Navy Supply Corps
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The Supply Corps of the United States Navy, one of the oldest staff corps in the Navy, traces its beginnings to February of 1795 when the nation's first Purveyor of Public Supplies, Tench Francis, Jr., was appointed. Supply Corps officers are concerned with supply and fiscal issues. The official motto of the Supply Corps is "Ready for Sea," reflecting Supply's longstanding role in supporting the war-fighter.
These commissioned officers are schooled and experienced in a variety of disciplines such as inventory control, food service, disbursement, financial management, contracting, information systems, operations analysis, material and operational logistics, fuels management, and physical distribution.
Supply Corps officers can be members of the Supply Department of a wide range of Navy units, or can be billeted to Supply units -- such as those of the Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, or NAVELSG. While Supply Corps officers are not eligible for command at sea, which is the province of certain officers of the Unrestricted Line, they can command Supply units. A Supply Corps officer is always the Commanding Officer of a Naval Cargo Handling Battalion -- groups charged with stevedoring and logistics whose constituent companies are led by both Supply Corps and Civil Engineer Corps officers -- for instance.
Supply Corps officers are nicknamed "pork chops" or simply "chops" for the resemblance their distinctive oak leaf insignia is said to bear to that dish. These officers attend the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia. The school was first opened in Washington, D.C. in 1921. It moved to its present location in 1954. Supply Corps officers are sometimes called "SUPPOS" which many believe to be incorrect nomenclature except when referring to those Supply Corps officers who hold a Supply Officer billet (Supply Officer is a specific role which a Supply Corps officer may fill; there are many other positions open to Supply Corps officers). Among the enlisted ratings that comprise the Supply Community are SHs (Ship's Servicemen) who assist Supply Officers in managing shipboard retail and service activities; SKs (Storekeepers) who assist Supply Officers in managing inventories of parts and supplies; PS's (former Disbursing Clerks (DKs) who recently merged with the Personnelman rating) who assist with the disbursment of funds; and PCs (Postal Clerks), who assist in the management of fleet postal activities).
Statistically, members of the Supply Corps have been involved in more inter-military criminal acts of misapropriation than other branches of the U.S. Navy, due to the exposure Supply Corps members have to large amounts of cash, goods, and other untraceable assets. A well known case in the 1980s had a U.S. Navy Supply Corps officer disappearing from the USS Kitty Hawk with close to five million dollars while the vessel was on deployment. Since that time, strict Quality Assurance measures have drastically reduced the number of misappropriation incidents in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps.
Supply Corps Officers can earn one or more of four warfare insignias: the Naval Aviation Supply Officer (NASO) insignia, the Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer (SWSCO) Badge, the Submarine Supply Officer insignia and the Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist (officer) pin (for supply officers assigned to a SeaBee unit).
As of 2005, Rear Admiral Daniel H. Stone, appointed in July, 2004, is the 43rd Chief of the Supply Corps. Also as of 2005 Vice Admiral Keith W. Lippert, head of the Defense Logistics Agency and Vice Admiral Justin D. McCarthy, Director of Material Readiness and Logistics on the OPNAV staff, are the two highest ranking Supply Corps Officers.
[edit] Notable Supply Corps Officers
- Melvin R. Laird — Secretary of Defense, 1969-1973
- Regis Philbin — Television Personality
- Roger Staubach — Professional football player
- Kenneth Lay — Former CEO, Enron
- A.G. Lafley — CEO, Proctor and Gamble
- Benjamin Edwards — CEO, Edward Jones Financial Group
- William Marriott — CEO, Mariott Hotels
- Leonard Lauder — CEO, Estee Lauder
- Ed Straw — COO, Estee Lauder
- Keith Lippert — Director, Defense Logistics Agency
