Assessment of Effective Ammunition Stock Levels

The purpose of this article is to discuss the current approach to determining the amount and composition of ammunition stocks, including the strengths and weaknesses of individual practices within North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its selected member states. The starting points of this article are the practical findings in the preparation of NATO and EU battlegroups, including real foreign operations. The individual methods were analyzed with a partial use of SWOT analysis, with a main focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the inventory process. There were found discrepancies between the general principle of individual methods and their practical application. A major drawback is that the principle for calculating inventory needs for combat activities is yet unestablished, where the internal regulation does provide for 120 SDOS and the introduction of some coefficients. However, doing so without establishing the principle of creating its amount. The article offers possible solutions to increase the efficiency of inventory generation in order to achieve greater objectivity in the planning process of operations management and crisis management, including self-provision of ammunition stockpiles.