Throughout October, reservists from Navy Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB) 8 completed turnover at Navy Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Bahrain's fuel farm.

The former team consisted of aviation boatswain's mate - fuels (ABF) reservists, led by an active duty warrant officer. A 13-personnel team from NCHB 8, part of Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG), have assumed operational control of the fuel farm.

The fuel farm is responsible for storing and managing aviation fuel, and fueling U.S. military aircraft stationed at or transiting through Bahrain. Personnel work in two shifts to provide around-the-clock fuel service to the military warfighters.

The vast array of duties include operating the Navy's only fuel bag farm to receive and issue fuel, driving fuel trucks, fueling and defueling aircraft, maintenance of fuel storage equipment, regular inventory of fuel levels, and quality assurance testing of fuel, as well as extensive training, drills and qualifications.

"We've received an exceptional level of preparation to take on this mission, both through the training we completed back in the U.S., and the quality of the turnover we received from the outgoing team," said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Kuntze, the new fuel operations responsible officer. "We're excited to take on the operation, and look forward to working hard and continuing to provide the highest levels of service to our customers."

The fuel farm team's tour will be seven months long, before being replaced by a new team from NAVELSG.

The extensive, month-long turnover process included training, drills and a shadowing system used to familiarize each of the new personnel with their new responsibilities.

Responsible officer turnover between Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Neck and Kuntze occurred, Oct. 15. The current team of ABF reservists departed Bahrain, Oct. 29.

This is the second significant change in operational oversight for the fuel farm. The operation was transitioned from the U.S. Air Force to ABF reservists in Oct. 2014.

"Working here at the fuel farm has been an extremely rewarding and challenging experience," said Neck, outgoing fuel operations responsible officer. "The expeditionary nature of the operation is like nothing else I've experienced in the Navy. It's been hard work, but it's great to be a part of this important team, and I wish all the best to the NAVELSG personnel as they take over and continue to support the warfighter."

NAVSUP FLC Bahrain has more than 160 military and civilian personnel providing logistics support in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The command is one of eight fleet logistics centers worldwide in the NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS) enterprise. 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.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.