The Importance of Securing Sensitive Items

The Importance of Securing Equipment:

It is highly important to at all times have accountability of all significant equipment items. I recently lost my ACH (Advanced Combat Helmet), after a twelve mile ruck march with my platoon. Once the ruck was completely done, I made it back and we put our weapons in the war room. Once I made it into the room to set my weapon in the pile I did my normal routine of clearing the chamber of any ammunition. In order to do that I put my ACH on the conference table; after clearing and putting my weapon in my platoon’s distinguished pile, an NCO asked to use my multi-tool. At this point, I forgot about my ACH on the table and was focused on helping the NCO instead. I gave him my multi-tool and waited for him to use it for whatever he needed for. I then proceeded to eat a few of the mini doughnuts that the company had supplied for personnel who had completed the foot march that morning. Soon after this, the NCO gave me back my multi-tool and I proceeded to my locker to put away the rest of my equipment, at the time, completely forgetting about my ACH, then going onto to continue on for my day. I then went ahead to hurry to my room, afraid I wouldn’t have enough time to shower, change, and get to my driver’s training class on time. At the end of the day, when I reported to my company after my driver’s training class, I then realized that I was indeed missing my ACH. Immediately upon remembering what had happened, I went back to the war room to search for it. Unfortunately for me, after searching for it, it was nowhere to be found.

Knowing my actions and my mistakes, I realize now just how important it is to secure your equipment, so there will be no further problems or punishment to be had. It is important to secure your equipment for three main reasons: without one significant piece of equipment (like your ACH) you are no longer mission-capable, also, if a piece is lost, you may have to end up paying for it, costing well over one’s...