San Diego Team Feeds 'Three Presidents Crew' During Historic 3-Carrier Swap

By Candice Villarreal, NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center San Diego Corporate Communications

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) San Diego is hard at work providing nourishment for thousands of Sailors this September as it supports the ongoing "3-Carrier Swap" evolution from its headquarters in San Diego.

The command's Subsistence Prime Vendor team, charged with procuring the food that sustains afloat Navy units in the region, is playing a pivotal role in feeding the nearly 9,000 Sailors assigned to the aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as they make their way through the unprecedented swap. An estimated 1,200 of those crew members will have served aboard all three aircraft carriers as part of the evolution and have been dubbed the "Three Presidents Crew."

"This is the most food we've ever procured at one time and in such a short period," said Monet Bernhardt, prime vendor supervisor. "It's a lot of communication, coordination and busy days, but in this line of work you have to do whatever it takes to get those ships underway."

To date, the San Diego SPV team has processed thousands of line item orders totaling more than $10.5 million in subsistence for the swap, with that number set to increase significantly before the evolution is complete. To put that figure into perspective, a total of more than 200,000 cases of chill, dry and frozen provisions, 23,440 cases of fresh fruits and vegetables and 5,496 gallons of fresh milk were loaded onto Ronald Reagan and George Washington to ready them for sea.

The benefits of the SPV team's support don't stop when the ships set sail. In addition to the pierside load-outs, the command also processed separate container orders for George Washington, ensuring another million dollars' worth of food will be pre-staged and ready for the ship as it arrives in ports along its South American route.

"That's the beauty of logistics," said Commanding Officer Capt. John Palmer. "It is a strategic art to be able to execute vital support for any operation, anywhere around the globe, and at any time. It's what keeps the ships steaming and enables the warfighters to take the fight to the enemy, where it belongs."

Ronald Reagan departed San Diego Aug. 31 to relieve George Washington as the Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan, following a 10-day hull swap. Later this month, George Washington will also depart San Diego to make its way around South America to its destination in Newport News, Virginia, where it will begin its mid-life refueling complex overhaul.

Theodore Roosevelt, currently in the midst of a scheduled deployment, set sail from Norfolk, Virginia, in March and will take Ronald Reagan's place on the west coast upon its return. The SPV team will begin supporting Theodore Roosevelt's requirements as the flattop enters the command's area of responsibility later in its deployment. Those efforts will serve as the command's last leg of support in completing its final phase of the 3-carrier evolution.

"Historically, this is unprecedented," said Michael Novak, subsistence prime vendor operator. "Just because we've got a high-tempo evolution to support doesn't mean the rest of our support to the fleet stops. Playing a part in such a big logistical puzzle is really meaningful work."

Because the SPV team supports all vessels in their area of responsibility, the colossal support required for the carrier swap is in addition to their ongoing subsistence procurement for other ships in their area of operations.

"Our job is to send the Sailors to sea with all of the food and nutrition they need to sustain them as they go out and complete their missions," said Novak. "I think I speak for the whole team when I say we are very proud when we see our happy customers operating forward."

NAVSUP FLC San Diego, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides global logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and allied forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,500 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

NAVSUP FLC Sigonella Opens Portable Fuel Testing Laboratory at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti

By Shannon Haney, NAVSUP FLC Sigonella

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Sigonella opened a portable fuel testing laboratory at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, in August to ensure quality assurance of fuel and support the command's transition to an enduring base.

The new fuel testing laboratory will enable U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) aircraft to continue to safely operate in the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) areas of responsibility (AORs) from the strategically located camp.

In October of 2014, Camp Lemonnier began the transition from an expeditionary site to an 'enduring' base. This reclassification of the camp to a more long-term facility changed the criteria for fuel testing at the camp. Additionally, the existing laboratory no longer met the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) manual requirements and camp fire and safety personnel deemed it unsafe for use due to possible health risks to lab personnel.

Since the announcement of reclassification to an enduring base, the camp was able to use laboratory services from a nearby refinery to test fuel as a short term solution.

NAVSUP FLC Sigonella, with the help of their Service Control Point, NAVSUP-Energy, identified a usable portable fuel testing laboratory in Okinawa, Japan, that would provide them with the organic asset they needed.

The laboratory was airlifted from Okinawa and arrived at Camp Lemonnier on July 11. Upon arrival, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) personnel in Djibouti worked tirelessly to hook up power and get the facility up and running.

The portable fuel testing laboratory was pronounced fully operational on Aug. 21. Camp personnel are now testing fuel on a daily basis, issuing quality fuel, and ensuring safety for flight for all its customers.

A long term solution, pending construction completion of new fuel facility through Military Construction (MILCON) is expected to be completed in 2019. This new facility is necessary in order to maintain the organic capability to test fuel on site. Until then, Camp Lemonnier personnel will use the portable fuel testing laboratory.

Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti is a strategic hub to protect U.S.' interests within the AFRICOM and CENTCOM AORs and is a primary stop to fuel transient U.S. and NATO aircraft. The camp issues more than thirteen million U.S. gallons of Jet A-1 fuel in support of more than 10,000 missions per year. Fuel operations at Camp Lemonnier are currently executed under the camp's Base Operating Support contract and managed by a Navy Supply Corps officer.

NAVSUP FLC Sigonella, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides global logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and allied forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,500 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

NAVSUP GLS Commander Visits Sailors of NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound

By Brian J. Davis, NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound Corporate Communications

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- The Commander of Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Global Logistics Support (GLS) wrapped up a three-day visit with four regional facilities in the Pacific Northwest run by NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Puget Sound July 29.

The purpose of the visit of NAVSUP GLS Commander, Rear Adm. James McNeal was to view NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound operations and see firsthand the diverse scope of activities and services the Sailors, Department of Defense civilians, and contractors provide to operational and shore-based units in the area, and to understand the day-to-day challenges they face.

The admiral met with NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound personnel at four locations; Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bremerton and Bangor, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and Naval Station Everett.

"Providing global logistics to a global Navy is a team sport. The focus of NAVSUP GLS is supporting the fleet logistics centers so you can support the fleet," said McNeal.

Along with touring the various NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound activities and speaking to staff, McNeal met with unit commanders supported by NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound to gain a 'customer's perspective' on the quality of services the command provides to the fleet.

"Your reputation is impeccable," McNeal told a group of FLC Puget Sound Sailors and civilians during an admiral's call at NBK Bremerton. "We want happy customers and your customers are delighted."

During his visit, McNeal also visited Sailors at work in a flight line "hot pit" aircraft refueling station and an EA-18G "Growler" simulator at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, a Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC) missile assembly facility at NBK Bangor, and went aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) in Everett.

NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP GLS, provides operational logistics, business and support services to Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other Joint and Allied Forces. Products and services include contracting, fuels, global logistics, hazardous material management, household goods, integrated logistics support, material management, postal, regional transportation and warehousing.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,500 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.