Month: July 2022

Source: United States Navy

Two Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) supply experts are assisting Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and other partner agencies in refurbishing a ship for a sale to Bahrain.

“We were asked to assist because we are the logistics experts. We have the knowledge, training and expertise to procure and acquire the necessary parts and materials,” said Lee Joines, NAVSUP WSS foreign military sales branch supervisor.

After the action was approved by Congress, the ship, formally known as the Oliver Hazard Perry Class Ship, USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) was sent to a shipyard in Charleston to begin its refurbishment. A multiagency multinational team of professionals is working hard to ensure mechanical and electrical systems are in working order, according to Joines.

Kristen Marshall, a two-year NAVSUP WSS outfitting specialist, is on-site in South Carolina helping to get the ship ready. “It’s going really well,” she said. “We work closely with contractors and Bahraini sailors. They provide us with the requests and lists of items needed, and we get it for them.”

Team members provide logistical support by utilizing the Navy Supply system to fill requirements. They use the government purchase cards for urgent requests and non-standard items that are not available in the supply system, according to Joines.

Her partner on-site, a six-year NAVSUP WSS logistician and retired Army Veteran, Jimmy Blocker, describes their typical day. “We’re researching parts. We’re on the phone and internet finding the best prices and best availability. We’re going to stores to get off-the-shelf purchases and getting them right to where they need to be-at the shipyard.”

Both employees have been in South Carolina for several months and volunteered for the mission. “It’s an adventure doing something we’ve not done before,” said Marshall. “It’s a good experience,” added Blocker. “You get to accomplish different things and participate in a team.”

The team members have advice for those interesting in taking part in missions like these. “Be able to adapt to different things and a different environment. We are with good people who want to accomplish the mission,” said Blocker. “The Navy takes care of us,” said Marshall. “We are always able to reach back to Mechanicsburg for support.”

“I’m very proud of the team members,” said Joines. “They volunteered during a pandemic.”

NAVSUP WSS’s International Program/ Foreign Military Sales (FMS) directorate provides support to more than 80 countries around the world, ensuring foreign mission partners are prepared and equipped to participate in cooperative coalition military actions with U.S. Forces.

NAVSUP WSS is one of eleven commands 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. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsupwss and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.

Source: United States Navy

U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 (NMCB 133) and Tunisian Navy engineers broke ground on the Phoenix Express 2022 (PE22) Engineer Civic Action Project (ENCAP) in Bizerte, Tunisia on June 3, 2022. The combined PE22 military engineer team will construct a new 130 square meter, two-room kindergarten building with a bathroom at the local elementary school in the La Pecherie neighborhood of Bizerte, Tunisia.   

The project is part of the annual Phoenix Express exercise hosted in Tunisia that focuses on improving interoperability and increasing regional stability amongst North Africa nations, and is a testament to the strength of U.S.-Tunisia bilateral cooperation. The PE22 ENCAP is a vital training opportunity for naval engineers to gain expeditionary construction skills in an austere environment. The kindergarten building constructed by the combined military engineer team will also vastly benefit the La Pecherie community in an important location for maritime operations and exercises in the central Mediterranean Sea.

 “This project is a great chance for the Naval Construction Force to build relationships, maintain interoperability with Tunisian Navy engineers, and practice our construction skills,” Lt. j.g. Ramses Carranza, officer-in-charge and project manager for the Engineer Civic Action Project. “And in the end, it leaves a tangible safe structure for the local children and the community overall, being able to help others and increase the quality of life of the children is the most rewarding aspect of this project.”

The two-room classroom building with two bathrooms will be constructed at the Bizerte elementary school compound. This new building will expand the currently available space for teachers and children, and can accommodate about 30-40 kindergarten students. Adding early-education facilities is a major need and priority for Tunisia. The team is expected to complete the project in mid-July.

“Helping this community, while we build our technical engineering skills is win-win,” This community is very close to the port and Navy base here in Bizerte” said Senior Chief Constructionman Enrique Molina, Engineer Exercise Planner, Naval Forces Africa. “Working side-by-side with our partners in Tunisia enhances our ability to work together, we learn from each other while strengthening our relationship with our partners and the community.”

The skills attained by the team of U.S. and Tunisian engineers during this project include construction planning and management, embarkation to an austere location, disaster response, and vertical construction to include over-head concrete pours and small unit tactics and leadership. Although this project is construction of a kindergarten building, the work and skills attained by the team, are the same as those needed for military engineers in a crisis.

NMCB 133 is an East Coast battalion from Gulfport, Mississippi currently forward deployed across four geographic areas of operation, based in Rota, Spain under Commander, Task Force 68 (CTF-68) Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. The battalion is based there to provide an adaptive and scalable Naval Construction Force ready and capable of executing quality construction in combat or in support of civic action, humanitarian assistance, or disaster recovery.

CTF-68 commands all Naval Expeditionary Forces in U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility in direct support of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF), and Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet Maritime and Theater Security Cooperation Strategies and Maritime Support Plans.

PE22 is one of three NAVEUR-NAVAF-facilitated regional exercises as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities amongst African forces and international partners that addresses maritime security concerns.

For over 80 years, NAVEUR-NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with our Allies and Partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and USAFRICOM areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.  

Source: United States Navy

“We enjoyed the opportunity to present our submarine tender’s expeditionary capabilities and reinforce our strong relationship with the Republic of Singapore Navy,” said Capt. John Frye, Frank Cable’s commanding officer. “And it was an honor to host some of the Singapore Navy submarine leadership onboard our ship.”

Visiting from several surrounding commands, the Singapore sailors toured sections of the ship highlighting Frank Cable’s expeditionary repair, rearm, and resupply mission. U.S. Navy Sailors explained each section, from the machine shop, where Sailors can fabricate machinery parts such as small nuts and bolts to the motor rewind shop where electrical motors are repaired and placed back into operation.

Sailors also highlighted Frank Cable’s supply and weapons departments to the visiting Singaporeans, showcasing the importance of the ability to resupply not only submarines, but surface vessels as well, all while helping keep morale high with mail and goods at the ship’s store. While touring the weapons department, visitors were treated to a demonstration of the firearms training simulator, known as FATS. FATS prepares Sailors on weapons handling and safety prior to live fire exercises at gun ranges.

The visiting sailors also toured Frank Cable’s medical and dental facilities, where ailments ranging from the common cold to COVID-19 are treated, and more complex treatments such as x-rays and dental crowns are completed.

Frank Cable, forward-deployed to the island of Guam, repairs, rearms, and re-provisions submarines and surface vessels in the Indo-Pacific region. Frank Cable is on patrol conducting expeditionary maintenance and logistics in support of national security in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

For more information about Frank Cable visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/FrankCableAS40.