CHAPTER 1
ORGANIZATION
The basic organization of the Department of the
Navy (DON) is very important to new members of the
Navy. If you know the organizational structure, it will
help you understand the reasons for certain policies and
procedures in the Navy. The Basic Military
Requirements training manual provides the
organizational breakdown and applicable explanations
for the Navy. It also includes the basic organizational
elements of shipboard and aircraft squadron
organization. The Airman training manual explains the
basic organizational structure for certain aviation
activities. The activities include air wings, aviation
squadrons, naval air stations, and aircraft maintenance
departments. The information provided in this chapter
complements those organizations listed in the Basic
Military Requirements and Airman training manuals.
You should thoroughly understand these organizations
before reading the rest of this chapter.
In the daily operations of the Navy, we use more
than two million kinds of supplies. Sometimes a
customer may need a unique item. There are usually
many different Navy units throughout the world that use
the same kind of items. Because of the widespread need
for the same items, the Navy Supply System exists.
The Navy Supply System is part of the larger
Federal Supply System that manages more than four
million different items. The activities where AKs work
manage only a few items. Knowing the functions of the
Navy Supply System organizations will help you
understand how your job relates in managing these
items. Also, you will learn how your job links to other
commands, bureaus, or offices in the Federal Supply
System. For example, when ordering material, you must
know the procedures for getting items. You must also
know who wrote the requisitioning procedures and
where they tit in the supply organization.
When submitting requisitions, you must know
where to send the requisitions for material required for
stock or by customers. You must also know what section
of the organization processes the requisitions and
follow-ups. This is the same as knowing the point of
contact. Having a point of contact will make your job
easier.
THE NAVY SUPPLY SYSTEM
As the Navy Supply System has evolved, the
organization for supply management has similarly
evolved. The organization has developed to respond to
the changing working requirements. The management
part of the Navy Supply System organization consist of
the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research,
Development and Acquisition). This office is
responsible for supervising the Navy-wide policy in
production, procurement, supply, and disposal of
material. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is
responsible for planning and determining material
support needs of operating forces. This includes
equipment, weapons or weapons systems, material,
supplies, facilities, maintenance, and support services.
The Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command
(COMNAVSUP) is responsible for providing material
support to the Navy and Marine Corps. Figure 1-1
illustrates the Department of the Navy organization.
The Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP-
SYSCOM) provides supply mamgement policies and
methods to activities of the Navy and Marine Corps.
This command is also known as NAVSUP, and is the top
level of the Naval Supply System. See figure 1-2 for list
of NAVSUP functions.
INVENTORY CONTROL POINTS
Navy inventory managers are those organizational
elements responsible for managing assigned groups of
material. The primary function of an inventory manager
is to assure proper balance between supply and demand.
Navy inventory managers can be broadly classified into
two groups. The first group includes Navy commands
whose principal mission is program management of
weapons systems and major items. These commands
manage limited numbers of items for which acquisition
and continued control are essential to accomplishing
their mission. These commands are the Hardware
Systems Commands, Project Offices, Navy Training
Systems Center, and the Military Sealift Command. The
second group includes the inventory control points
under the Naval Supply Systems Command. These are
the Navy Aviation Supply Office ASO and Navy
Ship’s Parts Control Center (SPCC). The following
1-1
