Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (United States)

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Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group
Active 1993 - present
Country United States of America
Allegiance Flag of the United States U.S.A.
Branch U.S. Navy (Active & Reserve Component)
Type Navy Expeditionary Force
Role Rapid response ground logistics
Size 275 officers, 2,900 enlisted sailors
Garrison/HQ Naval Weapons Station Yorktown
Cheatham Annex
Williamsburg, VA
Motto "Anytime, Anywhere"
Commanders
Current
commander
RADM Sharon H. Redpath, SC, USN

The Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) is a reserve command in the United States Navy and part of the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC).

Contents

[edit] Purpose

The mission of NAVELSG is to deliver expeditionary logistics capabilities with mobilization-ready Navy Reserve Force Sailors and equipment to combatant commanders in support of the national military strategy. NAVELSG provides a wide range of supply and transportation functions critical for peacekeeping, crisis response, humanitarian, and combat service support missions.

NAVELSG Supply supports operations of the staff, establishes policy, and provides funding to units, as well as supporting the mobilization, training and outfitting of 1,200 reserve and active duty personnel annually. Challenges faced by the supply department involve berthing and outfitting personnel. With the size of the groups, contract berthing was established. This contract greatly reduces stress, is easier for the hotel, and eliminates berthing issues.

Though NAVELSG is part of the United States Navy Reserve, it includes both active duty and reserve components. NAVELSG commands can be deployed all over the United States and with any branch of the US Armed Services. Due to their focus on rapid response in any environment, NAVELSG is one of the most flexible supply groups in the military.

Seamen of NCHB-1 load cargo onto a container ship at McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
Seamen of NCHB-1 load cargo onto a container ship at McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

[edit] Background

To most Americans, Williamsburg, Virginia, is known as the Colonial Capital. To the "Combat Stevedores" of the Navy, Williamsburg - or more precisely, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown - Cheatham Annex - is known as the capital of Navy expeditionary logistics.

The lessons learned from Operation Desert Storm identified a requirement for a single, multifunctional organization able to provide flexible, deployable transportation and supply support logistics services in any area of the world. Established in 1993, the Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) was built upon the solid foundation of the Navy Cargo Handling Force (NCHF). The NCHF originated in the 1970s with the establishment of six Reserve Navy Cargo Handling Battalions to support the Marine Corps Maritime Prepositioning Force. The number of battalions grew to 12 in the 1980s.

Today, the force consists of 12 NCHBs and two NSSBs. Capabilities run the gamut from warehouse and freight terminal management, fuel distribution, tent camp, maintenance and personnel support functions, mail distribution and barbershop, laundry and ship's store to traditional shipboard cargo handling and expeditionary airhead operations. The NAVELSG mission is to provide transportation (cargo handling) and supply Advanced Base Functional Component support to Navy and Marine Corps operational units. NAVELSG is recognized by all major commanders-in-chief as the force of choice for transportation and supply professionals, trained and equipped to deploy anywhere in the world and provide effective shore-based logistical support to naval operating forces - "Anytime, Anywhere".

NAVELSG encompasses many commands including Navy Cargo Handling Battalions (NCHB units), Navy Expeditionary Medical Support (NEMS), Navy Supply Support Battalions (NSSB), Navy Air Cargo Handling Battalion and Navy Ordnance Reporting and Handling Battalion.

[edit] Navy Cargo Handling Battalions

Navy Cargo Handling Battalions (NCHB) provide logistics support and generally focus on port operations or air cargo.

  • NCHB 1: The only active duty cargo handling unit, based in Cheatham Annex, Virginia.
  • NCHB 3: Alameda, CA
  • NCHB 4: Charleston, SC
  • NCHB 5: Tacoma, WA
  • NCHB 6: Orange, TX (Restructured - No loger exists)
  • NCHB 7: Great Lakes, IL
  • NCHB 8: For Dix, NJ
  • NCHB 9: Columbus, OH
  • NCHB 10: Norfolk, VA (Restructured - Now Navy Air Cargo Handling Battalion 1 and comprises all of the Air Companies that were in each NCHB of the Command)
  • NCHB 11: Jacksonville, FL
  • NCHB 12: Bessemer, AL
  • NCHB 13: Gulfport, MS
  • NCHB 14: Port Hueneme, CA

[edit] Navy Customs Battalions

More to come.

[edit] Service Support Battalions

Service Support Battalions (SSB) provide a wide variety of logistics support including warehousing, fuel transportation, mail, maintenance, and billeting (housing). As a member of expeditionary logistics, SSBs are able to deploy and provide logistics support in any environment.

There are two SSB's.

  • SSB 1: Phoenix, AZ
  • SSB 2: Plainville, CT

NORHB 1:

Navy Ordnance Reporting and Handling Battalion 1 provides for the Reporting and Handling of Ammunition (Ordnance) for special operations (Kuwait, Iraq, etc.)