Navy C-130 community meets for first Boots on Ground event

Courtesy Photo | In an effort to increase overall C-130 mission capable rates, a cross functional group from across the C-130 community organized by NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (WSS) gathered at NAS Jacksonville to participate in a two day Boots on Ground (BOG) event on July 12-13.  

PHILADELPHIA, PA, UNITED STATES

07.28.2022

Story by Brian Jones 

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support

In an effort to increase overall C-130 mission capable rates, a cross functional group from across the C-130 community organized by NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (WSS) gathered at NAS Jacksonville to participate in a two day Boots on Ground (BOG) event on July 12-13.

The collective group targeted numerous topics encompassing daily operations impacting C-130 flightline readiness. By meeting as a comprehensive group of stakeholders, candid and transparent discussion led to identifying barriers and issues directly affecting overall readiness.
By targeting various areas of concern, the group was able to identify and assign actions to applicable stakeholders with an overall goal of driving each action to completion in an effort to increase C-130 mission capable rates and drive warfighter lethality.

The meeting was the first BOG event for the C-130 community and included senior leadership from Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR), NAVSUP WSS, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Commander Fleet Logistics Support Wing (CFLSW), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), U.S. Navy Type Commands (TYCOM), the Maintenance Operations Center-Aircraft on Ground (MOC-AOG), the Fleet Support Team (FST), and various squadron personnel from across the C-130 Fleet.

“The event was well attended by the C/KC-130T sustainment community and produced multiple initiatives that collectively have strong potential to significantly move the needle on aircraft readiness,” said Marine Col. Steven Puckett PMA-207 Program Manager, Tactical Airlift Program Office.

The overall success of the BOG event will depend on a cooperative effort from across the C-130 community.

“There is no doubt as a collective we can break down barriers and have a positive and lasting influence on C-130 readiness, but only if we hold each other accountable and work together as a team,” said Navy Capt. Matt Bolls, NAVSUP WSS, Director of Aviation Operations.

A myriad of topics were discussed during the BOG event. Each entity and key stakeholder, from Admiral Dunham, Commander CNAFR, to flighline maintainers at the squadron, were able to provide their perspective and issues hindering the C-130 Fleet from achieving an increase in mission capable aircraft.

“By having an event with all key stakeholders in one location, we were able to hear and identify top concerns from the squadrons. This assisted in identifying barriers and issues universal across the entire Fleet,” said Marine Capt. Melissa Latham, NAVSUP WSS Director of C-130 Integrated Weapon Support Team. “Coupled with senior leadership involvement and expertise, we could further explore and understand larger systemic issues which enabled linking actionable solutions to meet our goal of increasing readiness.”

By the end of the event, the group identified multiple action items across a myriad of different entities and topics. Furthermore, the BOG event did not conclude on July 13, but instead was just the beginning as the group drives toward actionable solutions to the issues identified. The next step is the collective will hold reoccurring engagements to discuss status and drive to completion all identified solutions, holding each other accountable to meet intended targets.

Overall, the two-day event was a success, but what happens in the upcoming months will show how key C-130 stakeholders came together to meet their goal of positively affecting C-130 mission capable rates and flightline readiness.

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.

• Date Taken: 07.28.2022
• Date Posted: 07.28.2022 11:54
• Story ID: 425998
• Location: PHILADELPHIA, PA, US