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Eisenhower's Logistics Support Key to Successful Historic Port Visit

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090612-02
Release Date: 6/12/2009 9:08:00 AM

By Lt. j.g. Timothy Firoved, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Sigonella Bahrain Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Fleet Industrial Supply Center Sigonella
(FISCSI) Bahrain personnel provided logistics support May 16-19 during the historic port visit of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Eisenhower was the first aircraft carrier to moor pierside in Bahrain in more than 60 years.

In recent years, aircraft carriers visiting U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain could only anchor out off the coast. However, no carrier had done so in the past four years.

"This visit by USS Dwight D. Eisenhower gave us another opportunity to adapt our operations to provide excellent customer service," said Senior Chief Storekeeper (SW) Lieland Jaravata, FISCSI Bahrain Logistics Support Center leading chief petty officer. "Our personnel responded with great success, and we recognized that this visit will pave the way for future pierside visits by aircraft carriers."

Most U.S. Navy ships visiting Bahrain moor at the Mina Salman finger pier; however, an aircraft carrier is too big and until now could not come pierside in Bahrain.

This time Eisenhower moored at the newly constructed Khalifa bin Salman pier facility, which was built and designed to accommodate cruise ships and container vessels.

Several commands, including FISCSI Bahrain, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Combined Task Force 53, Eisenhower's supply department and other organizations coordinated their efforts to support the aircraft carrier's visit.

Trucks operated continuously between the Material Processing Center at NSA Bahrain, the aviation unit and the two piers, delivering key products and services such as movement of personnel, mail and cargo during the visit.

"The Ike's [Eisenhower] visit was an important event for the people of Bahrain, attracting the attention of dignitaries and a visit from the king of Bahrain," said Chief Warrant Officer Ernesto Garcia, FISCSI Bahrain logistics support officer.

FISC Sigonella provides logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command and other joint and allied forces in Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.

FISC Sigonella, the newest of seven supply centers under Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers, provides supply chain management, contracting and transportation services, technical and customer support, hazardous materials management, consolidated mail services and worldwide movement of personal property.

COMFISCS comprises more than 7,500 military and civilian logistics professionals operating as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from more than 135 locations worldwide.

A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., COMFISCS is part of a worldwide logistics network of more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.

For more news from Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers, visit www.navy.mil/local/comfisc.