Photo By Christina Johnson | Master-at-Arms Chief Petty Officer James Fitzgerald from Expeditionary Port Unit (EPU)...... read more read more
(NORDENHAM, Germany) U.S. Navy Reserve personnel from Expeditionary Port Unit (EPU) 104, based out of New Castle, Delaware, assisted Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF) in offloading SS Gopher State (T-ACS 4), a Maritime Administration auxiliary crane ship, April 12.
In the U.S. Department of Defense’s continual support of real-world events, deliveries to various locations in Europe have nearly doubled in the past year. These shipments require coordination from MSCEURAF prior to arrival, at the pier and on the port. For this mission, Willie Jones, an MSCEURAF Marine Transport Specialist (MTS), received additional support from EPU 104.
“I personally love it,” said Master-at-Arms Chief Petty Officer James Fitzgerald, senior enlisted leader of the team of three sent to assist and train at the Port of Nordenham, Germany. “The mission gives you a good sense that you are contributing to make a difference.”
The Navy Reserve mission for MSC is to provide EPUs for operations which require additional manpower not normally required during sustained peacetime operations and are MSC's manpower solution for surge mission sets. MSC has 15 EPUs aligned under five area commanders.
"Anytime we conduct a mission we constantly learn new things and sharpen our skills. Sailors deploy to different ports, work with different sailors and service members from other services, and engage with different host nation support personnel," said Cmdr. Martha Adams, EPU 104 commanding officer. "Each mission has a different purpose and operation so there's a lot of variety. While there are a lot of differences, the common thread is executing what we've learned as our standard operating procedures as an EPU. After each mission, we conduct a self-assessment to identify lessons learned to improve upon for our next mission."
When mobilized, reservists quickly take charge of establishing MSC port offices to assist with sealift operations wherever and whenever needed.
“Going out where the Navy needs your support,” added Fitzgerald, a 3rd generation police officer in Utica, New York, “feels like it’s a better contribution to the bigger picture.”
MSC operates approximately 125 naval auxiliary civilian-crewed ships, replenishes U.S. Navy ships, strategically prepositions combat cargo at sea and moves military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners around the world.
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2023 01:19 |
| Story ID: | 443286 |
| Location: | DE |
| Web Views: | 463 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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