Canada's military is broke ... again

[c_canuk]

I have witnessed many instances when it isn't the unit that isn't returning unexpended ammo, it is the stores that won't take leftovers AND credit the unit's allotment for what was returned.

That sucks, but it still doesn't make sense to burn off the ammo. If it goes back to the pool someone will get it, and since you don't need it because you're burning it off why not let someone else use it? Seems kinda petty to say if we don't get it we're going to waste it so no one gets it.

btw I'm not talking about burning off the battle load everyone has on them at the end of an ex, I'm talking about opening up sealed ammo cans of ammo to get rid of it all, and I know if it's still packaged in Ammo Cans, or even in boxes they will take it back. If they won't then I suggest this is an area where policy should be looked at.

 

[TangoTwoBravo]

Things change with time and location, but about six years ago I managed ammo for one of the Area Training Centres.  Our TDM would send up expenditure reports on courses and units which, for the most part, reflected ammo turned-in (but loose 5.56mm blank wasn't going to happen for instance).  Bottom line was that if a course or unit didn't open up a crate it could turn it back in and not have it get reported against their "account."

We had plenty of ammo and we gave lots away to the Area militia units as well. 

 

[geo]

Too true, but once a crate was opened, then the whole shebang went bye, bye. Talking blank ammo, take 150 guys with say +/- 50 rounds apiece in two mags = we're talking about a fair bit of ammo.  It's loose and will vanish from a unit's allotment.

Though illegal, many Platoon 21c has considered placing all of it into ammo tins and burying the lot for later redistribution. 

 

[TangoTwoBravo]

I couldn't give 5.56mm blank away, even to militia units.  It seemed that the troops could only fire so much.

7.62mm 4BIT, 105mm, 84mm, 60mm, SRAAW(L) and 9mm I could get people to take off my hands.  Not so much the other stuff.

 

[McG]

Fiscal year goes from April to March
If you have additional cash left over at the beginning of March, your new budget will not have been affected - the funding level having been established / finalized in the Dec/Jan time frame - after your unit CO has submitted his training plan for the coming year...

Actually, the budget is not set in stone cone 01 Apr.  I believe the first quarter may be set.  However, additional funds do not become released until later in the year (summer or fall).  Your budget can be cut or expanded while waiting for this to happen.  I am also aware of budgets being clawed back outside of this cycle (but this was more a reaction to others overspending).

... there must be someone more qualified than I to comment on the mechanics of this though.

 

[geo]

In many ways, it's all depending on how reliable your budgeting process happens to be.
If you overspent one year, don't be surprised to see anything above 1% being clawed back.
If you are good at running with your budget, you will usually see your budget maintained & $$ allocated per your needs

 

[TCBF]

I recall having to negotiate - almost twenty years ago - with the TQMS to convert a few rounds of 105mm TPDS(T) needed for the next year's (somebody else's) CAT Tm into 5.56mm Ball needed for that present year's (my) Boeselager Team.  You could horse trade a lot of rifle cartridges for a tank main armament cartridge!