Forward Deployed Logisticians Keep USS Freedom in High State of Readiness

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS Freedom (LCS 1), the Navy's first littoral combat ship, arrived at Singapore's Changi Naval Base April 18 and was met by Sailors and civilians assigned to NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka, Site Singapore delivering support.

To keep Freedom's warfighters operating forward NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka provides the 24/7 logistics support to operate at the tip of the spear.

"The reality of today's operating environment, coupled with the challenges of an ever-changing and dynamic world, demands a ship with flexibility and the LCS provides that," said Capt. Marty Fields, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Commanding Officer. "Together, the men and women of NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka deliver the flexible supply chain solutions to keep LCS and our forward deployed forces in the fight."

"Our Logistics Support Representatives (LSRs) have been extremely effective in providing boots-on-ground support to the Logistics Support Team (LST) from tracking down and receiving critical parts to coordinating deliveries of provisions, stores, mail and fuel," said Fred Beredo, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Logistics Support Manager. "The LSR is essentially an extension of the ship's supply department, which in the case of LCS, is the LST."

This single touch point at the port is critical and a welcome sight to the crew in coordinating supplies and services, not just for LCS but for every ship NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka supports, said Beredo.

With a responsibility to serve all ships operating in the more than 51 million square miles of the Pacific and Indian Oceans NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka personnel listen to their customers needs and determine innovative logistics solutions to get the job done.

"Shore support and communication is the key to successful operations throughout the foreign shores of the Pacific," said Cmdr. Jerry King, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, Site Singapore Director. "Close coordination will continue to be critical."

Increased reliance on shore commands due to minimal ship resources place more requirements on overseas offices, said King, adding that new contracts and blanket purchasing agreements have been set up for the unique requirements of LCS and for quick turnaround times.

"Fast, efficient and comprehensive support in logistics and contracting continues to be challenging but very successful," said King. "By ensuring our shore infrastructure is resourced properly we will maintain long term success of multiple LCS platforms abroad."

This success came with a ramp up in capability that set the stage for superior support.

"In Singapore, our teams have expanded the product and service capabilities and capacity for warehousing, material support, HAZMAT, Global Logistics Support via LSRs and contracting," said Cmdr. Mark Sheffield, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Operations Director, adding that a Consolidated Hazardous Material Reutilization and Inventory Management Program (CHRIMP) was put in place so that site LSRs can manage shoreside hazardous materials support as well as the onboard ready use inventory.

This high level of shore based capability did not materialize overnight.

"For over a year, in anticipation of Freedom's arrival, our teams in Yokosuka and Singapore conducted a continual planning analysis to ascertain both the known and unknown of the very specific support requirements that are needed by the Navy's newest minimally manned platform," said Sheffield.

Prior to reaching Singapore, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, Site Marianas personnel began assisting Freedom late last month when the ship pulled into U.S. Naval Base Guam where fuel was transferred aboard, pallets of provisions stored, maintenance parts delivered and Sailor's mail from home distributed.

"LSR Jesse Sablan was able to coordinate pier side services with Base Port Operations, arrange for commercial laundry services of ship's linen, deliver cell phones, leased vehicles, mail and coordinate stevedore services for 14 pallets of provisions," said Beredo "All this within the first few hours of pulling in."

After leaving Guam, Freedom steamed to Manila in the Republic of the Philippines arriving Apr. 9, where NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, Site Manila personnel guaranteed all port services were rendered to Freedom from potable water to service parts delivery.

"LSR Ramon Malate was able to negotiate and adjust fuel quantity with the commercial fuel vendor upon receiving the request from the ship to reduce the amount of fuel initially ordered, thereby mitigating backhaul charges," said Beredo. "The LSRs capability and flexibility has been a key factor in successfully meeting Freedom's port visit requirements."

Along with the various port visits, Freedom will conduct maritime security operations and take part in a number of joint training exercises.

The ship is expected to participate in the upcoming International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) in Singapore and in select phases of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series in Southeast Asia.

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, one of seven 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 around the clock 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.

NAVSUP GLS comprises more than 5,700 military and civilian logistics professionals, contractors and foreign nationals operating as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from 110 locations worldwide.

A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., NAVSUP GLS is part of a worldwide logistics network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsup/.