After tackling re-supply lanes and customs clearances, we then had to approach establishing a battle rhythm to maintain supply levels. To support our cruiser and destroyer (CRUDES) assets, we built in a weekly food service (9M) order routine and agreed to take additional food stores if CRUDES were unable. With the help of Mr. Gray and Mr. Carter of Navy Exchange Command (NEXCOM), CNAL, NAVCENT N41 and LCDR Jon Sioson IKE established a route to receive ship’s store (1Q) support. This was a first for the Red Sea region; the Sales Team sourced stateside, Bahrain, Jebel Ali, Naples, and Djiboutian vendors for merchandise. IKE home guard and Gypsy Det coordinated transit with the Combat Logistics Officer, NEXCOM and NAVCENT to deliver to the warfighter. Later in the deployment, when flight hours rose, equipment use increased and the requirement for inbound material surged, NAVSUP FLC Sigonella Site Director LCDR Jessica Jimenez assisted in coordinating with load planners to get urgent materials from Sigonella to Bahrain. Her actions aided in expediting material to the warfighter. CLF spearheaded transportation assistance, conducted opportunistic consols (transfer of material) to sister assets. The CTF team planned Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS) events in logistically tactical manners, adapting to the constantly changing schedule driven by Red Sea events.
IKE, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 and CSG N4 created an internal combat logistics team to re-supply CRUDES assets when operating in isolated or tactically challenging locations. IKE’s Material Control Officer (MATCONOFF), responsible for Urgent Material Screening (UMS) and transfer between Supply Officers in the Carrier Strike Group, was essential in last mile logistics support to CRUDES and proved critical to keeping ships “in the fight.” The IKE Supply team, CSG-2 N4, and DESRON 22 SUPPO LT Christy Angsten worked hand-in-hand to make sure all crews were supported. IKE conducted emergency RAS events to USS Mason, USS Laboon, USS Philippine Sea, USS Gravely and USNS Kanawha. Overall, IKE transferred over 650 parts ($27.5M) via UMS and over 40 pallets of 9M/1Q stores exchanged between CSG-2 Teammates.
CAPT Hill states, “Be Creative….It is said that the meaning of life is to find your gift; and the purpose of life is to give that gift away. On this ship, we encourage sharing our gifts. It gives us increased purpose and improves morale. This is the Way of the Warrior Sailor.”
Near the end of deployment, IKE’s crew received two separate Souda Bay, Greece port visits. The Naval Supply Systems (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Souda Bay Team was nothing short of exceptional. Special recognition should be given to Mr. Kris Hardy (Contracting Officer Representative: COR), Mr. Charles Tanner (Logistics Support Representative: LSR), and LS1 Davis who ensured upon arrival IKE had all the required services to include cargo routing assistance throughout C6F and C5F as well as coordinated delivery of food stores on a short-fused schedule. Following 200 days deployed, FLC Souda flawlessly executed both port visits. This accomplishment afforded IKE some well-deserved decompression from the grind of Red Sea Ops.
The Way of the Warrior Sailor states the enemy does not care what rank or rating you are. When the missiles start flying, every single Warrior Sailor will be on duty – serving food, restoring power, plugging holes . . . to succeed we must Build a Community. IKE Supply was valued by the NAVSUP Enterprise and the collective cooperative efforts amongst CNAL, CTF-53, CTF-63, FLC SIG, FLC BAH, VRC 40 and others to keep us “in the fight.” The NAVSUP enterprise and embedded Supply communities customer service was at the forefront in supporting the warfighter. The Way of the Warrior Sailor states that since our policy is to love and value our brothers and sisters in arms, we will provide exquisite customer service. A NAVSUP enterprise wide value of creative problem solving and dedication to customer service grew IKE’s ability to sustain prolonged combat operations in a logistically contested environment.
From executing a 30 hour, 1,110 pallet Mega RAS to flexing through four short notice COCOM changes and two months of deployment extension, the Supply Team prevailed. Six months of continual Red Sea operations highlighted Supply’s direct impact on mission, purpose and morale-- multiple MWR events, hosting Distinguished Visitors (DVs) and media, conducting 35 replenishments-at-sea, selling $8M in ship’s store merchandise, receiving and preparing 7,500 pallets of food ($19M), processing 3,800 pallets of stock, 3,200 pallets of mail, 20,000 stock/DTO parts, 650+ CASREPS and issuing over 60K parts internally. Supply’s efforts were critical in IKE and the CVW-3 Team’s successful engagement of over 60 UAVs, striking of 230 targets in self-defense, coordination of 160 cargo CODS, 31,500 flight hours and completion of over 13,500 sorties. Overall the team conducted over 750 kinetic engagements, expended 792 munitions in combat, escorted over 28 vessels and flew over 31,000 flight hours in a weapons engagement zone to protect shipping and deter attacks. All actions were in service of defending innocent lives and freedom of navigation for international maritime shipping. CSG-2 delivered exceptional naval power in the U.S. 5th Fleet for nearly seven months. These events cemented to the crew’s mission and purpose.
We were able to celebrate our wins-- CSG-2 was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon for combat efforts in the Red Sea and received multiple accolades personally from MCPON, CNO and even the President. It was a successful and historic combat deployment.
“Welcome to the best damn ship in the Navy, and let’s stomp on bad guys together. This is the Way of the Warrior Sailor.” – CAPT Chris “CHOWDAH” Hill
