Procurement of Ammunition, Army

One question that often comes up from those unfamiliar with military ammunition logistics is—the cost. The question is usually framed with how much money can be used for training at the range? Especially now that ammunition prices are high for an average box of 9mm or 5.56mm, where I personally spend anywhere from $15 to $26 per box depending on the type and brand. The same principle does not apply to United States military units that have to train at ranges just as any one of us that practice firing to keep up with our personal defense skills. Funding priorities for ammunition used by Army units fall under the Department of Defense (DoD) budget to maintain a high state of military readiness and ground force strength.

The DoD submits its part of the President’s Budget to Congress in February each year. Programs in the budget must be both “authorized” and “appropriated” before any services can obligate any dollars. Under Army Regulation 5–13, the Army produces the Total Munitions Requirements (TMR) annually, which Identifies the types listed by DODIC and quantities of munitions requirements required to meet war reserve, operational, and training (up to two years). The TMR is also used to inform readiness assessments and identify long-term investment requirements for munitions. The Army develops training munitions strategies based on the Standards in Training Commission (STRAC) strategies published in DA Pam 350-38 and Program of Instruction (POI) strategies, the Army’s institutional annual training munitions requirements. The TMR and munitions funding priorities are submitted to Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8 upon completion of the program objective memorandum (POM) planning reviews.

As part of the Planning, Programming, Budget, and Execution (PPBE) process, budget justification material is submitted and reviewed annually to submit a budget to Congress. Such as the Department of Defense President’s Budget for 2022 (PB 22) Justification Book Procurement of Ammunition, Army (PAA). For construction, procurement, production, modification, and modernization of ammunition and accessories; specialized equipment and training devices; expansion of public and private plants, including ammunition facilities for a Budget Request of $2,158,110,000 in the fiscal year 2022.

Base Budget, Procurement, Appropriation: 2034A Procurement of Ammunition, Army has two Budget Activities: Ammunition and Ammunition Production Base Support with a total of 36 Line Items.

Figure 1. Ammunition, FY 2022 President’s Budget Highlights (Army).

The Procurement of Ammunition, Army Justification Book provides Line-Item Table of Contents with Exhibits that provide Resource Summaries, Cost Elements, Description, and Remarks about each product line item related to the justification of each request.

In the United States Army, the Procurement of Ammunition, Army Appropriation: 2034A covers conventional ammunition separate from Missile Procurement Army or Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense. Similarly, the other services also have justification books, and they are named: Procurement of Ammo, Navy and Marine Corps, and Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force in support of their conventional munitions. 

               Army ammunition used in the Current Year (CY), which is the fiscal year in progress, is ammunition from a past Program Year, the fiscal year authorizations were provided, and in which funds were appropriated for the particular program. Ammunition Authorizations is the by-DODIC quantity of ammunition that a unit may receive in support of its approved training requirements. Munition managers use authorizations, not dollars, to prioritize support for the most critical requirements within their organizations. All authorizations are published and managed in the Total Ammunition Management Information System (TAMIS).