Who should maintain a Detachments Range Box?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 13:40:05 -0400

I am my Detachments Primary Armorer.
My new Det Sergeant is requiring me to surrender my range box to BN S3.

The other Company arm's rooms do not do this, And S3 is very confused as to why they would maintain a Detachments range box.

I have looked into 190-11 but have not found anything regarding this issue. Does anyone have any regulation/doctrine references that would apply to this scenario?

Thank you!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2021 4:21 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 16:21:18 -0400

What is the 3 shop gonna do with a Range Box? Now, here is my question...Just because the DET SGT wants you to kick it to the 3 Shop, what does your Commander want?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2021 4:43 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 16:43:50 -0400

Get the DET NCOIC or DET CO visibility on this.

A range box isn't a "big deal", but it can sure complicate a range day if it's not on hand. Passing it up to BN only adds additional complexity to planning for a range.
1) Another chain to go up through to get hands on the Range Box.
2) Presumes the Range Box will be fully stocked with everything the DET needs the moment it is passed down.
3) Now introduces another chain of custody into the Range Box where others can pilfer from it for their own range boxes.

How is the DET commander in this case? I ask, because some of my peer LT commanders who were very green commanders showed up to a Range weekend without ammo because the whole planning process wasn't done correctly, and the commander LT didn't know any better either.

So I present this, if your chain of command is OK with this I caution them to familiarize themselves with the whole range planning process.

Oh, we don't have extra targets
Oh we only have one stapler
Oh we don't have any staples
Oh we don't have any extra ear plugs
Oh we don't have the HAZMAT placards to transport ammo
Oh we don't have weapons manuals and SOPs
Oh we don't have the safety officer and Combat Life saver roster

Where are those?
The range box?
Where's the range box?
At BN?
WTF is it at BN
Remember, SGT Smith wanted it there and the commander was OK with it?
No, who is SGT Smith, oh he ETS'd 10 months ago.
Which commander was OK with this?
LT Snuffy, the one you just took over for............
SOB................

OK, run to Office Depot, and get a bunch of staplers on my dime, and then head over to Lowes, and pick up ear plugs

Then run Office Max and make 100 copies of this zero target we have, tape up the bullet holes first though and cross out SFC Dude's name on the top of it.

Down load the weapons manuals in PDF, e-mail them to yourself and run to the Fedex store, rent computer time and print the weapon manuals and buy a binder for them. Just incase range control shows up and audit's their safety SOP's and we need the manuals on hand.

I can go on and on...............

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Sep 18 at 2021 8:13 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 20:13:31 -0400

Never had to deal with that sort of stuff but this just seems like a recipe for utter failure to me. Why on Earth would the Det SGT want to introduce another layer of idiots...uh, I mean administration...to the process? Why subject your own organization to the opportunity for other units to help themselves to your property thereby leaving your own unit woefully unequipped at a critical time?

Response by SGT Jonathan Persons made Sep 18 at 2021 11:27 PM

SGT Jonathan Persons — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 23:27:00 -0400

Your Det Sgt is trying to suck up to someone. I am assuming that you have already tried to explain why this is a bad idea, and you were told to "shut up and do what you were told to do".
Use the NCO chain to have another NCO talk some sense into this person.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Sep 19 at 2021 11:06 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 11:06:01 -0400

If it is the DETACHMENT's range box - or their additional duty roster, their cleaning supplies, their ACFT equipment, their 5 gal water jugs, etc. - it should be maintained by the detachment.

Bottom line is whose hand receipt is it on? That is who should control it.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 19 at 2021 2:19 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 14:19:50 -0400

1st: your not going to find what you're asking for in a regulation, maybe a local policy addressing a Detachments responsibility in relation to being tasked to coordinate and run a unit range day (Now there's a thought, a written and published document common to all that lays out the unit, BN, BDE, ect responsibilities for a training calendar planned event...LOL)

2nd: What's a range box? ( I know what that phrase means to me) A "range box" is not a piece of issue equipment with an inventory list, -10 manual, ect. Its a general term used to mean a box(s) that contain what the leadership wants in that box to support a range day.

Perhaps the DET SGT has been burned once too many times by a keeper of the "range box" and left the detachment scrambling for items on range day.
The unit operations expert, the S3 is tasked by design to know what equipment, requests, approvals, policies, supplies ect are needed to coordinate and execute a training event. Who better than the S3 shop to establish what is required, by item and quantity for a unit range box?
Now, if the BN HQ (the S3) is geographically separated, or works on a different day/ time line than the detachment..the range box should likely be at the lowest unit level that operates independently.

Lastly; the items in your range box.... are all items procured from supply yes? Is this a fight worth taking on? Give the S3 the box, then build a new one you maintain.