When it’s time to rotate to a new duty station or to the civilian world, one of the tasks Marines tackle during the check-out process is accounting for, cleaning and turning in all of their field equipment and gear. 

“There has been a serious problem with Marines failing to maintain accountability of their gear and missing gear statements cost valuable time and money for the Marine and the command,” said Gunnery Sgt. Ian P. Brady, acting first sergeant, Company B, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base. “Not only is it a problem when it is time for a Marine to leave the island, but it also affects their readiness and ability to deploy.”

The Individual Issue Facility, formerly known as the Consolidated Issue Facility, is the place responsible for issuing, inspecting and collecting this equipment, according to Barbara Memolo, the logistics management specialist and contracting officer representative here.

One of the benefits IIF offers is a website, which Marines can access online at www.usmccif.com. Online, Marines can view all the items they have checked out and information on how to properly clean each piece of gear. An individual record containing information of the Marine’s personal-sized equipment can also be accessed online, said Memolo. This online feature is designed to aid Marines in the accountability process involved with checking out.

“A lot of the Marines, after being here for two or three years, just show up thinking they’re just going to immediately turn in their gear or they don’t even know they’re missing gear,” said Andy Smith, regional manager, IIF, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

“By using the website [Marines] can go in at any time of their tour, and inventory their gear,” added Memolo. “It’s important the Marine prepares for turn in, not only reconciling his inventory, but making sure the equipment is properly cleaned.”

If gear is damaged, it will be looked at by the employees at IIF, according to Smith. From there, the employee will decide if the damaged gear is what they call normal “wear and tear,” which means it was damaged while in use, or if the damage was malicious and intentional. If the damage appears to be normal wear and tear, the Marine will not be held liable, but if it’s clearly intentional damage by the individual, they will have to fill out a missing gear statement and potentially pay to replace it.

Missing gear statements are filled out if a Marine has lost or damaged a piece or pieces of the equipment they are responsible for. The statements can be found at the IIF or accessed on the website under the “downloads” section.

While the administrative process is simple, it does take time to work its way through the chain of command. As long as a Marine doesn’t wait until the last minute before executing orders off-island, completing a missing gear statement should be a relatively pain-free experience, according to Smith.

“It is the Marine’s responsibility that the missing gear statements are processed through the chain of command and then brought to the IIF to finalize their record,” said Smith.

Marines should inspect and inventory their gear upon return from each deployment or field exercise to maintain accountability of all equipment.

Another problem Marines have is cleaning the gear, Smith explained.

“Instructions on [cleaning] each item is clear and simple,” he continued. “Marines will find that it is a lot easier to follow those directions rather than try it their own way.”

Gear damaged by not following the cleaning instructions is not considered normal wear and tear and the responsible Marine will have to go through the process of filling out a missing gear statement, Smith said.

All of the IIF leaders in III MEF are willing to go out to units and train the Marines on how to properly clean the gear the easiest and most effective way whenever requested, said Smith.

“Simple light detergent, or light soap and some water and a decent scrub brush with not a whole lot of pressure, will clean 99 percent of anything that’s required to get it turned in,” Smith explained.

Each of these resources offered by IIF is meant to help Marines prepare for check-out, however, the responsibility lies on the Marine to make sure they have inventoried and cleaned their gear.

Checking out doesn’t have to be difficult. By following these tips, Marines can make the IIF step that much smoother.