JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --
Blount Island Command achieved an outstanding pass rate during a recent inventory audit at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, reinforcing the command’s dedication to accountability, readiness and process improvement.
The audit, conducted Oct. 28-30 by independent public accounting firm Ernst & Young, resulted in a preliminary 98.5% pass rate at the sample level and a 99.6% item pass rate, surpassing Marine Corps requirements for serially managed assets. The results highlight the command’s exceptional accuracy in inventory practices and demonstrate a commitment to the efficient management of critical assets.
“This success is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” said Marine Corps Maj. Robert Harwood, supply branch officer in charge at Blount Island Command. “It showcases our commitment to trust and transparency, ensuring every asset is mission-ready.”
The three-day audit evaluated a variety of physical assets and key supporting documentation. The results underscore the Marine Corps’ ethos of accountability and the crucial role every Marine plays in ensuring that equipment is properly tracked, maintained and ready for global operations.
Cpl. Ivan Mandujano, a supply administration specialist, emphasized the importance of accurate inventories at the industrial facility, a military-led, civilian-operated power projection platform.
“It validates what we do,” said Mandujano, who was performing an inventory check at the repairable issue point. He works to ensure that location, quantity and numbers align accurately on critical warfighting supplies, including circuit cards, receivers, transmitters, amplifiers, transmissions and engines.
“We make sure it’s getting done right,” he said. During the audit of nearly 2,000 financially reportable assets, eight pieces had errors, such as outdated part numbers or manufacturers.
According to Robert Domen, a logistics data analyst contracted by Blount Island Command, these errors are easily corrected. The retired chief warrant officer 5, who completed 32 years in supply operations, assists the command in tracking supplies for its prepositioning programs both ashore and afloat.
“Carefully inventorying everything saves taxpayer money,” Domen said. “You can have the same inventory for years, but new manufacturers and part numbers dramatically affect accountability and valuation.”
Domen shared how Blount Island Command’s rigorous asset management system was proven when the team tracked down a requested item located inside a generator aboard the USNS Sgt. William W. Seay, which had already left the slipway.
“We had to show, basically, proof of life,” Domen said. “We presented a photo of the item within hours.”
These preliminary results for fiscal year 2025 align with the Marine Corps' broader commitment to compliance and financial accountability. The FY24 Financial Audit report found the service’s financial records to be materially accurate, complete, and fully compliant with federal regulations. This marked the second time that a military service has achieved such a high standard of fiscal responsibility—an accomplishment twice attributed to the Marines.