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Navy Cargo Handlers Prepare to Deploy for OIF

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040205-01

Release Date: 2/5/2004 11:27:00 AM

By Cmdr. Tom Gresback, Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force Public Affairs

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (NNS) -- More than 500 Naval Reserve Expeditionary Logistics Support personnel have been mobilized to active duty and are preparing to deploy overseas to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The Reservists will depart from Norfolk, Va., in February to assist in what is being called the largest rotation of troops since World War II.

The Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force (NAVELSF) assets are being deployed to meet joint military requirements as part of DoD's scheduled force rotation.

The operational order to mobilize Naval Reservists to fulfill the cargo handling capability in the area of responsibility (AOR) came from Central Command through the Chief of Naval Operations in early December.

"The reason we have been able to put a quality group together on relatively short notice is because this force is made up of battalions who are trained and ready to deploy," said Commander, NAVELSF, Rear Adm. Robert Percy III, during a recent address to his Sailors.

While in the CENTCOM AOR, NAVELSF Sailors will work side-by-side with Army forces in the joint environment. The Army is currently fulfilling the joint logistics mission and providing the equipment used in theater. As part of the planned force rotation, the Navy will relieve the Army and assume this mission during OIF.

"The Sailors we have in this force are fully trained and ready to answer their call to duty," said Command Master Chief (SS/SW) Tom Cramer. "Each day I am in the field with them during their training, I am more and more impressed with their enthusiasm, sense of pride and professionalism. They have stepped up to the plate to accept this arduous mission and the personal sacrifices it calls upon them to make. Over these past few weeks, I have witnessed a transformation from 500 individuals into a cohesive team who are primed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom."

The battalions and units being mobilized are: - Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 9, Columbus, Ohio., with companies in Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown and Huntington, W.V.

- Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 11, Jacksonville, Fla., with companies in Jacksonville, St Petersburg and Tampa.

- Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 14, Port Hueneme, Calif., with companies in Port Hueneme, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

- Navy Supply Support Battalion 1, Phoenix, with companies in Phoenix; Encino, Calif.; Fort Worth, Texas; Lubbock, Texas; San Diego; Tucson, Ariz. and Sacramento, Calif.

Navy Cargo Handling Battalions load and unload all classes of cargo except bulk petroleum. Battalions are capable of worldwide deployment in their entirety or in specialized detachments. NCHBs are organized, trained and equipped to load and offload Navy and Marine Corps cargo carried in maritime prepositioning ships, container ships, or aircraft in all environments, and operate in associated temporary ocean or air cargo terminals.

Navy Supply Support Battalions provide warehouse and freight terminal support, personnel support and services (admin, barbershop, laundry, and ship's store), mobile mail support and supply logistics information support.