Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka (FLCY) participated in Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) 2019, a complex naval exercise providing dedicated port and at sea training for surface ships.

During the exercise, the U.S. Navy conducted a variety of surface combatant evolutions from March 5-23 in the vicinity of the Marianas Islands. It included two in port periods as well as complex live-fire scenarios, such as missile, torpedo and gunnery exercises. Elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit also participated and conducted land based training in multiple locations.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Foursha, director NAVSUP FLCY Site Marianas, the exercise demonstrated the importance of logistics support in austere locations. He said the FLCY team coordinated logistics support for multiple port visits and countless onloads and offloads of high priority material, mail and depot level repairable parts in the weeks before and after the exercise.

“The logistic requirements associated with supporting an important exercise such as SWATT provides us with an opportunity to refine our processes and identify areas for improvement,” said Foursha. “Evolutions of this magnitude better prepare the U.S. Navy to support emergent requirements in a dynamic AOR.”

Occurring simultaneously with the U.S. Air Force Cope North exercise, FLCY Site Marianas personnel and partners worked hand in hand during SWATT to overcome shortfalls and challenges and ensure full support for mission and fleet assets involved in the two major exercises.

Naval Base Guam Executive Officer Cmdr. Jason Wilkerson said the island of Guam became a one-stop shop for everything from provisions and parts to mail and hazardous materials.

"Exercises such as SWATT 2019 continue to reinforce the strategic importance of the Philippine Sea and provide opportunities for advanced tactical training of America's forward deployed naval assets,” Wilkerson said. “We were proud to host the exercise and demonstrate the base's ability to support an increased operational tempo in times of need."

There were 19 participants in the exercise, including USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Green Bay (LPD 20), USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723), USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) and USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE-14). During one of the in port periods, USNS Cesar Chavez, a dry cargo and ammunition ship, was able to demonstrate the ability of T-AKEs to support logistics resupply of ammunition, food, repair parts, stores and small quantities of fuel in difficult and resource constrained locations, such as the Philippine Sea, an area covering over two million square miles and scattered with island arcs.

Slated as an annual exercise, SWATT provides forward deployed naval cruisers, destroyers and ships assigned to the U.S. Seventh Fleet the opportunity to gain tactical proficiency and interoperability. It allows the surface warfighter enterprise to improve warfighting readiness and increase lethality with other naval assets, joint forces, and coalition partners around the globe.

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

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