Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Sigonella's Expeditionary Contracting Support (ECS) Branch is providing contract support for Exercise Cutlass Express 2016, Jan. 30 to Feb. 6.

Exercise Cutlass Express, a maritime exercise involving several participating nations, takes place in the Western Indian Ocean and focuses on cooperation and teamwork.

The NAVSUP Sigonella ECS Branch awarded the contract for fuel and oil for maritime crafts that will be used during the exercise.

"Locating local fuel vendors in this area of responsibility can be very challenging," said ECS Division Director Keely Pool. "However, this exercise provided us the opportunity to demonstrate our increasing ability to provide effective expeditionary and exercise procurement support to U.S. forces to allow them to meet their obligations under the exercise."

NAVSUP FLC Sigonella Site Djibouti established direct communications with supply officers participating in the exercise to ensure support is provided as needed during the exercise.

Exercise Cutlass Express is centered around partner nations working together and doing more together than they ever could on their own. Its principle goal is to build and maintain the capability to protect the free flow of trade by countering maritime illicit activity. Vessel queries and ship boardings, airborne maritime patrol operations, and search and rescue drills are just a few things on the agenda for this year.

Participating nations include Australia, Canada, Comoros, Djibouti, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as representatives from the Eastern Africa Standby Force, EU Naval Force, International Maritime Organization (IMO), and Combined Task Force 150.

Exercise Cutlass Express, in its fifth year, is one of four Africa-focused regional "Express" series exercises facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet. It takes the lessons learned from past exercises and expands on them.

The exercise will last eight days and will include an in-port preparatory phase and three days of at-sea scenarios meant to test and provide feedback. The exercise is part of a comprehensive strategy of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet and U.S. Africa Command to enable African partners to address maritime security concerns.

NAVSUP FLC Sigonella, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides global logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army 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 provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,500 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 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.

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