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