JULY 28, 2016, SAN DIEGO (NNS) – Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support (NAVSUP GLS) completed the deployment of a five-person Enterprise Logistics Response Team (ELRT) July 22 during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016, the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
The five-person team, comprising Sailors from NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolk and FLC Jacksonville, Florida, deployed downrange to augment FLC Pearl Harbor. Coordination of the Sailors’ participation was facilitated from NAVSUP GLS headquarters in San Diego.
At the January request of both U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets, the deployment acted as a test bed for a larger, more comprehensive deployment scheduled for next year in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
“This successful mobilization and execution of the first NAVSUP GLS ELRT is the culmination of nearly a year’s worth of effort in the operationalization of the NAVSUP GLS Enterprise,” said Mr. Bonifacio Cabling, NAVSUP GLS Code 43 logistics operations department head. “FLC Pearl Harbor, FLC Norfolk and FLC Jacksonville’s participation in exercising the ELRT was our first attempt at a good response to [NAVSUP GLS commander] Rear Adm. McNeal, the chief, and the fleets.”
Eight FLCs around the world are aligned as the face of the NAVSUP GLS Enterprise to support one or more “supported Navy commanders” in accomplishing their missions by providing logistics products and services in both established and expeditionary locations. Besides Norfolk, Jacksonville and Pearl Harbor, the remaining FLCs are based in San Diego; Yokosuka, Japan; Bremerton (Puget Sound), Washington; Sigonella, Sicily; and Manama, Bahrain.
When the supported commander’s logistics requirements exceed the normal capabilities of an individual FLC, the ELRT is the enterprise tool NAVSUP GLS and the FLCs use to respond to and sustain operations. Hence, the NAVSUP GLS ELRT enables the surge of supply and logistics personnel and capabilities from one or more FLCs, to the others.
A contingency — such as a foreign humanitarian assistance event, a defense support of civil authorities event, or a combat operation — stresses operational commanders and those that support them as no exercise or “normal” operation can. Therefore, the NAVSUP Contingency Response Plan was written in 2009 and updated in 2015 to govern NAVSUP’s response to these scenarios, which includes deployment of the ELRT.
“The NAVSUP GLS Code 43 team has been working directly with the fleets and the FLCs, refining the processes and procedures to meet Rear Adm. McNeal’s requirement and [NAVSUP Commander] Rear Adm. Yuen’s intent in answering the question, ‘Can we fight?'” said Bonifacio.
The ELRT is one of the key capabilities that operationalize the Contingency Response Plan. Elements of an ELRT are tailorable, but may include provisions ordering, mail handling and routing, cargo handling and routing, logistics support representative (LSR) capability, contracting, purchasing, and hazardous material handling and ordering.
The supported NAVSUP command determines what the composition of the ELRT should be and requests support from NAVSUP GLS, which then sources the ELRT from as many FLCs that are required to support the requirement.
The RIMPAC 2016 deployment was particularly focused on the operation of Automated Manifest System-Tactical (AMS TAC), the supply shipping manifest and database management system. In a crisis, commanders need to know where all their “stuff” is located, without a great deal of manual labor or intensive searching for specific items. Items of crucial interest will expand beyond repair parts, to such things as bottled water, MREs (meals, ready-to-eat), pumps, tents, cots, water purification tablets, or water bladders, to name a few.
With a successful ELRT deployment supporting RIMPAC 2016 under its belt, NAVSUP GLS is well postured to support future deployments from around the world.
NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of approximately 6,300 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.