Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville enters a new realm of supply support with the arrival of the littoral combat ship USS Independence (LCS 2) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida.

USS Independence is the tri-hull variant of the littoral combat ship (LCS) and will be conducting an extensive Mine Countermeasure Mission Module (MCM MP) Initial Operation Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) in the coming months off the shores of Pensacola and Panama City.

The MCM MP IOT&E is a major milestone in the LCS program, and NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville is proactively engaged to provide pierside and deployment support for emergent logistics requirements.

Designed to be a minimally manned operation, the LCS shipboard supply department has to rely heavily on both distance and pierside support. The LCS Logistics Support Team (LST) San Diego provides requisitioning, financial, and administrative support, while NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville Detachment (Det) Pensacola will provide for needs in the immediate area of operation. Due to the infrastructural difference between a Naval Air Station and a Naval Station, innovative solutions have been and continue to be created by FLCJ Pensacola to bridge gaps for the unique support needs of a ship.

A primary function of NAVSUP FLC Det. Pensacola is to ensure high priority parts make it to the Independence as quickly as possible. CASREPs are airlifted via helicopter, a 2 1/2 hour trip from Pensacola and when in port, parts and mail are delivered by the NAVUP FLC Det. Pensacola team on-site. "Whether it is last tactical mile logistics support, assisting with ship's periodic inventories, DLR retrograde processing to ATAC node NAS Jacksonville, or picking up items from out of town, the entire FLCJ Pensacola team stands at the ready to ensure mission success," reports Lt. Scott Vanarsdel, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville deployment support officer.

Supporting the USS Independence deployment provides first-hand exposure to the LCS Logistics Concept of Support. Through this exposure, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville can use lessons learned to better prepare for the arrival of the Freedom class variant LCSs, scheduled to be homeported at Naval Station Mayport beginning in 2016.

NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other Joint and Allied Forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS is comprised of more than 6,600 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 110 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.

NAVSUP GLS is part of NAVSUP's worldwide logistics network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing "One-Touch Supply."

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