DOD: Upon Further Review, Spent Military Brass Will Be Sold

*Hat tip to reader Jason*

A reader has sent me a copy of a letter that was sent to a person of inquiry concerning the ruling about the Department of Defense’s announcement that they would mutilate all military spent brass. It appears, according to the letter, that “upon review” it has been decided to go ahead and allow the sale of non-mutilated brass.

—–Original Message—–
From: Cunningham, Mark (HQ DLA)
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:51 PM
To:
Cc: Glover, Rebecca (HQ DLA)
Subject: Small Arms Cartridge Cases

XXXXX,

We received your March 17, 2009, letter on the recent reclassification of small arms cartridges. Please advise whether the information provided below will suffice in lieu of a written response which will contain the same information.

The Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS), a field activity of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), is the Department of Defense (DOD) activity responsible for the disposition of excess and surplus DOD Property.

The primary focus of the DRMS mission is to protect national security by ensuring property is properly identified for reutilization and disposition and not released for public sale when to do so would jeopardize national security.

During the past two years, DRMS revised its processes to further ensure only appropriate items were made available for public sale. To strengthen current controls and to mitigate future security risk, the DOD issued policy that prohibits the sale of military unique items controlled by the Department of State through its Munitions List.

Small arms cartridge cases are identified as a sensitive Munitions List item and were held pending review of the policy relating to the category of items in which cartridge cases were included. Upon review, the Defense Logistics Agency has determined the cartridge cases could be appropriately placed in a category of government property allowing for their release for sale.

The DRMS sales contractor has been notified of this decision and has begun the process of reoffering the cases that have been held pending completion of the policy review. As was previously required, buyers who purchase cartridge cases from the government must be approved to do so under Trade Security Controls.

v/r

Mark

Mark Cunningham
Legislative Affairs
Defense Logistics Agency

Tom Remington