JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The Navy Reserves has been around for 100 years. Starting on March 3, 1915, they have been an important asset to the United States military since. The Reserve Officer Training program was established in 1926 which is a college-based program for training graduates to become commissioned officers in the United States armed forces. Locally, the Navy Operational Support Center ensures all 330 of Joint Base Charleston's Navy Reservists are mission ready.
Commander Stephen Jones, NOSC Charleston's commanding officer, said, "The NOSC is the administrative service center for Navy Reserve Sailors. They are solely responsible for keeping the assigned Sailors mobilization ready so they can support mission requirements around the world in a moment's notice."
Having only 13 active duty sailors and only one civilian staff member, it makes taking care of all 330 Sailors a bit challenging, but it isn't anything they can't handle.
"The staff consists of full time support employees and active duty Sailors that drive the day to day administration tasks for the Navy Reservists who are attached to the NOSC," said HM2 Jacob Johnson, NOSC Charleston training department representative, "All the Sailors assigned to NOSC Charleston support an active duty command within the fleet. Each Sailor is directly assigned to a specific ship or command. For example, a hospital corpsman who drills at NOSC Charleston is attached to the reserve unit at NOSC Charleston. However, the reserve unit is actually attached to Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL. This is also where they will complete their required two weeks of training a year and usually will deploy in support of said unit."
The NOSC's 14 member staff handles the reservist's travel vouchers, medical, uniform and equipment issuing and other support functions. When reservists are preparing to deploy, the NOSC ensures their medical and travel paperwork is complete and all their necessary equipment has been issued.
"An average day consists of assisting Navy Selected Reservists in the completion of orders submission and travel requests. I usually aid anywhere from 10-20 Sailors a day in the travel and order writing process. If I have time I will dedicate it to other collateral duties such as safety, suicide prevention, mentorship or public affairs," Jones said.
The NOSC located on the Naval Weapons Station of JB Charleston serves the state of South Carolina but there are NOSCs located in each state and world-wide.
Jones said "There is at least one NOSC in each state and each NOSC has a regional command that they are responsible too. NOSC Charleston is in Region Southeast Jacksonville. Puerto Rico and Guam also have NOSC's with attached selected Navy Reservists."
When active duty forces require additional manning, the NOSC will determine on how many to send and from which NOSC they will come.
"The staff at NOSC Charleston feels their efforts in support of selective reservists helps the active duty fleet fill critical manning short falls as needed," Johnson said, "SELRES are members of the Ready Reserve which is a program maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense to maintain a pool of trained service members who may be recalled to active duty should the need arise. Aiding SELRES sailors in the completion of medical readiness and administrative tasks helps keep them mobilization ready to support vital fleet missions in a moment's notice."