SAN DIEGO – Sailors assigned to Navy Reserve Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka, Headquarters San Diego, work with contractors at the Defense Logistics Agency to gain hands-on training that will enable them to improve logistical support they provide to Navy operations around the globe.
The reservists, performing their monthly drill weekend, directly support the DLA’s mission of providing worldwide logistics support in both peacetime and wartime to the military services by assisting with inventorying and distributing materials for aircrafts and ships within the San Diego area as well as shipping materials worldwide.
According to Troy Thurgood, deputy program manager at DLA Naval Base San Diego, having the additional help from reservists is always welcomed as the warehouse processes over a million pieces a year.
“It’s beneficial to have the Navy Reserve component come in help and assist us get the material out to the fleet faster especially at the end of the fiscal year,” Thurgood said.
Thurgood says the support has been well received at the DLA “I’ve been working with the reservists almost every weekend they have come out,” said Thurgood. “We enjoy having them and look forward to those weekends they are here to supplement our workforce.”
Along with the reservist’s support, both sailors and contractors are benefiting from the exchanged training opportunities.
“Because they are reliable and knowledgeable, we get a good cross sharing of knowledge,” said Thurgood. “Our employees are able to help train the reservists but then on the flip side, the Navy reservists bring some training to our employees as well.”
Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Manuel Gonzalez, a reservist assigned to FLC Yokosuka, says the training is helping his unit become mobilization ready.
“This is where they will learn all of their on-the-job training,” said Gonzalez. “They learn about the inventory system - how to count and find part numbers using stock forms and finding locations. This process is key in helping us be fully deployable to support any contingency.”
The Defense Logistics Agency is the Department of Defense's largest logistics combat support agency. Together, the San Diego DLA and the reservists provide support to 54 ships (including two aircraft carriers) for the Southern California region.
For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, visit www.navy.mil/local/nrnpasew/. Learn more about the DLA at http://www.dla.mil/Pages/default.aspx.