Chapter 2 Supply Functions

Chapter 2 SUPPLY FUNCTIONS The primary. mission of the Navy supply system is to support the material needs of the Navy. The system itself is composed of a group of activities which furnish most of the materials required to meet the supply needs of ships and ashore installations. To achieve its objective of meeting the supply needs of the Navy, the system is responsible for the procurement, distribution, inventory control, and stowing of materials. It is important for Religious Program Specialists (RPs) to become familiar with the Navy’s supply system in order to enable them to meet the requirements of this system for obtain- ing the necessary support for the Command Religious Program (CRP). Procurement of ecclesiastical material or supplies in support of the CRP is handled through normal Navy and Marine Corps supply channels. The RP will play an important role in the procurement of these materials. It is im- perative that the RP knows what material is authorized, where it is obtained, the forms used in procurement, and the correct preparation of these forms. NATIONAL STOCK NUMBER The RP must become familiar with and understand certain terms in order to properly use the Navy’s supply system. The National Stock Number (NSN) is one such term. An NSN is a 13-digit stock number assigned by the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC), Battle Creek, Michigan, to identify an item of material in the supply distribution system of the United States. It consists of a 4-digit Federal Supply Classification (FSC) number, and a 9-digit National Item Identification Number (NIIN). The FSC consists of a 2-digit FSC Group followed by a 2-digit FSC Class, and the NIIN consists of a 2-digit National Codification Bureau (NCB) Code number and 7 digits which, in conjunction with the NCB Code, uniquely identify each NSN item in the Federal Supply Distribution System. For example, the NSN, 9925-00-639-8664, for a “Candlelighter and Snuffer” is illustrated below. 2-1