USS Makin Island (LHD 8) successfully completed Supply Management Certification May 12.

Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific and Afloat Training Group conduct SMC once per training cycle in order to grade a ship's supply operations -- which include logistics, fiscal accountability, postal, store operations, messing, hazardous materials, barber and laundry facilities.

"Supply Department is vital to the command's ability to carry out the mission by making sure the ship and crew have everything needed to operate effectively," said Supply Department Head Cmdr. Blake Kent, from Fort Worth, Texas.

"We spent months preparing for this inspection after completing a seven-month maintenance period," said Kent, "and our Sailors have done an amazing job ensuring our readiness from the top down."

"The inspection takes place to ensure that we can effectively support the command by performing our primary mission," said Kent. "The successful completion of SMC is a testament to our ability to support the ship, the Sailors and the mission, and it reflects the hard work and preparation of the supply department Sailors."

Supply Department leadership credited the success of SMC to the consistent standard of excellence Makin Island Sailors maintain year-round.

"We maintain a very high standard at all times, and that set us up for success for SMC," said Chief Logistics Specialist Mario Orellana, from Los Angeles.

"It takes a full team effort to prepare for an inspection of this magnitude," said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Danni Li, from Queens, New York. "We invested a lot of time and energy, and I'm glad we did so well."

Makin Island's successful SMC completion brings the ship and crew another critical step closer to attaining full mission readiness in time for a scheduled deployment this fall.

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