JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
I’m often asked, “Where do you work on the base?” When I say Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Charleston, I get a bewildered look and I almost immediately have to follow up by saying the “Navy Reserve Center.”
Since many folks do not understand what a NOSC is, I thought I would take the opportunity to explain what it is and what we do. NOSC Charleston provides administrative, training, and medical assistance to approximately 300 Selected Reserve Sailors, utilizing a small but dedicated full-time staff. While many people may be familiar with term “Selected Reservists” or SELRES, a better way to describe these individuals is “Citizen Sailors.” That’s because these men and women – who are doctors, nurses, police, firefighters, teachers, students, stay-at-home parents, and a multitude of other careers in their civilian lives – are simultaneously Navy Sailors, Chiefs and Officers.
Citizen Sailors maintain full-time civilian jobs and also work for the Navy the equivalent of one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Many are a part of your local community, living and working among us in the Lowcountry. Though some live over 1000 miles away, traveling a great distance to serve the needs of the Navy.
Regardless of where they live, their hard work ensures they can seamlessly integrate into the active duty Navy when called on by maintaining their health, training and fitness. This is where NOSC Charleston fits in. The full-time staff supports these Citizen Sailors so they can be mobilization-ready and deploy anywhere around the world when the nation’s call comes.
When that call is made, and they are notified of an upcoming mobilization, they will come to NOSC Charleston to complete their preparations and ensure their requirements are all met prior to heading to their deployment site. After their deployment is complete, our SELRES sailors will return once again to NOSC Charleston and prepare to transition back to civilian life and once again become a Citizen Sailor.