What is the difference between consumable and non-consumable property?

• A. Consumables are expended during use; non-consumables are retained for long-term use and tracked through the property system.
• B. Consumables are hardware only; non-consumables are software.
• C. Consumables have no official tracking; non-consumables are always tracked.
• D. Consumables are more valuable than non-consumables.

Answer: (A)

Consumables are items used up in the course of operations; once they’re spent or consumed, they’re not kept as a long-term asset. Non-consumables, on the other hand, are items designed for extended use and are kept in the property system to maintain accountability over time.

For example, batteries or lubrication oil are consumed during use, so they aren’t tracked as long-term property in the asset records. Equipment like vehicles, weapons, or computers, which provide service over several years, are retained and tracked in the property system.

The distinction isn’t about hardware versus software or about a blanket difference in value or tracking alone. It’s about whether the item is expended in use (consumable) or retained for long-term use and accountability (non-consumable).