Bataan Successfully Finishes Supply Management Certification
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS081223-02
Release Date: 12/23/2008 8:28:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Pedro A. Rodriguez, USS Bataan Public Affairs
NORFOLK (NNS) -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) completed the Supply Management Certification (SMC) Dec. 11.
The SMC is a comprehensive assessment evaluating the current condition, administration, accountability, and operation of the unit's logistics support. The objective of the certification is to determine if each mission area can effectively support the unit in performing its primary mission.
"We have been preparing since the ship came out of the yards," said Cmdr. Walter Robohn, Bataan's supply officer. "Supply department Sailors work really hard every day to support the crew. It is their positive attitude that keeps our services at a high level."
Using the basic parameters provided in COMNAVSURFORINST 5040.1A the senior SMC assessor determines the final outcome of the assessment, which will reflect the unit's existing support system's condition of readiness. The graded areas include general stores, aviation stores, food service, retail operations and the post office.
"This inspection is important because it affects every Sailor on board the ship." said Robohn.
One of the main areas of the inspection for Bataan was aviation stores, which was just upgraded during the last depot planned maintenance availability. There were new storerooms made specifically for the MV-22 Osprey parts.
With these upgrades, Bataan will be able to meet the operational requirements of the air combat element along with the Marine Expeditionary Unit.
"We had to offload more than 5,000 CH-46E helicopter parts to make space for the new Osprey parts," said Bataan's aviation stores officer, Lt. Curt LaRose.
SMC not only identifies discrepancies and enhancements in the ship's logistics system, but it helps to maintain the crew's morale assessing the way supply department does business in the ship's store, laundry, and food service facilities.
Personnel assigned to the food service division spent more than 1,000 man-hours including weekends to prepare for SMC.
"We have been getting ready since I took over the division in October," said Chief Warrant Officer Lester Griffith, Bataan's food service officer. "We spent long hours cleaning our galley, reviewing our financial accountability and conducting inventory."
The food service division earned an outstanding overall assessment with a 96.18 percent average.
"It's rare to accomplish what our food service division accomplished, going through a month long underway, a port visit and an Inspection and Survey without a chief," said Griffith. "I can't take credit for all our accomplishments. My first, second and third class petty officers along with the food service attendants (FSA) made it all happen."
Bataan's Supply Department scored 94 percent of the 2,802 available points of the certification. With the outstanding overall average during SMC Bataan will earn her 10th consecutive "Blue E" award.
"This success speaks well for the entire ship as it would not be possible to keep such an operation going without direct support from all the departments," said Capt. Sam Howard, Bataan's commanding officer. "With FSAs from nearly every division on the ship, this is an achievement of which we can all be proud. The list of Bataan victories will continue to grow."
Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name. CVL-29 was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned in 1954.
For more news from USS Bataan (LHD 5), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd5/.
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