JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The Navy Munitions Command Unit Charleston successfully passed their Explosive Safety Inspection on Nov. 21, 2013, recording an unprecedented zero discrepancies in three of the four major programs.
The inspection included inspectors reviewing 15 separate programs within the unit over the span of five days.
"This was an all hands effort to pass this inspection, Sailors, Marines and civilians were all needed," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Seevers, NMC Unit Charleston mineman. "Myself and all of the senior ranking personnel double and triple checked all inspectable items the night before the inspection to make sure there were no loose ends."
The critical areas of the inspection are called the '4 pillar programs,' which consist of Explosive Qualification and Certification program, Standard Operating Procedures and Inventory Accuracy.
"If we received anything other than a satisfactory on a single one of these areas the entire inspection would be failed," said Petty Officer 1st Class Frank Alvarado, NMC Unit Charleston quality assurance mineman. "Passing the '4 pillar programs,' states that we are capable of handling, transporting, storing and tracking all ordnance in the Navy Munitions Command."
The quality assurance mineman are responsible for making sure more than 100 magazines that hold hundreds of millions of dollars of ordnance are in compliance and maintained all year long.
"Even though we worked longer hours double and triple checking the magazines and programs under review for the inspection, we due this year round on a regular basis," said Alvarado.
The inspectors went around to random magazines checking serial numbers, proper storage conditions of ordnance and overall condition of the magazines inside and out.
"Our job is to be as critical as possible on the programs, so we can bring every command we inspect to the highest standard possible," said Jim Kaefer, Explosive Safety Inspector.