -0500

I assume someone was just named a unit armor.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 1:59 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:59:30 -0500

Maybe SSG Private RallyPoint Member can come up with something...

Response by SPC David S. made Feb 23 at 2015 2:11 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:11:37 -0500

Here's a couple of links that might be of service.

http://chemicaldragon.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/ARMS_SOP11.292101201.doc

http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/useful_files/SOPs_Policy_Letters/arms-room-sop-2.shtml

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Feb 23 at 2015 3:19 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 15:19:36 -0500

The best advice I can give you is to become thoroughly familiar with AR 190-11 and follow it without deviation. Make yourself a checklist of all the "you will", "you shall" and "you must" found therein. Conduct the required serial number inventories and don't just "pencil-whip" them. Insist everyone, regardless of rank or position, adhere to the regulation. Do not deviate...

Ask your chain of command to ask the local Provost Marshal Office to conduct a courtesy inspection (no harm, no foul) to give you a baseline on where you stand, as far as adherence to security requirements is concerned. That will also show to the Physical Security Inspectors that you care and are interested, which will help later, when you get a real inspection.

There is a lot more that goes into running an arms room than adherence to security requirements, but there is nothing that will get you into trouble more quickly than not following 190-11 to the letter.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 3:37 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 15:37:45 -0500

From previous experience as a inspector, one thing that always killed some arms rooms is the clutter in the floor, or behind doors. Everything else I saw is pretty basic, do your inventories, ensure that you fill out the sf702 and have a current sop in hand and you will be fine.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 4:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:02:23 -0500

Get with your S2 and ask for help. They are supposed to oversea the arms room program in the lower echelon. They should have a checklist from the physical security which overseas the arms room program on base. If I am not mistaken, they should conduct an annual inspection on every arms room.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 6:40 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:40:57 -0500

When I went to Arms School, they had this posted on the exit door. If the mission was to never forget it, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! SPC David S.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 6:47 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:47:01 -0500

Have a limited number of individuals that will ever enter your armsroom but first assume ownership. Any one who enters the arms room to help should be trusted and understand the system for which you use to organize. There are to ways to streamline the organization of the arms room. The first is for ease of issue; group weapons by platoon/section/squad. The second is for ease of inspection and inventory; organize by wpn serial number, draws will need to be by serial number order. Get a dehumidifier, reduces rust. Have a armsroom cleaning kit for armsroom only and an big box of cleaning supplies for shooters. Have book of documentation and post copies of inspectable documentation to the wall in document protectors. Limit acess!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 6:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:51:28 -0500

http://asktop.net/army-downloads/additional-duty/arms-room-officer-nco/

Check this link

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 11:11 AM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:11:35 -0500

Always ensure the accuracy of your sight counts every day. Don't take shortcuts on that.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 2:52 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:52:08 -0500

I posted this earlier, but do this to every weapon (not really...you will get into trouble if you do...)

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 3:55 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:55:32 -0500

True Story...

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 3:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 15:51:03 -0500

I loathe paperwork. Seriously, It is the bane of my existance. That being said, I like to take a common sense approach. I put everything in black and white, posted at eye level of what my criteria are (clean!!!!, batteries out, etc). I used to bend over backwards to accomodate everyone, I was the only one who lost there. Now, I cite TM's and AR's which are inarguable.

Response by SrA Chris Croley made Mar 2 at 2015 3:45 PM

SrA Chris Croley — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 15:45:24 -0500

Please see the attached form. When I'm inspecting cleanliness counts if it looks orderly and neat that usually means its being managed properly.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2015 9:21 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 09:21:31 -0500

Is there any Armorer that is currently running an arms room? Or somebody that has recently run one?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 4:50 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 16:50:23 -0400

I advised my CDR to send two non supply Joe's to armour school and then I had them run the arms room and I recommended again to my CDR to give them the additional duty to maintain the MAL and weapon cards. Made it where I just supervised them and it freed me to complete other tasks for the company. Since I don't have supply clerks, I'm usually doing it all, i.e. dispatching vehicle, monthly inventories and signing out team gear. (Before my CDR and I discussed how we wanted to distribute the Co's end items per MTOE)