In 1996 I transferred from 3rd Bn, 1st Marines to MAG-46 at NAS Miramar to be their Warehouse Chief. Had a week-long turnover with the outgoing, and took over.
MAG-46 is an active/reserve Aircraft Group. Meaning that we had drilling Reservists one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer, but also maintain a substantial AD staff because, well, let's face it, basically; F-18's and the various helo's ain't gonna maintain themselves until those reservists return next month.
First priority, wall-to-wall inventory. What do I have to work with, where is it, and what does the "paperwork" say I have…
Oh. Ah, yea… Ouch. Problem.
My predecessor, as far as I could tell, had never done an IMR card vs. Alpha Roster reconciliation. This is a basic monthly requirement all warehousemen should know. IMR cards are the documents that Marines sign for their 782 gear, to take custody of their kit. This was before anyone computerized the process. There were names on those cards of Marines I found out transferred or ended their service as far back as five years previous, and the gear was still being considered "accounted for" and part of the unit inventory because there was a custody card for it. Each suite of 782 gear at that time represented around $1,200, and I had a stack of over 400 cards with no matching names on the Alpha Rosters.
This was *HUGE*
Like, Supply Chief/Officer "Relieved for Cause" huge. I documented the problem with six others I noted during the inventory, referenced the directives that showed the violations/requirements for them all, and drafted a plan and timeline to correct the situation. Then I briefed the SupO on the whole thing.
Next thing I know, I'm catching hell from one of the Supply Clerks for, "bad mouthing my husband."
Oh, wait, did I mention that the Clerk that does the transactions that affect the inventory is married to the Warehouse Chief that controls access to the inventory? Probably why they needed a replacement for him in the first place… Conflict of interest anyone? The Supply Chief at that place was a joke, technically knew his supply stuff, but a weak leader who let the SupO and senior clerks run him ragged.
Coming from 3 years in an infantry battalion, with the optempo, rather stringent adherence to rules and regulations, it was quite a shock to suddenly, "swing with the wing," much less the RESERVE wing.
After the first drill, the Group SgtMaj called me into his office and dressed me down (in a tactful manner I might add, not a chew-out) about, "easing up on the Reservists," and not to be, "too harsh or they might ‘quit.'" I guess I was a little too strident in informing two of the seven that came in that weekend that they need to get their haircuts BEFORE the drill starts, and they will not be allowed to depart during the sparse weekend work hours we have to train them so they can do something that basic in the future.
REALLY? I tell a few of my Marines to get haircuts and the GROUP SgtMaj gets involved telling me ease up?
weighs the pros and cons of using a power drill on the minis workbench.
