NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) San Diego completed its Navy Cash re-carding effort aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Nov. 15.

The NAVSUP FLC San Diego Navy Cash team completed the one-year endeavor for the entire west coast after servicing a total of 55 ships in San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and Washington. The three-man squad successfully re-carded a total of 31 guided-missile destroyers, four aircraft carriers, six guided-missile cruisers, and 14 amphibious ships.

“As JPMorgan Chase leaves the program and the Navy Cash transition to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB) and PNC Bank was underway, we had a real need to get rid of the older JPMorgan cards and provide Sailors with newly-branded cards from the new service providers, and we had a deadline of Dec. 31, 2018.” said Andrew Yager, Navy Cash Manager for NAVSUP FLC San Diego. 

Navy Cash cards serve as debit cards, combining chip-based electronic purse and magnetic stripe functionality for a two-pronged solution for crewmembers’ financial needs. While the magnetic strip function allows the cards to be used as debit cards out in town, the chip-based purse replaces physical currency on board, eliminating the need for cash on hand or afloat ATMs. Along with new cards for every Sailor, the transition to FRBB and PNC will also enable access to thousands of additional ATM machines across the globe, where deployed Sailors need them most.

“The process involved stepping foot on all 55 ships, beginning with USS Higgins (DDG 76) and ending with Carl Vinson, conducting briefs, placing card orders, transferring data to the banks and ensuring Sailors had new, working cards in-hand by the end of each ship visit,” said Yager. “We wanted to make the process as painless as possible for these warships and their crews.”

NAVSUP FLC San Diego embarked on the yearlong re-carding to help minimize impact on waterfront disbursing officers, providing program assistance, training and audit readiness support. 

“The Navy Cash program is important to overall warfighter readiness,” said Yager. “With Navy Cash, Sailors have a safe and secure means of having and using funds on board a ship without the risks involved in maintaining large personal cash stores.”

Readiness, a critical dimension of power for the U.S. military, remains in focus for the NAVSUP enterprise. As the Navy adapts to a more complex security environment, the entire enterprise — to include NAVSUP FLC San Diego — is reforming to meet the fleet’s changing needs while driving mission success.

“The Navy Cash program adds a lot of convenience to the everyday life of a shipboard Sailor,” said Yager. “It allows them to focus on doing their jobs without having to worry about how to maintain their money on the open seas as they execute mission requirements.”

Chief Personnel Specialist (SW/AW) Kennedy James agreed, reiterating the importance of a smooth re-carding and transition period for ships and their crews.

“It’s literally one less thing they have to worry about as they deploy forward,” said James. “By providing this level of support for them, now the disbursing officers, the supply departments and the Sailors can focus on promoting global security instead of having to worry about all the work involved in upgrading or improving an advanced cashless system.”

Assisting with the re-carding effort were Naval Supply Systems Command headquarters and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service. Carl Vinson’s re-carding marked the official culmination of a complete fleet re-carding effort between NAVSUP FLC San Diego, NAVSUP FLC Norfolk, and NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka.

“If we can make a Sailor’s life a little easier in any way possible, that’s important to us,” said Chief Personnel Specialist (SW/AW) Rodel Ramos. “It’s all tied into quality of life, and that makes us feel pretty good.”

NAVSUP FLC San Diego is one of eight FLCs under Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command. 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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