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Bataan Successfully Completes Supply Management Certification

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101206-14
12/6/2010

By Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class (AW/SW) James Servoss, USS Bataan Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The crew of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD5) completed a biennial Supply Management Certification (SMC) in the ship's homeport of Norfolk, Va., Dec. 2.

Inspectors from Afloat Training Group Mid-Atlantic (ATG) conducted the assessment, evaluating the ship's current condition, administration, accountability, and operation of the unit's logistics support.

SMC evaluated USS Batann's Supply department on current condition, administration, accountability and operation of its logistics support. When the scores were tallied, Bataan's supply team had an overall score of 93.85.

"They did a phenomenal job … knocked it out of the park," said Capt. Steve Koehler, USS Bataan commanding officer. "Preparations began in August and they - no kidding - spent every day here getting ready."

The graded areas included general stores, aviation stores, food service, retail operations and postal operations.

Each of the functional areas inspected represents a service to the crew, contributes to mission readiness and has a direct impact on morale.

"Being constantly on top of it was imperative to our success," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Christopher Rhodes, S-8 leading petty officer. "Everyone is affected by it, and everyone took an interest."

According to ATG inspectors, Bataan's food service division earned some of the top scores they've seen in 2010.

Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class (SW/AW) Phillip Alexander, USS Bataan mess deck master-at-arms, said the cleaning, training, administrations and hard work required to complete the inspection was business as usual.

For both food service and logistics, inventory accountability was a large piece of the evaluation.

"We conducted a wall-to-wall inventory of everything on board before the inspectors arrived," said Rob Mazzarella, USS Bataan assistant supply officer. "We had already done the work when the inspectors arrived, and it was easy for them to verify our inventory."

"We always need to know where parts and other supplies are and where they're going for mission readiness," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Ivan Ciego, S-6 leading petty officer. "The Navy saw we were doing things right."

The successful inspection makes Bataan eligible for Blue "E" award, signifying excellence in supply.

USS Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. It 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.