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By Zachary Fittro, department head, NAVSUP WSS Transportation & Distribution Optimization
NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support’s Transportation & Distribution directorate—or T&D—is one of two major command directorates located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is responsible for the efficient, cost-effective and safe movement of personnel and cargo. Coded under NAVSUP WSS N3, the directorate contains five departments that oversee various aspects of transportation for its customers.
T&D Optimization
T&D Optimization is responsible for global supply chain performance, financial analysis, and developing process-improvement solutions to increase readiness to operational Naval forces.
T&D Optimization conducts analysis and closely coordinates with DLA to get high-demand parts stocked at Defense Depots outside the United States. These forward-positioned parts are high-priority, high-demand items that support afloat and ashore Naval Activities by making them readily available. This program has been a huge success with over 14,000 parts forward positioned to support the tip of the spear.
To ensure that parts are delivered on time to worldwide ports without missing ships’ movements, the Optimization Department analyzes and calculates what is referred to as Cargo Routing Information File (CRIF) cutoff. Pulling in various data sources and utilizing the skills and supply/transportation knowledge of the team, T&D is able to assess the amount of time it takes parts to arrive from the United States to each major destination throughout the world.
A recently conducted analysis discovered that high-priority parts that should have been shipped via air to overseas customers were actually being shipped via ocean. Utilizing an internally developed Customer Wait Time monitor tool, the team discovered a steady increase in ocean shipments to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. They learned that rules within DLA’s system for routing logistics transactions were removing the required delivery dates from requisitions, making them ineligible for air shipment. The findings and recommendations were forwarded to the appropriate stakeholders and the team will continue our work towards finding optimal solutions that support the Navy.
Logistics Doctrine & Policy
The Logistics Doctrine & Policy team is responsible for developing and issuing Navy cargo and passenger transportation operating procedures. Operational and administrative policy changes are continually occurring. The Logistics Doctrine & Policy department plays a key role in keeping the fleet informed of the latest transportation changes that support the expeditious push of parts to the fleet and support the warfighter. Other important functions include oversight of Navy transportation bill payments, assistance with resolving customs issues, training Transportation Officers, and representing the Navy on Joint Service transportation contracts and management boards.
Transportation Operations
The Transportation Operations team serves as the Naval Air Clearance Authority for the movement of fleet and other services’ assigned cargo. The Operations department is the program and functional manager for the shipping of government purchased material from vendor warehouses and is also the Naval lead for Defense Activity Address Code (DoDAAC) management, which is vital for knowing where to send cargo, mail and billing documents.
Transportation Operations also manages the Cargo Routing Information File, ensuring the accurate routing of air and ocean freight to mobile units. The Fleet Locator is the touchpoint for receiving inputs from the CTF-x3s, the three logistics combined task forces; Type Commands; fleets; and sometimes the units themselves. The Transportation Operations department is always ready to assist in any transportation related movement required to support the warfighter.
Service Wide Transportation Program
The Service Wide Transportation (SWT) Program manages SWT funding for specific transportation costs, and functions as the liaison between the transportation and financial communities. Every Department of Defense shipment requires a transportation account to pay for it. That is where you find the Service Wide Transportation Department hard at work establishing, verifying, and validating Transportation Account Codes. The SWT Program serves as the Naval Transportation Account Code administrator and manages the Type Allocation Code (TAC) Helpdesk, which not only establishes TACs, but also coordinates TAC transitions.
SWT managers execute funding with an annual spending plan and prepare for future requirements utilizing planning, programming, budget and execution. This department is crucial in supporting worldwide transportation by coordinating funding requirements with Budget Submitting Offices’ transportation needs.
Fleet Movement & Systems Support
Fleet Movement & Systems Support coordinates outsized/heavy cargo movement, Special Assignment Airlift Missions, Opportune Lift or OPLIFT, Global Mobility Support, and is the functional manager for active Radio Frequency Identification, or aRFID, and Deployment Systems. When the fleet needs to move something oversized and overweight, they call the Fleet Movement and Systems Support Department.
FMSS is also the Naval logistics integration lead for the Lifts of Opportunity Program, which is a smart and cost-effective transportation solution that utilizes scheduled Defense Transportation System conveyances. FMSS is also the functional Navy lead for AMS-TAC, or the Automated Manifest System Tactical Version, a management tool that provides in-transit visibility for locations that lack typical DoD systems access.
Although NAVSUP WSS Transportation and Distribution has had a number of command name changes throughout the years—NAVTRANS, NOLSC, GLS—they continue to keep eyes on the target while providing transportation excellence to the fleet.
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2020 16:33 |
| Story ID: | 372907 |
| Location: | MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 275 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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