“Our function is coordinating the transportation and motion of every little thing from provides and components, to the rest the ship would possibly want,” stated Logistics Specialist 1st Class Sebastian Martin, assigned to the Provide Division of Gerald R. Ford. “Our foremost job is to obtain high-priority supplies and transfer them to the following spot.”
Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s latest and largest plane provider, deployed from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet space of operations, Might 2, 2023. Since arriving in theater, the ship and its related provider strike group have carried out joint and mixed coaching, workout routines, and operations to help maritime stability and safety, and protection of U.S., Allied and Accomplice pursuits.
Remotely-located logistics detachments from ahead working ships, sometimes called “Seaside Dets,” function as staging places for provider onboard deliveries (CODs) of supplies, provides, mail and personnel. CODs are sometimes plane from Fleet Logistics Help Squadrons that present devoted airborne logistics help to underway plane carriers. The flexibility to base items and personnel in strategic places like NSA Souda Bay enhances the Navy’s capability to maintain forces on station and on mission.
“Group Souda is right here to increase the attain of U.S., Allied, Coalition, and Accomplice nation forces,” stated Cmdr. James Kotora, govt officer, NSA Souda Bay. “We’re residence to an all-weather airfield and a deep-water pier facility, so we act as a significant provide line to pleasant forces working within the area.”
Along with NSA Souda Bay, the Seaside Det. was supported by Naval Provide Techniques Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Heart (FLC) Sigonella, Website Souda Bay.
“Our strategic geographic location in the course of the Mediterranean Sea offers the best distribution hub for Fleet logistical help within the European theater,” stated George Flowers, transportation officer, NAVSUP FLC Sigonella, Website Souda Bay. “When excessive precedence objects have to make it to a ship working within the area, there’s a good likelihood we’re inside that ship’s attain—both pulling into our port or by COD.”
NAVSUP FLC Sigonella, Website Souda Bay is a tenant command at NSA Souda Bay that gives logistics, enterprise and help providers to the Navy, Navy Sealift Command, Joint and Allied Forces all through Navy Area Europe Africa Central.
In help of Gerald R. Ford, NSA Souda Bay and NAVSUP Website Souda Bay transited 22,050 kilos of cargo, together with 2,750 kilos of mail and 844 particular person components. This cargo was transited by 10 COD flights carried out by Detachment Two of the Fleet Logistics Help (VRC) Squadron 40, homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. and at present assigned to Gerald R. Ford.
“We fly the C-2A Greyhound, which has a spread of roughly 1,000 miles, or 4 hours of flight time,” stated Lt. Nikolas Fagen, a pilot assigned to VRC-40. “For the previous couple of days, we’ve been delivering cargo and personnel forwards and backwards between the ship and out right here to pretty Souda Bay.”
The staff effort required to make this mission successful, from the logistics specialists on the bottom, to help employees onboard NSA Souda Bay and all through theater, to the C-2A pilots and operations and planning personnel, imbues pleasure all through the mixed staff.
“The Gerald R. Ford is the most recent and largest plane provider of the Navy, and we’re an important half to get the provides to them,” stated Martin. “That’s why I really feel pleasure and possession to know that I’m one of many individuals who helps to maintain the provider mission-ready.”
NSA Souda Bay is an operational ashore set up which permits and helps U.S., Allied, Coalition, and Accomplice nation forces to protect safety and stability within the European, African, and Central Command areas of accountability. Discover us on Fb at www.fb.com/NSASoudaBay.
