Supplying the operating forces

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, Nov-Dec, 2002

The Naval Supply Systems Command provides timely delivery of quality supplies and services to keep our naval, joint, and allied forces combat capable and mission ready. With the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, NAVSUP's ability to successfully engage the entire supply chain to support Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle was put to the test. From breaking down transportation barriers to providing enhanced pier side security, every element of the supply chain was stressed. The following examples are but a sampling of how the supply system responded to the increased operations tempo brought on by the events of Sept. 11.

NAVSUP Headquarters immediately established a command action center to provide 24-hours-a-day/7-days-a-week-oversight and coordination of enterprisewide support. Establishing connectivity with Navy and joint theater commanders situational awareness has been maintained and response directed as required to ensure NAVSUP resources were being applied to support the readiness and sustainment of our operating forces.

The Navy Food Management Team Norfolk, under SUP 05 direction, mobilized to USNS Comfort (TAH 20) to support reactivation of afloat food service operations. Comfort was deployed to New York City in support of recovery operations under Operation Restore Hope.

The Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers around the world worked to support our operating force as the Navy geared up to deploy for OEF. FISCs maximized the level of supply readiness of forward deployed naval forces and shore commands by stepping up the operations tempo at each site.

The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon caused all military activities to tighten security and force protection measures. This created special challenges for FISCs that were responsible for getting deliveries to customers. Deliveries from commercial carriers had to be searched and in some instances trucks could not get onto bases or into areas where they typically made deliveries. FISCs worked to find ways to keep supplies moving to their final destinations. This meant long hours and doubling up of duties for many people but the job got done. Despite a significant surge in workload compounded by increased force protection requirements, the FISCs responded magnificently.

At FISC Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, there were occasions after 9/11 when the supply center's piers bustled with a level of activity not seen since World War II. For vessels departing from the West Coast, FISC Pearl often represented the last patch of American soil on their long 10,000-mile voyages to the Arabian Gulf. FISC Pearl never slowed down as it scurried to support the needs of units bound for harm's way or of those returning home from the front.

Since Sept. 11, FISC Pearl has provided logistics support to three carrier battle groups--USS John C. Stennis, USS Carl Vinson, and USS Abraham Lincoln, and three amphibious ready groups--USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Peleliu, and USS Belleau Wood. Altogether, FISC Pearl has provided more than 4,000 pallets of subsistence, general stores, and mail to the transiting vessels, and most of the loadouts have been carried out within one or two days.

One month after the attack, FISC Pearl launched its Subsistence On-Load program, which freed Sailors from the time consuming task of "box kicking" and gave them more time to focus on critical tasks that would enhance their ships' combat capabilities. That initiative was followed a month later by the Defense Depot Pearl Harbor/FISC Pearl kickoff of the Material Processing Center, another venture designed to transfer more of a ship's workload ashore.

Recognizing the urgent need for aviation fuel, the FISC Pearl Fuel Department accelerated the opening of a new JP8 pipeline to Hickam AFB. Fuel issues to Hickam increased by 30 percent, and much of this was used in the many aerial refuelings that were conducted in support of OEF.

Despite the urgencies of war, FISC Pearl never lost sight of the human side of the equation. On one occasion, FISC delivered thousands of birthday cards to Sailors bound for the Gulf; and, in May, FISC coordinated the delivery of 12,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to a flotilla of ships participating in OEF.

FISC San Diego employees have dedicated their efforts to expediting, ordering, receiving, delivering, researching parts, and more to make it possible for ships to meet accelerated deployment dates. Almost 5,000 line items have been delivered to the fleet since 9/11 and 25 kits (containing 580 line items each) have been on loaded and offloaded to get ships ready for deployment.

Fuel Management provided nearly 440 million gallons of fuel in 1,458 fueling operations between Sept. 11, 2001, and May 31, 2002.

The Logistics Support Center completed more than 3,000 taskings for ships deployed or preparing to deploy for OEF and set up Tiger cruises for the returning ships.

The FISC Repairables Branch, in partnership with Naval Air Depot North Island's Components Strategic Business Team, has provided support to Noble Eagle and OEF by setting a grueling pace and posting record component production. The team jumped into action to support the critical component priority requirements for NAVICP in support of operating force requirements. The depot team processed 8,963 priority requirements for Navy operating forces and 1,639 repairs for Air Force and Army Special Forces.