Sensitive Item Accountability

“You cannot be disciplined in great things and undisciplined in small things. There is only one sort of discipline - perfect

discipline.“ - General George S. Patton, Jr. 26

(DOD) ACCOUNTABILITY :The obligation imposed by law or lawful order or regulation on an officer or other person for keeping accurate

record of property, documents, or funds. The person having this obligation may or may not have actual possession of the property,

documents, or funds. Accountability is concerned primarily with records, while responsibility is concerned primarily with custody,

care, and safekeeping. 61

on may 24th i was supposed to have shit truck detail and my gear was in vehicle number 402. i had the keys and went out in the

morning before detail to get it. i opened the truck up, dropped ramp, and got my gear. i then locked up the truck, neglecting to

raise the ramp. it stayed like that all day. when i got back from detail i was that i had left the ramp open. i went to the trucks

and the .50 cal was gone. so was the ammo, tacsat radio, hiide system and spare barrel. At the time i didnt know who had taken them

and this is a problem. these are sensative items. sensative items need to be accounted for at all times in order to maintain security.

not having accountability of sensative items shows a lack of discipline and responsibility. 144

Sensitive items are anything that is considered classified or a mission essential item. These items can include protective gear,

maps, or a piece of paper designating patrol routes. The importance of securing sensitive items comes down to maintaining

accountability for operation security, mission success and a soldiers over all readiness. The habits of exercising security and

accountability of a soldiers items allow the soldier and their team to operate to the highest standards or have items be accessed

by an opposing adversary creating loss of overall mission success. 87

To lose a sensitive item can be...