UNIT MOVES

During unit moves, all baggage, passengers, and equipment are inspected or examined, as appropriate. After inspection or examination, all baggage, passengers, and equipment are held in a sterile area until embarked.

Predeparture Inspection

Predeparture inspection is one that satisfies the requirements of the U.S. Customs Service prior to departure. The requirements of the Department of Agriculture are then accomplished upon arrival at CONUS.

Normally, for unit moves, accompanied baggage in excess to immediate personal needs are inspected/examined in the presence of a member of an MCI team 1 or 2 days before the unit departure. The baggage remains secured from the time of inspection or examination until its arrival at the U.S. port of entry.

Hand or cabin baggage is inspected or examined by a MCI team at the time passengers are processed into a sterile area for isolation until actual departure.

Declarations will be accomplished as previously explained.

Preclearance

Preclearunce means that the entry requirements of the U.S. Customs Service and the Department of Agriculture have been met prior to departure.

Units may, upon approval, be given a preclearance at the overseas departure point. Preclearance inspections are more extensive than predeparture inspections and normally are accomplished under the technical supervision of U.S. Customs and U.S. Department of Agriculture Advisors or border clearance agency officials.

DOD-SPONSORED CARGO

U.S. Federal regulations provide that all Government imports are subject to inspection and/or examination and entry requirements. The cargo must be declared to the customs officer at the first port of entry and be available for any appropriate border clearance inspection.

Inspection/Examination Procedures

Except as stated below, all DOD-spmsored cargo is inspected or examined, as appropriate, within the overseas area, preferably at the point of origin, prior to shipment to the CTUS.

This inspection/examination is conducted by MCI personnel, and can only be waived in those instances where the inspection or examination is impracticable or uneconomical. Specific inspection procedures are as follows:

Prior to unit moves, all military equipment to be entered into the CTUS must be inspected as deemed appropriate by commanders and/or MCIs. Military equipment must be inspected or examined at the time it

Figure 13-2.-Military Customs Inspection (Label), DD Form 1253.

is placed in boxes, crates, containers, sea vans, or similar receptacles for shipment. It is then secured until departure from the overseas area. Vehicles and similar items that will be shipped essentially in as-is condition are inspected or examined and secured immediately prior to loading on the aircraft or vessel on which they will depart the overseas area.

Human remains and transfer cases returned to the CTUS for interment are examined at the point of origin by an MCI in conjunction with, or following, required mortuary inspections. The examination includes the interior of cases and is conducted prior to closure and sealing of the outer container shipping case.

Closed loop and special repair activity repairable spare parts and similar items for which the destination in the CTUS is predetermined are inspected at the point of origin. The inspection or examination is conducted when the shipment is assembled, crated, containerized, or otherwise prepared for shipment.

When items are returned to the CTUS from depot or other stocks, and destination of such items is not determined until time of shipment, inspection or examination overseas is not required. However, officers in charge of facilities consolidating such items into other crates, containers, or similar cargo transporters will establish procedures to preclude the introduction of contraband.

Immediately upon completion of the inspection, Military Customs Inspection (Label), DD Form 1253 (fig, 13-2) or Military Customs Inspection (Tag), DD Form 1253-1 (fig. 13-3), as appropriate, is completed and authenticated by official stamp and signature and is securely affixed to the outside of each container of

Figure 13-3.-Military Customs Inspection (Tag), DD Form 1253-1.

articles inspected or examined. Completion and attachment of the label or tag is accomplished by the MCI.

All DOD-sponsored cargo entering the CTUS will be subject to re-inspection/re-examination by U.S. Customs and/or Agriculture officials at the first port of entry. This is a spot check for validating procedures and standards of the military customs inspection program. The degree of re-inspection is the sole prerogative of the border clearance officials. All shipments considered suspect by either the MCI (so noted by redlining the DD Form 1252, 1253-1, and 1253 as required) or the U.S. border clearance officials will be re-inspected/ re-examined. When redlining a customs form, draw a 1/4" red line from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of the document.

Entry Procedures

Operators of air and ocean terminals within the CTUS establish coordination with the District Director of Customs responsible for their area. They prepare and provide customs documentation when required.