The next day following that unfortunate sortie started a new challenge for the supply department. This would entail a week long inspection of all the ship's supply divisions. That meant chiefs looking over all aspects of the department including; supply management, parts and material ordering, food services, mail, laundry, and retail operations. For my part, I am accountable for laundry and retail operations. My SUPPO is accountable for management, parts and food services. Mail is a little different situation.
After a quick introduction the chiefs split up among the three divisions and started looking over our records. This was a little nerve racking because mistakes are always going to be found in records dating back about a year. After they were done evaluating the records, they inpected my spaces and equipment. Then they talked to and conducted training with my Leading Petty Officer and seamen.
I will admit they found some discrepancies in all the divisions, I was expecting that. The whole point of LTT is to find the problems that need to be fixed before the SMC inpection. This inspection is practice for that certifying event. The LTT is not really a graded evolution so to speak. It is practice for what will happen during SMC. The point is to become a little more comfortable with the inspectors and root out potential problems so they can be fixed ahead of time.
The Captain was briefed at the end of the week on the strengths and weaknesses of the Supply department as a whole. The inspectors were thorough and quite frank with my CO. To a degree, I appreciated that they did not hold anything back. At the same time, every little problem started adding up. Now I just need to start fixing all the discrepancies and become more knowledgeable about my operations. Neither of those tasks intimidate me in the least. I am just glad I got through it realitively unscathed.
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