Aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the Supply Department took innovative strides in decreasing lead-time to optimize material readiness. Beside the barbershop, what once served as a secondary Ship’s Store took on a new purpose: providing a one-stop shop for commonly ordered parts in support of habitability, livability, and the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).
It all started in June 2024 during Truman’s Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), when the command strove to set the fleet standard for habitability and livability. For habitability, Truman focused on sanitary and functional berthings, heads, and galleys - items needed to support duty section move aboard. Once certified by Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic as habitable, Truman moved toward livability, applying the most stringent standards to bring the 1,093-foot warship’s living spaces to a state where Sailors want to drop anchor and stay awhile. Understanding a material strategy would be a key ingredient to success; Stock Control Division (S1) saw the curve and got ahead of it. Around the ship, the former Ship’s Store space became known as the Habitability Mart or HABMART for short. Using historical data, the Supply Department was able to anticipate what material was required to be stocked. The result: more than a makeover, a foundation for success and enhanced Sailor morale. The idea worked so well; Supply Department decided to revamp the idea to get ready for INSURV.
Senior Chief Logistics Specialist (LSCS) Camilo Silva, S-1’s former Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), sparked the initiative starting with the creation of the HABMART and then converting it into an INSURVMART. Silva’s years of logistics experience allowed him to notice trends in INSURV related material deficiencies and create a list of material to be stocked in bulk. “Small discrepancies, big impact,” says Chief Logistics Specialist (LSC) Stefon Hanson, Truman’s S-1 LCPO who played a key role in INSURVMART’s success. Around the ship, there is commonality between deficiencies and most of the projected INSURV discrepancies were minor hits that could be quickly remedied through readily available replacement parts. Examples included kick-out panels stickers, knobs, handles, chains, tools, ladder-well treads, DC fittings, cable way components, and rack curtains. These identified materials were ordered as direct turnover items and stocked in bulk to decrease lead-time and optimize Truman’s material condition. The Supply Department gathered data from Shipyard Fire Safety discrepancies, Ship’s Fire Marshal reports, Zone Inspection Deficiency Lists, and other common discrepancies to build a catalog of over 200 items accessible to the entire command. INSURVMART started with an initial bulk order at $350,000 and was later restocked with three reorders averaging at $95,000.
Opened on January 5, 2024, INSURVMART aimed to predict the demands of INSURV on a Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier and decrease overall customer lead-time. Under the leadership of Truman’s Supply Officer, Commander Jake Whiteley, former Principal Assistant for Logistics Lt. Chris Delli Paoli, Stock Control Officer, Lt. Joshua Ratliff, and the deck plate perseverance of LSCS Camilo Silva and LSC Stefon Hanson, INSURVMART supported inspection preparations and evolved to fill emerging needs.
Manned by supply Sailors, INSURVMART was open in port Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 0830-1030 and daily from 0830-1030 while at sea. An INSURVMART catalog was created and published to the command, detailing what items were available. To procure items from INSURVMART, Sailors needed only to fill out an INSURVMART request chit with the items they wished to acquire and present it to the supply Sailor on station. The supply Sailor would then issue the items and create an entry into a centralized log. The space was organized, well maintained, and inventoried weekly. Most importantly, the program vastly decreased lead times on items that enabled immediate resolution.
On day one of INSURV, June 3, 2024, Rear Adm. Todd Whalen, President of INSURV, toured INSURVMART. Supply Department explained processes and discussed how INSURVMART contributed to the ship’s readiness. The tour was followed by a coin presentation to Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Summer Deeson and Logistics Specialist Seaman Kenya James, two sailors from S1 Division who went above and beyond running and maintaining INSURVMART.
Truman successfully completed INSURV on June 7th, 2024. The creation and execution of INSURVMART reflects Truman Supply Department’s talent and determination, traits manifested by a successful INSURV. Efforts like this continue the positive legacy of the Navy Supply Corps and inspire the community to continue to deliver combat capability through logistics. In meeting the Navy standard, Truman proved to be Ready for INSURV and “Ready for Sea.”
