Dubbed a “Mobile NOSC,” the Kitsap staff took their administrative support capabilities to the road, delivering mobilization readiness events to multiple offsite locations, where more than 900 of the NOSC’s Reserve Sailors drill with their individual Reserve units.
“The only units that drill here at NOSC Kitsap are my Operational Support Units and Volunteer Training Units, so I don’t see many of my Selected Reserve Sailors from month-to-month,” said Capt. Jack Christensen, NOSC Kitsap’s commanding officer.
NOSCs are tasked with maintaining the deployment readiness of Reserve Sailors. Many of these Reserve centers set aside a drill weekend annually to provide a mass readiness event to complete medical, operations and administration tasks, bringing each Sailor in attendance up to the standard for mobilization readiness. But the task has been a challenge in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has added additional protocols to drill weekend in-person attendance.
According to Navy Region Reserve Component Command Northwest (RCC NW) leadership, NOSC Kitsap’s initiative demonstrates the Navy Reserve Force’s commitment to providing ready Reserve Sailors to meet strategic and operational demands at a moment’s notice.
“We expect every NOSC to do everything possible to ensure the readiness of our Reserve Sailors,” said CAPT Jonas Jones, Commander, RCC NW. “Our Navy is counting on us to be ready for ‘Day One;’ it is inspiring to see NOSC teams like Kitsap develop and implement innovative readiness solutions that overcome the challenges of today’s COVID-19 operating environment.”
For NOSC Kitsap, the concept of the Mobile NOSC has become a critical component ensuring the mobilization readiness of Sailors,
“When I first got to NOSC Kitsap we did a mass mobilization exercise to get Sailor numbers up,” Christensen said. “It was a good evolution but not effective for what we needed to accomplish, so we thought, ‘Ok, how can we make it better?’”
NOSC leadership ultimately landed on breaking mobilization readiness weekends into multiple engagements and delivering them directly to where Sailors drill through the Mobile NOSC concept.
One of the locations the Mobile NOSC visited was Joint Base Lewis McCord (JBLM), located southwest of Tacoma, Washington and over an hour from Kitsap.
“When we go to JBLM, everything is set up. We have a schedule for [the Sailors], and we have fewer people going through the lines,” said Lt. Kevin Lott, the NOSCs Operations and Training Officer. “It’s quicker — it’s a lot better a process for everyone.”
The medical and dental aspects of mobilization readiness are two key parts of mobilization weekends as they comprise the largest number of personnel to run stations and require the most significant amount of time to complete. To allow the Mobile NOSC to handle the task, the staff implemented a tele-med program allowing Sailors to check off many of the medical boxes over the phone or electronically through the computer before visiting the Mobile NOSC.
While certain aspects of medical and dental readiness, like HIV testing and dental exams, still require an in-person visit, reducing the number of in-person requirements underscores the importance of the Mobile NOSC during the pandemic. Limiting person-to-person contact with smaller groups and increased coordination on the part of NOSC staff have increased speed and efficiency in the Mobile NOSC process, while adhering to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
“You’re able to reach out to a lot more people when you do it virtually versus individual units coming in at various times on different days,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Mark Rivas, NOSC Kitsap Medical Department LCPO.
The Mobile NOSC concept hasn’t been without challenges, according to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Daniel Wheeler, assigned to the NOSC Kitsap medical staff. The day before a long-planned November Mobile NOSC, leadership learned JBLM had to be shut down due to a COVID-19 contamination requiring sterilization. Employing all the best attributes of the mobile NOSC, the staff pivoted and found a new location.
Wheeler was instrumental not only in setting up the originally planned Mobile NOSC, but he also helped lead the last-minute coordination of the new location and had high praise for the effectiveness of the process and the NOSC staff who were running it.
“[The mobile NOSC] has been going really well, all things considered, with COVID-19 requirements and limitations,” said Wheeler.
-30-
Rear Adm. Richard S. Lofgren serves as the Acting Chief of Navy Reserve and Acting Commander, Navy Reserve Force. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and oversight for Navy Reserve personnel and operations worldwide, supporting the readiness and integration of Reserve forces across the fleet. A Surface Warfare Officer, Rear Adm. Lofgren brings extensive operational and command experience across maritime expeditionary, coastal riverine, and surface warfare missions, including service in senior leadership roles supporting U.S. naval operations in multiple geographic combatant commands. His career reflects a sustained commitment to operational excellence, leadership development, and the effective employment of Navy Reserve forces in support of national security objectives.
Rear Adm. Luke Frost is a Surface Warfare Officer with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across the fleet. He has served in senior command roles at sea and ashore, including command of major surface combatants and amphibious forces operating throughout the Central Command and Indo-Pacific areas of responsibility. As a Flag Officer, Rear Adm. Frost served as Director, Reserve Warfare (OPNAV N0959) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he provided oversight and strategic guidance for Reserve force integration and readiness. His career reflects a deep commitment to warfighting excellence, joint operations, and the effective employment of naval forces in support of U.S. national security objectives.
Rear Admiral John Saccomando is a Naval Aviator with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across both active and reserve components. He has served in multiple senior command and flag assignments supporting naval aviation, expeditionary operations, and installation readiness, including leadership roles within U.S. Fleet Forces and Naval Air Forces Atlantic. A combat-experienced aviator, Rear Adm. Saccomando brings deep expertise in joint operations, force integration, and operational readiness, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing naval capabilities and supporting U.S. national security objectives worldwide.
Rear Adm. Greg Emery is a Navy Reserve flag officer with extensive leadership experience across naval oceanography, intelligence, and information warfare. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he has served in a wide range of operational, command, and staff assignments supporting global naval and joint operations, including senior leadership roles within Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Rear Adm. Emery brings deep expertise in intelligence integration, operational support, and information warfare, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing decision advantage and mission readiness across the fleet.
Force Master Chief Nicole C. Rios serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Navy Reserve, advising on the readiness, welfare, and professional development of approximately 59,000 Reserve Component Sailors supporting Navy, Marine Corps, and joint operations worldwide. A seasoned Command Master Chief, she brings extensive experience across aviation, expeditionary, and information warfare communities, with senior enlisted leadership assignments at the unit, regional, and force levels. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to Sailor advocacy, operational readiness, and the effective integration of Navy Reserve forces in support of national defense objectives.
Command Master Chief Lyons brings extensive operational and shore-based leadership experience across aviation, logistics, manpower, and readiness organizations within the Navy Reserve enterprise. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2016, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at Navy Operational Support Center Pearl Harbor, Navy Personnel Command, Maritime Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command. An Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is recognized for sustained excellence in leadership and readiness, earning multiple personal, joint, and unit awards throughout his career.
Command Master Chief Louvier enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1997 and brings extensive aviation maintenance and readiness leadership experience across multiple Fleet Logistics, Strike Fighter, Helicopter, and Reserve aviation commands. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2015, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at VR-56, Commander, Tactical Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Reserve Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. An Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy and multiple executive leadership programs and has earned numerous personal and unit awards for sustained excellence in leadership and mission readiness.
Master Chief Jerry E. Dotson was born in Garden Grove, California, and raised in Sacramento. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 29, 2002, and completed recruit training and Electrician’s Mate “A” School in Great Lakes, Illinois. His career spans operational, reserve, aviation, and senior enlisted leadership assignments, and he currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve.