equipment in anticipation of their use in contingency mount-outs. These stocks include oil, fuels, lubricants, rations, ammunition, and a full allowance of equipment. During a contingency mount-out, all or part of these pre-positioned stocks may be used. As part of the planning phase, NCF units should check the plan to determine the exact amount and types of supplies to be embarked and the location of the supplies.

Standard boxing procedures are required in an effort to minimize shipping, packing, and repacking of allowance items. Standardized boxing also helps to establish uniformity among the NCF units.

Present mobility requirements make it necessary to keep as much as possible of the battalion's TOA packed or partially packed for redeployment at all times. The best method of maintaining this state of readiness is to use packing boxes for day-to-day storage and for dispensing battalion allowance items. Each NCF unit must fabricate mount-out boxes according to COMSECOND/COMTHIRDNCBINST 3120.1 series. These fabricated boxes are for all the unit's TOA authorized allowance items that can be boxed. On-hand boxes may be used provided the color and marking codes conform with standard box markings.

You must prepare multiple copies of the packing lists for each box. One copy is placed inside of the box. One copy is mounted in a protective packet on the outside of the box. One copy is kept on file in the embarkation mount-out control center (MOCC). And one copy is retained by the department to which the supplies or equipment belong. Packing lists must contain sufficient details so you can locate items without having to open and search several boxes.

Consider the following when constructing mount-out boxes:

- Use screw nails or flathead screws and glue for assembly

- Bolt covers to tapped metal inserts (as shown in COMSECOND/COMTHIRDNCBINST 3120.1 series, or an equal type of bolting method)

- Customize box interiors to suit the contents

- Limit gross weight of the boxes to 250 pounds (for easy handling without material-handling equipment)

- Fabricate boxes of 3/4-inch exterior grade plywood, reinforced with 2 by 4 inch ends

- Create for large authorized items special boxes (must conform to the criteria set forth in COMSECOND/COMTHIRDNCBINST 3120.1 series)

- Install metal corners or other protection to prevent shipping damage

EMBARKATION PERSONNEL

To carry out their respective duties efficiently, no matter what level of the embarkation chain they are associated with, embarkation officers/staff must be familiar with the following:

Naval and Air Force customs and terminology

Applicable tables of organization, allowance, and equipment (within the TOA)

Amphibious task force organizations and flight operations

Landing force organization

Supply and equipment classifications

Standard operating procedures for loading, packing, crating, marking, and waterproofing supplies and equipment

Ship's loading characteristics pamphlets (SLCPs)

Loading and unloading time factors

Amphibious ships, landing craft, amphibious vehicles, helicopters, and transport aircraft characteristics

STAFFING

Embarkation staff personnel must interface with other command embarkation staffs. Therefore, a brief description of the duties and responsibilities for each of the staffs is described in the following paragraphs.

COMSECOND/COMTHIRD Naval Construction Brigade Embarkation Staff

The COMSECOND and COMTHIRD NCB embarkation staff has the following duties:

1. Heads the embarkation section of the Readiness Department.

2. Reviews and updates current embarkation directives and instructions.