Wave after wave crashes on the forecastle of the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) as it steers parallel to the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO-188) during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS). All around the destroyer, you can see Sailors hustling and bustling on three different stations, the forward and aft stations allocated for fuel and the amidships station swinging pallets full of food, supplies and mail to and from the ships.

Even though fuel is important to a ship, most of Mason's Sailors were more concerned about the work being done amidships where three months' worth of mail and packages was piled up and was slowly being ushered within the skin of the ship.

"Mail is important because it brings up the morale," said Petty Officer 2ndClass (SW/AW) Kathryn Sinon, of Philadelphia, Mason's postal clerk. "A lot of Sailors' friends and families back home ship goodies, snacks, fun games or something to keep them going."

Sinon explained that Sailors can also order things online that they are "unable to get from the ship's store."

"A dynamic schedule over the months of October and November caused significant delays in us receiving mail," said Cmdr. Christopher J. Gilbertson, Mason's commanding officer. "Our mail, parts, and even our Thanksgiving meal was shifted all over the operating area trying to catch up with us. Because of our ability to execute so many missions, our tasking crossed multiple fleets and thousands of miles. Our crew and families were very patient, and our supply team and the logistics teams of both 5th and 6th fleets worked exceptionally hard to get our cargo to us as soon as possible."

When the food, supplies and mail finally came through via Joshua Humphreys, it manifested itself during a 160 pallet RAS. Mason and Joshua Humphreys were connected together for approximately 12 hours with a 3 hour break in the middle for Mason to switch onto the other side of Joshua Humphreys.

"My role is to keep the crew as updated as I can," commented Sinon. "I try to find out what's going on, and I try to keep track of where our mail is and how many pounds of it we have. I try to keep a logistic schedule of our replenishments-at-sea and which ship we are doing it with."

The Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP), headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., employs a diverse and worldwide workforce that oversees logistics programs, which includes food and postal services.

"We have personnel all over the world," said Sinon. "During this deployment, I've reached out to people in Sigonella, Bahrain, Djibouti and Souda Bay."

Every year, NAVSUP announces guidelines and dates for the incoming holiday season.

"The best thing to know is what you can and cannot mail," explained Sinon. "If you mail something such as batteries or certain liquids, they will be confiscated and your Sailor may not get his or her package. If you are going to send liquids such as shampoo, lotions or conditioners, we recommend that you tape the top close and place them in a bag. Mail gets tossed around and it would be safer for your package and those around it as well."

Sinon continued to explain that one of the biggest misconceptions about the postal service is that Sailors will never get their mail. She said that Sailors sometimes believe "the post office never opens and their mail will be held onto forever."

She explained that the postal service is only successful because of the crew.

"The crew plays a huge part in getting mail onto the ship," said Sinon. "Every RAS we have an all hands evolution to bring the mail down, and then the mail orderlies come through and help organize it. Supply scans it to make sure we properly distribute it
to the Sailors. We sort it out by department, then the mail orderlies can sign for it."

Sinon explains that there are many ways to get involved in supply, especially with the postal service. She explained that one way is to become a dedicated mail orderly.

"Mail orderlies sign for the mail," explained Sinon."They organize and distribute it. They are the only ones authorized to pick up the mail. Once they sign for it and organize it, they are allowed to grab the rest of their divisions' to help distribute. They are vital in making sure that nothing gets lost and everything ends up where it is supposed to go."

When asked what Sailors should do if they have any concerns about packages and mail, Sinon said, "If you have questions, just ask. Send your postal clerks an email or personally find them. We'll get you sorted out!"

Mason, deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, is deployed to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

Along with Mason, Ike CSG includes the CSG 10 staff, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, the squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, the guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and the DESRON 26 ships: guided-missile destroyers USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

Find more news from USS Mason (DDG 87) at http://www.navy.mil/local/ddg87 and Mason's Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MASONDDG87/.

Find more news from Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) at http://www.navy.mil/local/navsup.


For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit http://www.navy.mil/.