UNCLAS 232030Z OCT 01 USE THIS DTG TO REFERENCE THIS MESSAGE FM USAMAC NICP ROCK ISL IL//SOSMA-SNS// SUBJECT: OPERATIONS SUPPORT COMMAND (OSC) SAFETY OF USE MESSAGE OSC SOUM 02-002, SOUM (TACOM-WRN COORDINATION) OPERATIONAL: M2, SELECTABLE LIGHTWEIGHT ATTACK MUNITION, NSN 1375-01-380-1350 (LIN M61250) AND NSN 1375-01-466-8137 D XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX D A X "URGENT" X A N X DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO SOLIDERS, OR DAMAGE X N G X TO ARMY EQUIPMENT WILL OCCUR IF THE INSTRUCTIONS X G E X IN THIS MESSAGE ARE NOT FOLLOWED. X E R XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX R 1. NOTICE: THIS ACTION RESCINDS SOUM 02-001 IN ITS ENTIRETY AND APPLIES ONLY TO THE M2 SLAM. SOUM 02-001 INDICATED THAT RECOVERY AND RE-USE WOULD BE ADDRESSED AND SAFE PROCEDURES DEFINED. FURTHER ENGINEERING EVALUATION HAS CONCLUDED THAT SAFE RECOVERY PROCEDURES CANNOT BE DEFINED AT THIS TIME. THIS SOUM REFLECTS THAT NEW GUIDANCE. 2. DISTRIBUTION: A. THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL SAFETY OF USE MESSAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN TRANSMITTED TO YOUR SUBORDINATE UNITS, MACOM COMMANDERS WILL RETRANSMIT THIS MESSAGE TO ALL SUBORDINATE UNITS, ACTIVITIES OR ELEMENTS AFFECTED OR CONCERNED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE AND ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE WITHIN FIVE WORKING DAYS TO: CDRARDEC, PICATINNY ARSENAL//AMSTA-AR-QAW- S//DSN 880-3047, COMMERCIAL (973) 724-3047, E-MAIL: JELLIOTT@PICA.ARMY.MIL. B. MACOM COMMANDERS WILL ALSO TRACK COMPLIANCE OF THIS MESSAGE FOR ALL SUBORDINATE COMMANDS/ACTIVITIES AND REPORT THIS COMPLIANCE TO PROJECT MANAGER, MINES, COUNTERMINE AND DEMOLITIONS, ATTN: AMSTA-DSA-MC COMMERCIAL (973) 724-6023 NLT 30 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE DATE OF THE MESSAGE. 3. PROBLEM: A. REFERENCES. 1. MESSAGE, HQ USASOC DTG 172321Z AUG 01, SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF USE, SELECTABLE LIGHTWEIGHT ATTACK MUNITION (SLAM) 2. MESSAGE, HQ USASOC DTG 211830Z SEPT 01, SUBJECT: SELECTABLE LIGHTWEIGHT ATTACK MUNITIONS (SLAM) 3. MESSAGE, HQ USASOC DTG 012110Z OCT 01, SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF USE, SELECTABLE LIGHTWEIGHT ATTACK MUNITION (SLAM) 4. MESSAGE, HQ USAMAC NICP ROCK ISL IL //SOSMA-SNS// DTG 301830Z SEP 01 SUBJ: ARMY NARS 01-0297 THRU 01-0299. 5. MESSAGE, HQ USAMAC NICP ROCK ISL IL //SOSMA-SNS// DTG 052000Z OCT 01 SUBJ: ARMY NARS 02-0012 THRU 02-0013 6. MESSAGE, HQ USAMAC NICP ROCK ISL IL //SOSMA-SNS// DTG 070100Z OCT 01 SUBJ: ARMY NARS 02-0014 THRU 02-0015 7. AR 75-1, MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVING AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES B. SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: TWO ACCIDENTS RECENTLY OCCURRED DURING M2 SLAM TRAINING EXERCISES RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY. THE INCIDENTS INVOLVE SOLDIERS APPROACHING AN UNDETONATED SLAM. BECAUSE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, USASOC SUSPENDED ALL USE OF THE SLAM (REF 1) PENDING THE RESULTS OF THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, USASOC AUTHORIZED THE SLAM FOR CONTINGENCY/OPERATIONAL USE (REF 2). THIS AUTHORIZATION EMPHASIZED THAT OPERATORS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS MUNITION, ESPECIALLY THE ANTITAMPERING AND MAGNETIC SENSING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUNITION WHEN IN THE MINE MODE (THESE CHARACTERISTICS ALSO APPLY TO THE SIDE ATTACK MODE), AND THEY SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT ONCE THE MUNITION IS ACTIVATED, THE MODE ORIGINALLY SET CANNOT BE CHANGED. IN RESPONSE TO THE SECOND ACCIDENT, USASOC AGAIN SUSPENDED USE OF THE SLAM (REF 3). PROCEDURAL ERRORS WERE FACTORS IN BOTH ACCIDENTS; NO SPECIFIC MATERIAL FAILURE ISSUES WERE VALIDATED; HOWEVER, IT IS UNCLEAR IF MATERIEL FAILURE ISSUES WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. C. ADDITIONAL ACTION TAKEN: THE NATIONAL INVENTORY CONTROL POINT (NICP) AT MUNITIONS AND ARMAMENT COMMAND (MAC) ALSO SUSPENDED ALL LOTS OF SLAM MUNITIONS (REF 4). ALL SLAM LOTS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED BY THE NICP (REFS 5 AND 6). D. THE M2 SLAM IS FOR ISSUE TO AND USE BY SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES ONLY. 4. USER ACTIONS: THIS SOUM DOES NOT AUTHORIZE USE OF M2 SLAM. USASOC (REF 3) RESTRICTED THE USE OF SLAM AND ONLY USASOC CAN RESCIND THAT RESTRICTION. THIS SOUM DELINEATES NECESSARY ACTIONS TO ALLOW SAFE USE OF SLAM IF THE USASOC RESTRICTION IS LIFTED. SLAM IS SAFE FOR EMPLOYMENT WHEN PROPER SAFETY PROCEDURES/PRECAUTIONS ARE USED. STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS/PROCEDURES/FEATURES MUST BE OBSERVED: A. ALL UNITS MUST RECEIVE TRAINING ON FUNCTIONING AND SAFE OPERATION OF THE SLAM PRIOR TO RESUMING OPERATION OR TRAINING EXERCISES (NET, SUSTAINMENT, UNIT, ETC.) AN AMC TRAINING TEAM WILL PROVIDE TRAINING FOR UNITS IF REQUESTED. B. THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY WILL DEVELOP LEADER VALIDATED CERTIFICATION TRAINING FOR ALL SPECIAL FORCES PERSONNEL. CERTIFICATION TRAINING MUST BE CONDUCTED BEFORE OPERATIONAL (EXCEPTION IN PARA. 4.K.) OR TRAINING USE OF THE M2 SLAM. A SUSTAINMENT TRAINING PROGRAM WILL BE DEVELOPED TO ENSURE PERSONNEL REMAIN FAMILIAR WITH THE UNIQUE COMPLEXITY OF THIS MUNITION. TRAINING WILL INCORPORATE ALL ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION (POI) ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED BY THE PROGRAM MANAGER (PM) FOR THE FIELDING. THIS TRAINING MUST VALIDATE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOUR MODES OF OPERATION, THE SELECTOR SWITCH AND ITS USE, THE CORRECT EMPLOYMENT METHODS, AND WHAT ACTIONS TO FOLLOW IN THE EVENT THE MUNITION DOES NOT DETONATE. C. NO RANGE WILL BE UTILIZED FOR THE CONDUCT OF M2 SLAM TRAINING UNTIL THE RESPONSIBLE RANGE SAFETY PERSONNEL OF THE CONTROLLING INSTALLATION HAVE AUTHORIZED THE RANGE FOR THE M2 SLAM MUNITION. M2 SLAM MUNITIONS MUST BE DESIGNATED ON THE RANGE REQUEST AND THEIR USE APPROVED BY THE CONTROLLING RANGE CONTROL. ALL TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS MUST BE ON HAND FOR REFERENCE DURING THE CONDUCT OF RANGE OPERATIONS. D. ALL OPERATORS MUST REVIEW THE DESCRIPTION, CHARACTERISTICS, OPERATION AND SAFETY PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN TM 9-1375-218-12. E. REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE TM WAS LAST REVIEWED, THE INSTRUCTION CARD (PACKED WITH EACH ITEM) MUST BE REVIEWED TO REFRESH THE OPERATOR'S UNDERSTANDING OF PRE USE INSPECTIONS AND THE OPERATING SEQUENCE PRIOR TO USE OF SLAM. F. TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF DUDS DURING TRAINING DUE TO FRATRICIDE, MUNITIONS SHOULD NOT BE AIMED AT EACH OTHER AND MUST BE SEPARATED BY AT LEAST 10 METERS. G. TO PERMIT CLEARING A MUNITION IF SLAM DOES NOT DETONATE, ALL SLAMS MUST BE DUAL PRIMED IN TRAINING (BACKUP PRIMED FOR COMMAND DETONATION WITH EITHER BLASTING CAP/DETONATION CORD OR MDI SHOCK TUBE/SHOCK TUBE INITIATOR) WHEN USED IN THE MINE, SIDE ATTACK, OR TIMED DEMOLITION MODE. H. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE SETTING AFTER THE ACTIVATION LEVER IS PULLED. ONCE THE ACTIVATION LEVER IS PULLED, THE TIME/MODE ON THE SELECTOR SWITCH IS ENTERED INTO MEMORY AND CANNOT BE CHANGED. PHYSICALLY MOVING THE SELECTOR SWITCH AFTER THE ACTIVATION LEVER IS PULLED APPEARS TO CHANGE THE SETTING, BUT THE ORIGINAL SETTING WILL REMAIN IN THE MEMORY. I. MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVING THE SAFETY PIN. NEVER APPROACH SLAM FOR ANY REASON ONCE IT IS ARMED. THERE ARE NO MISFIRE PROCEDURES FOR THE SLAM. IF THE MUNITION DOES NOT DETONATE, AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE DUAL PRIME MECHANISM FAILS TO FUNCTION THE MUNITION: ******************************************************************** NOTIFY EOD. DO NOT RE-ENTER THE AREA FOR ANY REASON. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PERFORM EOD/DESTRUCTION PROCEDURES IF THE MUNITION FAILS TO FUNCTION OR IS DETERMINED TO BE INCORRECTLY SET. ******************************************************************** EOD PERSONNEL WILL INITIATE RANGE CLEARING PROCEDURES UPON NOTIFICATION BY RANGE CONTROL PERSONNEL. ONCE THE SLAM IS EMPLACED AND ACTIVATED, OPERATORS AND RANGE PERSONNEL WILL NOT APPROACH AN UNEXPLODED SLAM, REGARDLESS OF THE MODE OF OPERATION. ALL NON-FUNCTIONING SLAMS MUST BE TREATED AS UXO. PRIMARY EOD PROCEDURES INCLUDE AN EXTENSIVE SAFE WAITING PERIOD TO ENSURE SLAM BATTERIES HAVE DISCHARGED BEFORE ANYONE APPROACHES THE SLAM. ONLY EOD PERSONNEL WILL PERFORM EOD PROCEDURES ON THE SLAM IAW APPROPRIATE TM 60 SERIES MANUALS. J. REPORT SLAMS FAILING TO FUNCTION AS INTENDED IAW REF 7. K. UNITS WITH AN IMMEDIATE NEED TO EMPLOY THE SYSTEM WILL CONDUCT TRAINING AND CERTIFY PERSONNEL TO THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM STANDARDS UNTIL TIME PERMITS TRAINING UNDER THE FULL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 4.B. ABOVE. 1. EXECUTE THE POI ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED BY THE PROGRAM MANAGER (PM) FOR FIELDING. 2. INDIVIDUAL PERSONNEL MUST BE CERTIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: THE FOUR MODES OF OPERATION, THE SELECTOR SWITCH AND ITS USE, AND CORRECT EMPLOYMENT METHODS. 5. TACOM-ARDEC/PM ACTIONS: A. NEW EQUIPMENT TRAINING LESSON PLANS ARE BEING UPDATED TO CLARIFY OPERATIONAL AND SAFETY PROCEDURES. A SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING VIDEO IS BEING PRODUCED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AS A TRAINING AID. COORDINATION WITH USASOC HAS BEEN INITIATED TO SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE. B. TM 9-1375-218-12 OPERATOR'S MANUAL IS BEING UPDATED TO REFLECT CLEARER PROCEDURES/PRECAUTIONS. C. INSTRUCTION SHEET PACKED WITH EACH SLAM IS BEING UPDATED TO INCLUDE CLARIFIED WARNINGS. D. ONCE UPDATED, THE TM AND INSTRUCTION SHEET WILL BE FORWARDED TO USASOC FOR DISTRIBUTION (ELECTRONIC AND HARD COPY) TO ALL SOCOM UNITS. E. ASSUMING THAT APPROPRIATE FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED, THE PM WILL PROVIDE AN INTERACTIVE TRAINER TO SOCOM AND WILL INITIATE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS TO MODIFY THE TRAINER TO INCLUDE SIMULATION OF THE SELF-NUTRALIZATION FUNCTION. 6. SUPPLY STATUS: NO HARDWARE CHANGES REQUIRED.