BY MATTHEW JONES Office of Corporate Communications, NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support
NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (WSS) and Military Sealift Command (MSC) are rolling out an overhauled fleet issue load list (FILL) to optimize logistics support for deployed surface combatants.
“Essentially, the fleet would have more of what they need, where they need it, when they need it,” said Gregg Wendte, lead supply systems analyst at NAVSUP WSS.
Prior to this initiative, the FILL contained approximately 500 high-demand consumable items positioned aboard dry-cargo-andammunition ships known as T-AKEs.
In March 2018, the Navy established a working group to study a possible reintroduction of class IX Navy and Defense Logistics Agency-managed repair parts and components to the FILL, which had previously focused more on consumables and less on repairables.
“The fleet requested this update to improve readiness by increasing targeted sustainment afloat in support of dynamic force employment,” said Wendte.
Since the inception of the working group, stakeholders from U. S. Pacific Fleet Command, U. S. Fleet Forces Command, MSC, and NAVSUP have conducted multiple studies on deployed unit demand.
“The first step was to define the requirements and criteria for identifying viable parts to include in the FILL,” said Wendte. “We analyzed multiple fleet readiness project optimization considerations, and ultimately developed plans to implement these changes and conduct a deliberate shift toward the increased inclusion of repairables.”
Working with NAVSUP WSS Integrated Weapons System Teams (IWSTs), NAVSUP WSS Fleet Outfitting, Planning and Support Directorate (N4) then identifies viable repairable candidates and determines their materiel availability for placement aboard T-AKEs as part of the FILL allowance product. Finally, the NAVSUP WSS Comptroller develops the budget requirements and secures Navy working capital fund (NWCF) funding.
The new FILL includes approximately 1200 high-demand consumable, repairable components and maintenance-related items to be carried aboard all 12 T-AKEs. Additionally, three T-AKEs will serve as prototype ships to carry an additional inventory of approximately 60 high-demand NAVSUP WSS managed depot-level repairables.
NAVSUP WSS N4 is finalizing the fiscal year 2019 Consolidated Afloat Requisitioning Guide Overseas, commonly known as CARGO, and incorporating the new FILL allowance products for publication to the fleet. They are also developing improved metrics to monitor FILL allowance product performance and steer future revisions to the FILL.
The FILL is built and managed by NAVSUP WSS N4 using the Readiness Suite application. The list is updated annually using Navy ERP combat logistics force demand data from the T-AKE fleet.
“The new FILL expands and broadens the scope of underway replenishment support for deployed surface combatants,” concluded Wendte