Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka has made preparations to continue providing its postal services to customers during this year’s peak holiday mailing season.
These measures come after months of COVID-19 limitations in conjunction with a 25% increase in package volumes since the start of the pandemic, leading to forecasts of a higher than usual surge of postal services during the 2020 holidays.
“We’re using all resources and options to continue providing optimal services to our customers during this unique season,” said Chief Logistics Specialist Ryan Schick, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Post Office leading chief petty officer. “We continue to seek customer feedback and have even implemented a few of their ideas. Our Sailors also continue to think outside the box, finding creative ways to become more efficient and expedite our processes.”
The command’s largest postal customer bases are onboard Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka and Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, serving up to 25,000 and 8,500 customers respectively and has brought in augmentee support in the form of volunteers, contractors, temporary hires and U.S. Navy Reservists to assist with the peak season.
NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka’s post office augmentees began with a hands-on, day-long training session. Following the training they can support the command’s postal mission requirements, continuing quality-of-life support to customers during the peak holiday season by sorting incoming and outgoing letters and parcels for personal boxes, official command mail and ships on the waterfront.
Earlier in the year, throughout COVID-19, postal crews in Yokosuka and Sasebo were sorting approximately 2,900 packages per day, without the assistance of augmentees and a limited number of volunteers. This caused regular postal crews for feel the holiday season spike as early as the summer time, increasing steadily throughout the year. For comparison, the August 2020 package volume was almost on par with the package volume experienced in November 2019.
Additional support coming from volunteers, contractors, temporary hires and U.S. Navy Reservists ensures NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka’s post offices can operate around the clock, prevents crews from experiencing fatigue and maintains productivity to respond to an unparalleled postal season.
“We give 110 percent to the post office because we know how important receiving and providing mail to loved ones can have a positive effect during the pandemic. We provided maximum effort to see our customers happy and will continue to provide the best service we can to the community,” said Logistics Specialist Seaman Akisch Davis. “The augmentees that we have received throughout the pandemic have been nothing short of amazing. Without them, I do not believe we would have been able to process such high volumes of mail.”
In addition to the efforts in Yokosuka and Sasebo, Sailors from NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka’s reserve unit are providing critical mission support at Joint Military Postal Activity (JPMA) centers in Chicago and San Francisco.
These Reservists have been tracking delivery times, monitoring flights and contributing to the prioritization and forwarding of military mail and its accurate sortation to fleet post office addresses. Together, their service helps ensure mail is being expedited to military members and their families who are stationed overseas.
“At JPMA San Francisco, so far we’ve processed 1.5 million FPO/APO parcels to over a million military personnel and their families,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Ana Guerrero. “My motivation was thinking about all the service members and just how important holiday parcels are to people who are deployed. The work was physical, but honorable and rewarding. I believe our support greatly aided the U.S. postal workers in keeping mail from being delayed.”
The Reservists undergo monthly and annual training for the purpose of providing postal support when the need arises, typically during an exercise or holiday rush season.
NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.
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.