Army Regulations

Regulatory Compliance

  • Army Regulations provide guidelines for managing and operating logistics systems, which RFID technology is often a part of. For example, AR 710-2 (Supply Policy Below the National Level) and AR 735-5 (Property Accountability Policies) outline inventory management and accountability requirements that RFID systems must align with.
  • Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to audit failures, inefficiencies, or compliance complications.
  • RFID systems must integrate seamlessly with existing military systems. Army Regulations ensure compatibility with logistics management systems like the Global Combat Support System – Army (GCSS-Army).

Incorporating RFID technology within the military requires a thorough understanding of these regulations to avoid pitfalls, streamline integration, and maximize the system’s benefits for inventory and asset management.  Below are some of the relevant Army Regulations

AR 740-26 Storage and Supply Activities Physical Inventory Control 23 March 2017

  • 1-5 Objectives
    • Inventory organizations will maintain a current inventory training program to include inventory management policies, procedures, use of AIT, and use of local AIS. The training program will be updated, and personnel trained before making significant changes to inventory and related systems and procedures.
    • Appropriate AIT procedures will be followed to enable and facilitate data collection and transmission to AIS.
    • Where applicable, AIT technology will be used, and the AIS will be polled to verify and validate the inventory discrepancy.
    • Research of potential or actual inventory adjustments – Where applicable, AIT technology will be used, and the AIS will be polled to research the potential inventory adjustment by data taken from the AIT device
  • 3-3 Location Survey Procedures
    • Prepare inventory and location survey work documents in a format compatible with AIT scanners.
      • c. Compare (physically) each prescribed data element with the assets in location. Record the data elements that mismatch on the document or the scanner and record the location card with the data shown on the stock.
      • d. Prepare manual documents or add data to AIT scanners for all locations containing assets for which a location survey work document was not made.
    • Accumulate error causes for evaluation to determine the need for corrective actions and to identify repetitive and systemic problems.
  • 5-2 Storage Activity Quality Control Checks
    • Validation of accuracy of receipt data. This will be a statistical sample of the appropriate AIS to capture data from the appropriate AIT device and accompanying data that was reported to the accountable activity. It includes transaction data (such as stock numbers, condition codes, units of issue, quantities, and on-time processing) reported to the LCMC.
    • Validation of the accuracy of adjustments. This will be a review of the appropriate AIS that captured the original data from the AIT device at the time of introduction into the logistics pipeline to determine if the adjustment resulting from the physical inventory was correct. It includes count cards and in-float documentation to determine if the adjustment resulting from physical inventory is correct.
      AR 740-26

AR 735-5 Property Accountability Property Accountability Policies 9 November 2016

  • 1-4 Responsibilities

    • The Deputy Chief of Staff, G–4 (DCS, G–4) will ensure all detailed property accounting policy and procedures developed for specific materials or situations comply with this regulation. The DCS, G–4 is responsible for the development, supervision, and implementation of automatic identification technology (AIT) applications pertaining to property accounting policy and procedures.
    • Brigade and battalion commanders and equivalent-level commanders in a table of distribution and allowance (TDA) environment will develop and implement oversight management over:
    • Ensure available AIT such as bar code, 2D bar code, optical memory cards, radio frequency identification device tags, contact buttons, satellite tracking, or electronic signature capability are fully integrated into all Government property management and accountability functions (such as, receipt, store, inventory, issue, and ship). AIT utilization applies to both formal and informal property accounting.
  • 4-13 Capital Equipment

    • Inventories will be performed under AR 710–2. To the fullest extent possible, the inventories will be performed using the most current suite of AIT technologies.
  • 6-1 General Requirements

    • Commanders will ensure that all management and accountability functions of receipt, storage, inventory, issue, and shipment fully utilize available AIT such as, bar code, 2D bar code, optical memory cards, radio frequency identification devise tags, contact buttons, satellite tracking, or electronic signature capability.
      AR 735-5

Army Regulation AR 710-2 Supply Policy Below the National Level 28 March 2008

  • 1-1 Purpose

    • Policy for the SSAs and must include AIT such as RFID.
  • 1-4 Supply Policy

    • Be responsible for the development, supervision, and implementation of AIT applications into the Army’s logistical automation information systems. Ensure AIT is an essential part of the integrated logistics support (ILS) program.
    • The Army Command (ACOM)/Army Service Component (ASCC)/Direct Reporting Units (DRUs) commanders will ensure AIT devices are integrated throughout the logistics process. AIT will be used to the maximum extent possible to record all logistics transactions of Army equipment from cradle to grave.
  • 1-16 Implementation

    • AIT products such as the Materiel Release Order Control System (MROCS), Automated Manifest System (AMS), RFID tags, and so forth, will be used to their maximum capability in the receipt, storage, inventory, issue, and shipping processes of all DS/GS SSAs.
  • 1-19 Inventories

    • All COMSEC equipment and components assigned accounting legend code (ALC) 1 or 2 must be physically inventoried at least semiannually and the inventory results reconciled with the ACCOR. All COMSEC equipment will have an AIT device affixed (2D bar, RFID tag, and so forth). All other COMSEC equipment and components must be physically inventoried at least annually.
  • 2-5 Property Book System

    • All property book systems must be maintained using AIT technologies and must integrate with current STAMIS’s automated information system (AIS).
  • 2-12 Evaluations, Inspections, and Inventories

    • The use of AIT devices will ensure minimum errors occur while verifying the various numbers of the property book items.
  • 3-1 Introduction

    • The standard automated systems will be augmented by the suite of AIT devices that will provide valid, usable information, in a timely manner, with minimum effort on the part of the war-fighter that must gather data and information to make sound logistical decisions.
  • 3-24 Inventory and Adjustment

    • The purpose of a physical inventory is to determine the condition and quantity of items by physical inspection and count. An important part of the inventory process is the location survey. All supply systems must be designed to leverage the use of bar codes or one of the AIT devices and therefore the effectiveness and efficiency is entirely dependent upon the integration with the supporting AIS. All containers, pallets, bulk shipments and individual items must be identified and marked to ensure redundant data entry is eliminated.
  • 3-31 Asset Reporting

    • To keep both national and retail managers aware of the location and condition of selected assets, a vertical management information report will be automatically generated via AIS after AIT enhancements has been applied at the SSA level and transmitted to the national manager.
  • 5-21 Inventory and Adjustment

    • Inventories will be aided with the use of AIT Devices – will result in timely improvement in the visibility of inventory. The end result will also aid in the reduction of redundant requisitions.
  • Appendix F-3 Inventories

    • References Table 2-2 lists the various types of inventories and how often they need to be conducted, additionally it’s the Property Book Officer’s responsibility to ensure inventories are accomplished when needed.
  • Appendix F-4 Inventory Procedures – below is an example of how we can improve inventory speed and accuracy.
    • When you have several of the same items, affix a unique sticker with a discrete number or other identifying mark to each individual item as it is counted. If the items are too small to tag, collect them all in one place or container and count them all at the same time. This will help preclude counting the same item twice.
  • Table 2-2 Type of Inventories and discrepancies

    • Contains 19 different types of Inventories, Requirements and Time Allotted/Frequency
      AR 710-2

Army Regulation AR 710-4 Inventory Management – Property Accountability 26 January 2024

  • RaptorRFID can assist with:
    • Inventories during the Annual/Cyclic Inventory Requirements using RFID
    • Wall-to-wall inventory requirements to accomplish a 100% inventory of all items in a single inventory event, with the facility OPEN or Closed during the inventory event.
    • Monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, or semiannually inventories as directed by the APO.
    • Floor-to-Book inventories for capital assets over $250,000.
    • Properly inventorying sensitive items
    • Identifying Losses/Gains/Misplaced Items during cyclic inventories.

MIL STD 129 R DOD Standard Practice Military Marking for Shipment and Storage 24 May 2018

  • 5-9 Passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

    • Passive RFID technology is used for multiple purposes within the DoD (e.g., item identification, shipment, storage and inventory). Passive RFID shall be used within the DoD and by contractors/vendors (unless otherwise specified in the contract or solicitation) in accordance with DLM 4000.25, Volume 3, Chapter 3 (https://www.dla.mil/HQ/InformationOperations/DLMS/eLibrary/Manuals/publications/dlm/dlm _pubs/ ); the DTR Part II, Chapter 208 (https://www.ustranscom.mil/dtr ); and the DoD Passive RFID Information Guide (https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/sci/ait.html ). Passive RFID tags may be used, for item identification and storage purposes, as an optional addition to other labeling requirements of this standard and MIL-STD-130.
    • Passive RFID tag technical requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the contract or solicitation, DoD and contractors/vendors shipping or delivering to the DoD shall use passive RFID tags that comply with the EPCglobal Class 1, Generation 2 RFID tag specifications.
      MIL-STD-129R

United States Department of Defense Suppliers’ Passive RFID Information Guide V15.0

  • 1.1 Background

    • DoD Benefits:
    • Improved inventory management
    • Improved labor productivity
    • Elimination of duplicate orders
    • Replacement of manual procedures
    • Automated receipt and acceptance
    • Improved inventory and shipment visibility and management
    • Reduced shrinkage
    • Enhanced business processes within the DoD
    • Improved asset tracking
  • 2 Implementation

    • As a component of a larger Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) suite, RFID technology use is allowing the Department to realize significant business benefits. Other AIT technologies, such as Active RFID, have already improved the ability of the DoD to track and trace material as it travels through the supply chain.
    • Combining passive and active RFID technologies will create greater efficiencies and data accuracy. Leveraging RFID to the fullest extent possible will improve the ability to deliver to the Warfighter the right material, at the right place, at the right time, and in the right condition.
  • 3 Guidelines and Requirements