Historical Activities

Army Museum Enterprise and Army Artifact Collection

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

JAMES C. MCCONVILLE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff

MARK F. AVERILL
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army

History. This regulation is a major revision. The portions affected by this major revision are listed in the summary of change.

Summary. This regulation prescribes Department of the Army policy for the stewardship of the Army artifact collection and governs collection management, acquisition, accountability, valuation, loan, and disposition of artifacts (objects and art). This regulation also prescribes the use of artifacts (objects and art) for exhibits, interpretation, research, and military history and heritage education and training. It also covers the administration of organizational activities at all levels within the Army Museum Enterprise.

Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25-30 for specific requirements.

Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11-2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (see app B).

Supplementation. Supplementation of this regulation and establishment of command and local forms are prohibited without prior approval from the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, in care of U.S. Army Center of Military History (ATMH-ZA), 104

Second Avenue, Collins Hall, Building 35, Fort McNair, Washington, DC 20319-5058.

Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) to the Executive Director, U.S. Army Center of Military History (ATMH-ZA), 104 Second Avenue, Collins Hall, Building 35, Fort McNair, Washington, DC 20319-5058.

Committee management. AR 15-39 requires the proponent to justify establishing/continuing committee(s), coordinate draft publications, and coordinate changes in committee status with the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, Special Programs Directorate, 9301 Chapek Road, Building 1458, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5527. Further, if it is determined that an established "group" identified within this regulation later takes on the characteristics of a committee as found in AR 15-39, then the proponent will follow AR 15-39 requirements for establishing and continuing the group as a committee.

Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

*This regulation supersedes AR 870-20, dated 11 January 1999 and rescinds Army Directive 2016-39, dated 1 December 2016.