Logisticians Provide Boots-on-Ground Support for Talisman Sabre 2015

By Sky M. Laron, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Director of Corporate Communications

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka logistics support representatives (LSRs) are providing boots-on-ground support for Talisman Sabre 2015 in various locations throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region July 4-19.

Talisman Sabre is a biennial land, sea and air military training exercise between U.S. and Australian forces that features more than 33,000 personnel, 21 ships, 200 aircraft and three submarines, the exercise provides an invaluable opportunity to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries' ability to plan and execute a full range of operations from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts.

"Fleet support at its best," said Fred Beredo, Logistics Support Manager, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka. "Our team continues to stay engaged and remain relevant in delivering logistics capability to the warfighter."

Providing critical logistics and sustainment support pierside, shipboard and on the beachhead is something these supply-rated Sailors and Marines know quite a bit about and with 34 port visits slated within a 40-day span, during this exercise alone, these sustainment experts are pushing the needed food, fuel, mail, material and parts the last tactical mile into the hands of the U.S. and coalition forces who need it.

"The team has concurrently escorted and arranged billeting, chow and transport for inbound and outbound passengers, as well as coordinated material handling equipment and truck support," said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Roy Crockett, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, logistics support officer and Marine Liaison Detachment officer-in-charge (OIC). "Serving as the expediting hub for critical material stuck in customs, the team was also able to retrieve and quickly forward critical items to Navy and Marine Corps units as well as receive, store and transfer both registered and regular mail."

Regardless of the uniform or branch of service or whether the exercise participant was from the U.S., Australia or another participating nation like Japan or New Zealand, the service provided by the NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka LSRs was seamless.

Whether it's running along the pier ensuring freight and equipment gets to its desired destination or manning the phones to ensure contractors are able to deliver desired services for their ship customer, the LSR is everywhere the fleet needs to be, ensuring maximum support.

"This has been a great opportunity to collaborate with the Australian and New Zealand Defense Forces and attain a broader perspective of combined logistics efforts," said Crockett. "I believe the mission was accomplished and all FLC Yokosuka Marines and Sailors participating have represented well."

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), is the Western Pacific region's largest U.S. Navy logistics command, headquartered just 26 miles due south of Tokyo, the enterprise networks more than 20 sites and fuel terminals from Misawa, Japan, to Sydney, Australia; Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to Guam with a mission to serve the Asia Pacific Region's forward deployed maritime warfighter with 24/7 operational logistics support integrating an extensive service provider network to deliver fuel, material, mail and supply chain services across the U.S. Navy's largest geographical area of responsibility.