Quality Assurance owns the impoundment program outright — it is the office of primary responsibility, it writes the local impoundment checklists, and it runs the mandatory training course an Impoundment Official must complete before being assigned. A review looks at whether the right people were notified, whether the aircraft was physically cordoned and identified, whether maintenance was held down until the cause was found, and whether the release was properly briefed and authorized.
Readers asked this on CheckMyRegs and CheckMyAFI 16 times — this page answers it from the official catalogs and the publications’ own text.
| Branch | Controlling publication | Dated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | DAFI 21-101 Current Chapter 7 is the impoundment program in full | 2023-12-20 | Official link |
| Army | AR 750-1 Current Army materiel maintenance policy | 2026-04-29 | Official link |
| Navy | OPNAVINST 4790.2K Current Naval Aviation Maintenance Program equivalent | 2025-04-25 | Official link |
| Marine Corps | MCO 4790.25 Current Ground equipment maintenance program | 2014-01-12 | Official link |
Quality Assurance is the office of primary responsibility for the Impoundment Program and develops the local impoundment checklists, so the checklist itself is a QA product and fair game in a review.
“7.2.1.1. QA is the OPR for the Impoundment Program and will develop local impoundment checklists. (T-3)”
The Impoundment Official is the single point of contact for the impounded aircraft or equipment, holds a minimum rank of master sergeant, and is tracked on the senior control roster.
“7.4. Impoundment Official Responsibilities. The Impoundment Official is designated as the single POC for impounded aircraft or equipment and will hold the minimum rank of MSgt and will be tracked on the SCR. (T-2) The Impoundment Official will:”
Completion of the Impound Official training course is mandatory before anyone is assigned as an Impound Official, and QA is the focal point for managing that course.
“7.2.1.2. QA in coordination with MT, will serve as the OPR and focal point for the management of the Impound Official training course. The course completion is mandatory prior to being assigned as an Impound Official. (T-3)”
The maintenance group commander, maintenance operations centre, munitions control, wing weapons manager, QA and wing safety all have to be notified of the impoundment action — a missing name on that list is a finding.
“7.7.1.2. The MXG/CC, MOC, Munitions Control, WWM, QA and Wing Safety or equivalent will be notified of the impoundment action. (T-2)”
The impounded aircraft or equipment must be identified by a cordon of cones, ropes or placards showing the impound condition and the aircraft location.
“7.6.3.5. Ensure impounded aircraft/equipment is identified by cordon with cones, ropes or placards indicating impound condition and aircraft location. (T-2)”
The Impoundment Official limits maintenance actions on the impounded aircraft until the cause is determined, then briefs the release authority on findings and corrective actions before requesting release.
“7.6.4. Impoundment Official will limit maintenance actions on impounded aircraft or equipment until the cause is determined. (T-2)”
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Updated 2026-08-01. CheckMyRegs is an unofficial index — always cite the official publication.