In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka persevered and adapted in its efforts to provide services and supplies to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during its critical in-port and pre-deployment periods.

Preparing Ronald Reagan for deployment is always a highly coordinated effort, but this time the NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka team typically working pre-deployment preparations managed to get the ship ready with the added challenges of wearing face coverings, employing social distancing and working from remote locations, all to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

“This was new to all of us, not just here, but everywhere,” said Angelo Vigil, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka deputy operations director. “However, at the end of the day, the challenges the combined team successfully faced were invisible to our customer as we still did our jobs. This is how it always should be and, professionally, it was very satisfying as we watched Reagan get underway from the pier, ready for sea.”

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka’s Operations Department was at the front lines supporting Ronald Reagan during its in-port period, providing a diverse variety of services from coordinating buses to transport Ronald Reagan personnel, offloading, arranging trash services and even making preparations with Japanese commercial companies after the host nation’s government made emergency declarations in addition to health protection measures in practice onboard Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY).

In addition to preparing for underway, it was a priority to make Ronald Reagan a “clean ship,” and to ensure all personnel were free of COVID-19 prior to deployment. To do this, the crew were separated in waves for 14 days at a time. NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka’s Operations Department arranged buses to transport portions of the crew from CFAY to nearby Naval Air Facility Atsugi (NAFA), providing them with three meals a day and returning them back to the ship once the 14 days elapsed. From there a no-contact bubble on the pier was implemented, preventing NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka personnel from getting close to cleared crew members. This presented a challenge for everything, from off-loading trash to cargo deliveries. To accomplish this, the Operations Department arranged for trash to be craned away onto a barge to prevent any contact and deliveries would be conducted with personnel on standby to begin their 14-day separation period at NAFA. This ensured services and support would continue while a no-contact bubble would remain in effect.

The constant relocation of key Ronald Reagan personnel meant both sides had to exemplify leadership and creative thinking to meet a common goal— get Ronald Regan out to sea as planned. The Logistics Support Representatives, the backbone of NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka’s Operations Department, took on the “flexibility is key” attitude in dealing with unforeseen conditions.

Not to be outdone, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka’s Regional Services Department provided numerous offload services consisting of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and repair parts. The Consolidated Hazardous Reutilization and Inventory Management Program (CHRIMP) technicians continued all required screening of any HAZMAT and hazardous waste offloads for Ronald Reagan and continued operations despite having half personnel working remotely to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Despite these challenging conditions, CHRIMP technicians with the support of personnel at the HAZMAT center managed to support all HAZMAT requirements and overcame barriers by conducting communications via email.   

The day Ronald Reagan returned to sea, a large portion of NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka’s personnel were still working from home, but the news still served as a morale-booster in a time of adversity and also reinforced the idea the fight with COVID-19 continues.

“All it takes is a brief examination of the facts and the importance of our mission quickly begins to set in,” said Capt. Frank Nevarez, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka commanding officer. “This is our Navy’s only aircraft carrier homeported overseas. Our nation, in addition to our host nation, depends on Ronald Reagan to support the peace and stability of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Our team is mindful of that here. That means nothing will get between us and our mission.”

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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