CHAPTER 17

AMMUNITION ADMINISTRATION ASHORE AND AFLOAT

Ammunition is vital to naval operations. Because of its high cost and logistical characteristics, the status of ammunition is carefully and continuously studied at the highest echelons of the defense establishment. Ammunition is a high-priority consideration by operational and logistics commanders. It is essential for logistics planning that current and accurate information concerning Navy ammunition stock status be available at the appropriate time. This information must be available to commanders of naval forces when planning their training and operational expenditures. For these reasons, accurate and prompt reporting of individual ammunition transactions directly affects the Navy's ability to sustain a high degree of readiness.

FLEET OPTICAL SCANNING AMMUNITION MARKING SYSTEM (FOSAMS)

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the various components and the reports generated by FOSAMS.

Historically, the record shows the Navy has had problems in accurate ammunition accountability and reporting. Improving this situation worldwide has become a top priority because the defense of our country depends on it. FOSAMS was created in an effort to improve ammunition management by automating many error-prone manual processes. The FOSAMS uses optical scanning physical inventory system technology ^{and procedures.} Another initiative to improve accountability problems was the creation of the Non-Nuclear Ammunition Inventory Accuracy (NAIA) Program, managed by the Naval Sea System Command. This program targets improvement of inventory accuracy at reporting activities and in the computer data base where CAIMS is located The objective of NAIA is to achieve 99.5% record accuracy and 100% asset visibility. This goal can and is being achieved at some activities.

When FOSAMS is initially installed at an activity, the activity's entire on-board ammunition inventory is programmed into the microcomputer. Additionally, all ammunition is labeled with barcode labels. Thereafter, the microcomputer maintains all the ammunition records, including ammunition transaction reports for that activity. Upon receipt, issue, turn-in, or expenditure of ammunition material, bar coding and optical scanning is used to capture data and update the activity's records. These programs and procedures are designed to automatically accept and process the information received into a machine-readable format by a system/display printer. This reduces the labor-intensive, error-prone record keeping and ammunition reporting methods presently being used

The FOSAMS is currently located at 140 sites. However with ship deactivations occurring, reinstallations occur with regularity. Ship types that use FOSAMS include CV/CVN, AE, AOE, AOR, LHA, LPH, LHD, LKA, LPD, and AOJ. Most NASs and many Marine Corps Air Stations (MCASs), NATO bases, NAFs, naval stations, subsupport facilities, amphibious bases, naval magazines, and marine air logistics squadrons use FOSAMS.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS

The components required for system implementation are as follows:

Computer terminal (fig. 17-1). This is the monitor or window for the FOSAMS database.

Figure 17-1.-Display monitor/terminal.

Computer keyboard (fig. 17-2). The keyboard allows you to input information into the computer system.

System unit (fig. 17-3). This is the CPU (central processing unit), which contains a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, and a streaming tape drive.

Figure 17-6.-Bar code label printer keyboard.

Character printer (fig. 17-4). This unit prints the documents that are generated from the CPU.

Bar code label printer (fig. 17-5). This unit prints bar code labels, which are applied to and identify ammunition items.

Figure 17-2.-System keyboard.

Bar code lapel printer keyboard (fig. 17-6). The keyboard is used to enter information to be printed on bar code labels.

Bar code reader (fig. 17-7). This portable device (also known as a scanner) is used to read or scan bar code labels on ammunition.