At the end of July I found myself in England supporting the logistics lead-up to Exercise Saxon Warrior 2017. The exercise is a carrier strike group (CSG) exercise co-hosted by the United States and the United Kingdom. It is focused on interoperability and robust training with key allies across our warfare areas. The purpose is to demonstrate collective power projections capabilities from the sea. The exercise runs from July 31st to August 10th, off the coastal waters of the United Kingdom.

The NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Sigonella enterprise logistics response team (ELRT) deployed to various locations around the United Kingdom including Mildenhall, Faslane, and Portsmouth. Coordination and planning for this team was facilitated from NAVSUP FLC Sigonella in Sigonella, Sicily.

My purpose in the U.K. was simple: tell the story of NAVSUP FLC Sigonella’s ELRT. You can learn more about the NAVSUP mission on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/navsupflcsi).

Eight FLCs around the world are aligned as the face of the NAVSUP GLS Enterprise to support one or more supported Navy commanders in accomplishing their missions by providing logistics products and services in both established and expeditionary locations. Besides Sigonella, Sicily, the remaining FLCs are based in Norfolk, Virginia; Jacksonville, Florida; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; San Diego, California; Yokosuka, Japan; Bremerton (Puget Sound), Washington; and Manama, Bahrain.

The NAVSUP FLC’s Logistics Response Teams (LRTs) deploy personnel on short notice to coordinate and deliver support to operational units in locations where the Navy has little or no organic footprint.

When the supported commander’s logistics requirements exceed the normal capabilities of an individual NAVSUP FLC, personnel from the greater NAVSUP Enterprise come together to form an organic LRT capability. These “Enterprise” LRTs (ELRT) give NAVSUP FLC Sigonella the capability to support the theater commander’s mission with greater depth and for longer periods across the full range of military operations.

Simple, right?

No! Not at all. These men and women work day and night to make sure the right parts get to the right people through the right contracts at the right place at the right time. It’s pretty cool when you think about it; it’s downright amazing when you see it in action!

This deployment acted as a proof of concept for how NAVSUP FLC Sigonella conducts and sustains operations including contracting, fuels, global logistics services, hazardous material management, integrated logistics support, material management, postal, regional transportation, warehousing, logistics operations, and ammunition in a contingency environment.

When Sailors first arrived, they integrated with the Royal Navy to analyze exercise planning and port services, ensure all priority cargo would reach the warfighter. They used organic Royal Navy assets to load cargo and mail on the George H. W. Bush CSG. Logistics support for exercises like Saxon Warrior begins long before the exercise commences, and the ERLT is on the ground to help.

To date, with support from the USAF 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) and 727th Air Mobility Squadron, the ELRT has processed more than 950 pieces of cargo (more than 49,000 pounds) and more than 9,000 pounds of mail in support of United States Ships participating in the exercise.

With a successful ELRT deployment within the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility, NAVSUP FLC Sigonella is well-postured to support expeditionary logistics operations now and in the future.