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Navy Customs Inspectors Depart for Middle East

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080401-08
Release Date: 4/1/2008 1:40:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Matthew D. Leistikow, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

HAMPTON, Va. (NNS) -- About 400 Sailors mobilized by Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) deployed from Langley Air Force Base to the Middle East, March 31, as NAVELSG Forward Hotel.

They are scheduled to perform the group's seventh rotation of customs inspection missions in Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

"It's extremely important that we're doing both port operations as well as customs operations and making sure whatever comes back to the United States comes back safe," said Hotel's Command Master Chief (SCW) Joe Dunaway.

The mobilized detachment will help to ensure returning military equipment conforms to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards and ensure all gear returning with personnel serving abroad in support of OIF complies with U.S. Customs regulations.

Hotel Sailors hope to continue to improve on the efforts of the previous six customs inspection teams.

"They have set the bar pretty high," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Miller. "That actually gives me a lot of confidence rather than intimidating me because the people who we'll be relieving will probably be outstanding in communicating what it is that's expected of us. They know what they're doing and they're not going to let us fail."

Comprised of Reserve Sailors, 100 percent of the Reservists in Hotel volunteered for the mission.

"This is my first deployment," said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Martin. "I looked at this as an opportunity. We've been properly trained, and I'm looking forward to accomplishing a goal."

Hotel will be relieving Navy Customs Battalion Tango, scheduled to return April 2.

NAVELSG is a component of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). NECC is a global force provider of adaptive force packages of expeditionary capabilities to joint warfighting commanders. NECC serves as a single functional command to centrally manage the current and future readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of the Navy Expeditionary Force.

For more news from Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/nelsf/.