CRANE– As the 2025 fiscal year comes to a close, Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA) is reporting a year of significant operational triumphs and strategic modernization, even as the organization navigated a rapidly evolving federal landscape.
While the year began under traditional circumstances, it quickly shifted into a period of transformation. Facing a Department of War hiring freeze and the implementation of the “Fork in the Road” deferred resignation program—part of broader Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives—CAAA leadership praised the resilience of the workforce.
“Everyone on the team stepped up to fill our staffing gaps and worked hard to move our mission forward,” said Col. Aaron Cornett, CAAA commander told Southern Indiana Business Report. “Despite losing valued team members to early retirement and facing hiring restrictions, we did pretty well.”
Infrastructure and Modernization
Leading the charge for the future, the Facilities and Logistics Division developed a massive $615 million, five-year investment plan. This initiative is a cornerstone of the Army Materiel Command’s 15-year modernization strategy, designed to ensure the Army’s Organic Industrial Base remains technologically competitive and sustainable.
Beyond infrastructure, the division overhauled internal controls, linking parts costs directly to equipment and improving “bench stock” financial tracking to ensure every dollar is accounted for within specific programs.
Safety Records and “Spill Team Six”
Safety metrics saw a dramatic improvement in FY25. The Safety Division reported:
- 70% reduction in “Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred” cases.
- 25% reduction in lost time cases.
- 10% decrease in the total case incident rate.
In the field, the Manufacturing and Engineering Directorate deployed a specialized cleanup crew, colloquially known as “Spill Team Six.” The team successfully remediated 21 storage magazines, safely removing leaking explosives and rotting pallets to ensure the integrity of the depot’s storage capacity.
Production and Global Logistics
The Depot Operations Directorate maintained a relentless pace, executing more than 5,700 conveyances and moving over 40,000 short tons of outbound material. The team achieved a 98.4% Perfect Order Fulfillment rate, exceeding the rigorous standards set by Army Materiel Command.
Notably, CAAA’s Railroad Safety Program has now been adopted as the gold standard for the entire Army railroad enterprise, highlighting Crane’s role as a leader in industrial safety.
Innovation in Defense Transformation
The Activity Support Directorate is looking beyond traditional munitions to support the Army’s Transformation Initiative. New business explorations in FY25 included:
- Arming drones and rockets.
- Remilitarizing obsolete munitions.
- Strengthening chemical supply chains in partnership with private industry.
Additionally, the Operations Directorate achieved a historic milestone: a 100% passing score during the tri-annual protection assessment for Emergency Management—a program that did not even exist eight years ago.
Navigating Personnel Challenges
The end of the fiscal year saw the Personnel Division managing the “Fork in the Road” program, which created a knowledge management challenge as veteran employees opted for resignation packages. To counter the staffing gap, the division vertically aligned organizational goals and implemented a new structured rewards system to incentivize high-performing staff remaining at the depot.
About Crane Army Ammunition Activity: Established in 1977 and located on Naval Support Activity Crane, CAAA produces and provides conventional munitions in support of U.S. Army and Joint Force readiness. It operates under the Joint Munitions Command and U.S. Army Materiel Command.
Information: Southern Indiana Business Report.
