U.S. Military Equipment Prepositioned in Europe: Significant Improvements Made but Some Problems Remain

The Army stores large quantities of equipment in Europe for use in an emergency by troops deployed from the United States by air. The equipment is stored under a concept known as prepositioned equipment configured to unit sets (POMCUS) which means that each U.S.-based unit's equipment is stored as a set at a particular site to which the unit would deploy. This equipment is kept combat ready through long-term storage in controlled-humidity warehouses and through periodic maintenance designed to keep deterioration to a minimum.