As the world focuses on the COVID-19 health crisis, members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are engaged in counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific that have resulted in the largest deployment of assets to South America in over 50 years. Increased participation by DoD forces in these Presidential National Security Objectives was publicly announced on April 1 during a White House briefing; though similar operations have been occurring on a smaller scale for years.

The types of military aircraft and vessels, the nature of operations, and the locations involved mean these missions rely on a complex network of partner nations, U.S. government agencies, and multinational contracted commercial partners. While tactical control of the ships lies with the Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S), operational sustainment of the deployed units is coordinated by the extremely small and tight-knit group of the U.S. Fourth Fleet Logistics Readiness Center (LRC).

The current threat from COVID-19 has rendered many of the ports in partner nations closed to foreign vessels, made travel to the area of operations almost impossible, and rendered commercial support non-existent in many places. 

Developing the new logistics plans and strategies to overcome these limiting factors has been the primary focus of NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville’s Operational Logistics (OPLOG) Planners embedded with U.S. Fourth Fleet, Lt. Cmdr. Ben Hixson and Lt. Andrew Sime. Mission success hinges on their ability to bring together the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Defense Logistics Agency, Military Sealift Command, and Navy Exchange Service Command among many others, to provide essential support services such as husbanding, provisions, parts, maintenance, and repairs.

The primary task of OPLOG planners is to take an operational wish list from commanders and match it with logistics capabilities. They must be able to make rapid assessments and advise senior leaders; but in this fluid COVID-19 affected environment they can’t afford to be limited to what has been done before. Sometimes the job requires delivering news that is less than ideal, while also providing alternatives and solutions.

Hixson stated, “Our ability to respond quickly is largely due to the seamless communication we have been able to sustain between the FLC and Fourth Fleet.” Hixson went on to explain the relationship between the LRC and the FLC, “[The planners] are NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville officers, administratively assigned to Fourth Fleet.  We are operationally accountable to Fourth Fleet, but our chain of command resides at the FLC; that makes us the link between the two organizations. Our communications are incredibly tight.” Hixson continued, “All of the Supply Officers, including the planners, are Battle Watch Captains at Fourth Fleet. As soon as Fourth Fleet knows something, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville knows it and can prepare. The battle rhythm we have established within our team is the glue that holds this together.”

Turning those logistics plans into action requires the additional efforts of Lt. Cmdr. Ben Hodsdon, U.S. Fourth Fleet Supply Officer. “My job is to take the approved logistics plan to my team of military and civilians and make it happen,” said Hodsdon.  When asked how they account for the success they have had so far, Hixson, Sime and Hodsdon pointed to three main factors: communication, strong partnerships, and an innovative approach.

When asked how frequently plans change Sime indicated, “We have had 14 iterations in the past 40 days, so it’s fair to say there is a significant rate of change.” He went on to direct praise toward his FLC colleagues, “The contracting, fuels, and supply management departments at our FLC have been incredible in their responsiveness, even with the current COVID-19 situation here at home.”

Cmdr. Adam Prosser, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville Director of Contracting, credits his team’s ingenuity and flexibility in making the plan a success in such a dynamic environment. “Support of operational Fleet units in this type of landscape doesn’t happen without an amazing group of dedicated contracting professionals.  Heather Elkhay, Lead Contracting Officer, and her team are woven into the fabric that is the LRC-FLC logistics support team and stand ready to support rapid changes.” This type of near real-time agile contracting support is very different from the traditional procurement lead times needed to establish contract support in other parts of the world, but the nature of operating in remote and austere locations demands it.

As a Lieutenant on his second tour, Sime has been singularly tasked with developing the replenishment schedule for ships involved in these operations. One asset whose schedule he has managed highlights the essential contributions of Military Sealift Command. USNS Laramie (T-AO-203), a Combat Logistics Force (CLF) Fleet Replenishment Oiler, supports the current mission by transporting the essential fuel, parts, provisions and stores to the area of operations.

The allocation of a CLF asset has been a game changer in an area that is typically reliant on the Husbanding Service Provider (HSP) program for front line support to deployed units. The issue then became the lack of an established logistics support hub within a 10 day transit of the operating area. With a key connector to the ships at sea, the Fourth Fleet team needed to determine how to strategically resupply the oiler ashore in a partner nation during a pandemic, without being able to put any boots on the ground. With the support of NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville’s Contracting Department, they were able to create a third-party logistics, warehousing, and transshipment hub located directly in the port facility.  

When use of the CLF oiler and a non-traditional logistics hub became the approved course of action, Sime and Hixson turned to MSCLANT Combat Logistics Officer, Cmdr. William Murray, who was able to provide expert guidance on the capabilities of USNS Laramie. This was an easy connection to make as Cmdr. Murray was the relief at MSC for the current NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville Executive Officer, Cmdr. David Glover. Sime said of the situation, “It just goes to show how important relationships are in the Supply Corps. We knew that we didn’t know all the answers, but we immediately knew who to ask.” 

The cooperative logistics relationship between the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy has also reaped many mutual benefits, such as allowing the team to utilize Air Deployment Delivery System (ADDS) Drops to Navy vessels at sea via U.S. Coast Guard air assets. Reciprocally, the Coast Guard has been able to rely on U.S. Navy Underway Replenishment (UNNREP) capabilities to maximize their time on station. This is another relationship made possible through a Supply Corps connection in the form of Lt. Cmdr. DeeAnn Gunnels, stationed in the JIATF-S J4 office.

Sime and Hixson also credit the current partnership between the U.S. and the country of Panama, which plays a major role in enabling these logistics operations to move forward. “Without our enhanced diplomatic relationship with Panama we would have a much bigger challenge in providing support to deployed units. The Security Cooperation and Defense Attaché Offices are essential in navigating the current situation,” said Hixson.

Hixson and Sime also commented on their appreciation for the career civil servants whose decades of experience and depth of knowledge are proving invaluable in facilitating some of the more innovative logistics solutions. “There have been several planning sessions when people were saying something can’t be done and a civilian team member was able to step in and say, ‘yes, we can do that, it was done before several years ago, and here is how,’” said Sime.

It was that type of experience and understanding of policy that allowed Sime to devise a solution for delivering S-3 (ship’s store) material to the ships at sea - something that had not been done before in the AOR. “S-3 is what keeps Sailors going and morale up; it’s things like snacks, socks, toiletries, and other personal items that they can purchase,” said Hixson. “It was Sime who made that happen based on his previous experience, by calling on the right subject matter experts, and working with NEXCOM.”

The mission has also put a heavy strain on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for logistics and maintenance support. Supporting an island base surrounded by an unfriendly foreign government is challenging in the best of times. NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville’s Port Cargo Operations team at Blount Island, led by Mrs. Candace Keller, combined with the base’s Supply Department, led by Lt. Cmdr. Kurt Noack have, according to Hixson, “really flexed in order to support the ships and crews. We couldn’t be successful without them.”

While counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific are ongoing, Sime is slated for a Permanent Change of Station in the coming weeks. When asked what this tour as an OPLOG planner has taught him, Sime said, “I came to NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville and Fourth Fleet for my second tour with very little experience in the planning discipline.  Within a few years I have gained insight into wide ranging products and services such as food, fuels, aviation, armament; and developed experience in diplomacy, sustainment, and execution.”

Sime is encouraging of Supply Corps Officers who are up for the challenge of being an OPLOG Planner, “It is a demanding job and it can be an intimidating role to step into early in your career, but you quickly learn to rely on your team and your training.”

Hodsdon added, “There is no doubt Lt. Sime will be uniquely prepared for his next duty station - when you combine his inherent maturity with the experience he gained here.”

Hixson concurred and added, “Working on the Fourth Fleet team during this time has illustrated not simply what the Navy does, but what we can do when pushed to stretch our capabilities. That will serve all of us well going forward.”

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