Armed means the fuze has completed its safing/arming sequence and is primed to function. Once armed, the fuze will initiate the explosive train when its designated condition occurs—such as impact, proximity to a target, or a timed signal—depending on the fuze type. The arming process removes or activates the safety barriers so a valid trigger can cause detonation. If the fuze is disconnected, removed, or simply watertight but inactive, it is not armed and will not detonate under the designated conditions.

Assessing whether a munition is safe to handle requires a thorough, guideline-based check rather than a single test. Visual and functional inspection, done per applicable guidelines, lets you look for both obvious and subtle signs of compromise—damage from handling, corrosion, leaks, tampering indicators, and whether seals are intact. The visual part catches external condition while the functional part verifies that mechanisms and containment still operate and that safety and arming components remain secure. Following standardized guidelines ensures consistency and that no critical issue is overlooked. Relying on only one method isn’t enough. A visual check by itself can miss internal faults or hidden leaks; measuring weight alone won’t reveal tampering or internal damage; a thermal scan may show abnormal heat but won’t confirm seal integrity or mechanical reliability. The combination of visual and functional inspection provides the most reliable assessment of safety for handling.

Three essential areas ensure equipment readiness: material, maintenance, and measurement. Material means having the right parts, lubricants, tools, and references available where you’ll actually work, so maintenance can be performed without delays. Maintenance covers the planned actions—preventive checks, servicing, inspections, and repairs—that keep equipment operating within spec and prevent failures. Measurement provides the data feedback loop: tracking how well maintenance is carried out, monitoring performance and condition, and using those metrics to drive improvements. Together, these three pillars ensure maintenance is effective and accountable. Without the right materials, work can’t be done properly. Without maintenance actions, equipment degrades and failures rise. Without measurement, you wouldn’t know whether your maintenance is meeting goals or where to focus further improvements. That’s why the statement Material, Maintenance, and Measurement best describes the framework.

Two-person custody documentation is a control that ensures accountability and traceability of munitions as they are handled and moved. Each transfer or movement is verified by two authorized personnel who sign off, recording who held the items, what was moved, the quantities, lot/serial numbers, and where it came from and goes to. This creates a clear chain of custody, making it easy to track every step, quickly detect discrepancies, and deter loss, theft, or mishandling. The goal is safety and security, not simply adding paperwork or affecting costs or berthing.