Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about the military's process of decommissioning vehicles?

[dlynes]

Hello,
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about the military's process of decommissioning vehicles? Do they usually decommission based on equipment's life cycle being met or issues/concerns (cost to repair exceeds items value)? Aside from major overhauls where they install metal tags, is anything usually recorded on the vehicle of last services (aside from hand writing date, miles, yr, etc on the filter)? Will they provide any service history? Thank you.

 

[Mullaney]

Hello,
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about the military's process of decommissioning vehicles? Do they usually decommission based on equipment's life cycle being met or issues/concerns (cost to repair exceeds items value)? Aside from major overhauls where they install metal tags, is anything usually recorded on the vehicle of last services (aside from hand writing date, miles, yr, etc on the filter)? Will they provide any service history? Thank you.

.
Chances are almost nil on any service information be provided.
Other than that - you summed it up pretty well.

 

[Guyfang]

I have attached a document for your reading pleasure. Its probably more than you really want to know. It is a MEL (Maintenance Expenditure Limits) document. It covers how the Military decides to replace Air Conditioners. The short version is like this. In 1986, the Army bought a new type of Air Con. Someone smarter then us decides that the equipment has a useable life of, lets say 15 years. This limit can and often is extended, for many reasons. But, one day smart maintenance people notice that the reliability of the Air con is not great. So, they create a MEL. This document tells people like me at the user/fixer level, how much money you can spend to fix your air con, and for how long.

Open the MEL to Appendix B, or look below (After reading the beginning of the document to make yourself smart) and you look down the list of NSN's until you find YOUR Air Con. The list is set up like this:
1. NSN
2. Item I.D.
3. Parts TM for the equipment
4. Year the equipment was built.
5. Serial or U.S.A. number range
6. Life expectancy of equipment
7. The last 5 columns show you what % of the Original cost of the unit, may be spent on repair of the Air Con, during its life time.


So look at NSN: 4120-01-237-4663. Built in 1986. By the Year 1992, you can spend NO MORE than 55% of the original cost of the air con to repair it. One time repair. If it breaks again later, the rule starts over. If it cost more than 55%, it gets sent to the Bone Yard, OR, an LTC or above can decide to ignore the rule, if the Mission is important enough. 1993 is 50%. 1996 is 40%. And so on. A MEL comes out shortly before new equipment hits the ground.

 

[dlynes]

I have attached a document for your reading pleasure. Its probably more than you really want to know. It is a MEL (Maintenance Expenditure Limits) document. It covers how the Military decides to replace Air Conditioners. The short version is like this. In 1986, the Army bought a new type of Air Con. Someone smarter then us decides that the equipment has a useable life of, lets say 15 years. This limit can and often is extended, for many reasons. But, one day smart maintenance people notice that the reliability of the Air con is not great. So, they create a MEL. This document tells people like me at the user/fixer level, how much money you can spend to fix your air con, and for how long.

Open the MEL to Appendix B, or look below (After reading the beginning of the document to make yourself smart) and you look down the list of NSN's until you find YOUR Air Con. The list is set up like this:
1. NSN
2. Item I.D.
3. Parts TM for the equipment
4. Year the equipment was built.
5. Serial or U.S.A. number range
6. Life expectancy of equipment
7. The last 5 columns show you what % of the Original cost of the unit, may be spent on repair of the Air Con, during its life time.

View attachment 937846
So look at NSN: 4120-01-237-4663. Built in 1986. By the Year 1992, you can spend NO MORE than 55% of the original cost of the air con to repair it. One time repair. If it breaks again later, the rule starts over. If it cost more than 55%, it gets sent to the Bone Yard, OR, an LTC or above can decide to ignore the rule, if the Mission is important enough. 1993 is 50%. 1996 is 40%. And so on. A MEL comes out shortly before new equipment hits the ground.

thank you very much for going into detail and sharing this doc. I wonder what's changed since 1999.

 

[Guyfang]

A lot has changed. And not much has changed. I know I could never go back on active duty in my retired rank. I am way, way too far behind the power curve. A digital Dinosaur. But would love go back to fixin stuff!

 

[jeffhuey1n]

A lot has changed. And not much has changed. I know I could never go back on active duty in my retired rank. I am way, way too far behind the power curve. A digital Dinosaur. But would love go back to fixin stuff!

The helicopters I maintained are still inservice. I’d give my left one to be able to work on them again. The aircraft “forms binder” is still being used to track airframe maintenance issues, time change, calendar inspections, etc. Aircraft engines are also tracked for various mandatory tasks. Going back in as an E-8? NFW! Make me a Buck Sgt and issue me a helicopter. I’ll be in hog heaven!

 

[Guyfang]

I was in hog heaven as a SP/5. But must admit, CWO was hog heaven on steroids!