Tell us: Buying your own gear

[CommunityEditor]

Ships stationed in Hampton Roads, Va., have become so starved for cash that sailors have taken to buying supplies and equipment with their own money — or they’re just not getting the gear they need to do their jobs — according to a Navy report.

A Navy Investigator General’s report from this spring described one ship, which was not named, with a $1 million supply shortfall.

“Sailors of all ranks, including the supply officer, are buying supplies out of pocket to meet operational and certification requirements,” the report said.

Has your ship had to struggle with too little money from Big Navy? Have you and your shipmates had to dip into your own pockets to buy tools, equipment or supplies the ship needed?

[Yggdrasil]

When I was a PN3, I bought trashbags once. For most, making sure that the trash was taken out was the most important liberty item. What upset me, was that my LCPO actually patted me on the back and have me kudos for this, when an E4 in the division is coming out of his pocket for this should have sent him looking for some answers.

[ElectricElvis]

Up until a year ago, when I took over as supply PO, if there was work to be done in my division, we bought our own tools, wire nuts and electrical tape. We simply couldn't get it. I spent hundreds of my E3 and E4 pay buying those items.

I decided that was unacceptable. Since I became the supply PO, I have twisted arms and ordered anything and everything that is needed to make the work happen. Granted, I only order it when the budget is available, but when it is, I order enough to get us through.

[Texpat]

I used to buy my own underwear. I considered it a uniform item and was convinced the USAF should cover it.

THis whole thread is nothing more than the Times stirring shit.

[tmurphy]

I have been working in supply for just about 8 years now I can tell you there are two sides of this story. From my past experience with purchasing/requisitioning tools for work centers it has always been a problem with accountability. It is up to the work center to have a good tool control program. I can't even count the times I have ordered drills/full tool sets/flukes for electricians and they just seem to disappear. When engineering sailors transfer they seem to have sticky fingers and decide to just go shopping in the work center prior to transferring thinking Supply will just order more. We can't mark each and every single tool.

Maybe this is a good lesson for the DC1/EM1/MM1 who is tired of buying tools to start taking control of the tools they have. Tell the investigators to go to the houses/cars of all those who have transferred or work there and check to see what they have setting in their garage. It is a security problem/tool control not a money problem.

[ElectricElvis]

Tmurphy, I know exactly what you mean! Being an electrician, and being the RPPO for my division, I'd be happy if when they transferred was the only time I had to replace their tools. We have started an accountability program for flukes, but the rest of the tools are one set per person. I have managed to minimize the cost by keeping the kit pretty basic. One small tool bag, a $10 pair of wire strippers, a blue tool roll, a pair of $5 fuse pullers, one roll of electrical tape, and a sharpie marker to stencil with, and a $10 flashlight set (Smith and Wesson Xenon w/ holster; I ordered mini-maglites and got these instead).

Having innundated my division with tools, it is now only the new people who come to me needing anything. All the shops have been issued multiple full sets of both socket sets required by their pms cards(28pc and 13pc), inspection mirrors, and flat blade 6" screwdrivers.

Woe unto the person who walks up to me now and says they can't do the work because they don't have tools!

<evil maniacal laugh>

[CDE]

"The Times stirring Sh*t"....oh what a dandy response that is...we are not talking about pens and pencils here!

- When I was a Divo in Japan I used to go to the 100Y store and get all kinds of awesome office supplies...ok, I am talking pens and pencils.
- I heard a sea story about a CO buying an $8000 commercial radar for his ship because he was so angry with his surface search radar always having to be CASREPed
- I think the HTs on my first ship used to pay out of pocket for gold paint because they couldn't get it from supply for some reason
- I've seen a couple guys that had their own personal tool boxes that they could lock up

[tmurphy]

Originally Posted by ElectricElvis

Tmurphy, I know exactly what you mean! Being an electrician, and being the RPPO for my division, I'd be happy if when they transferred was the only time I had to replace their tools. We have started an accountability program for flukes, but the rest of the tools are one set per person. I have managed to minimize the cost by keeping the kit pretty basic. One small tool bag, a $10 pair of wire strippers, a blue tool roll, a pair of $5 fuse pullers, one roll of electrical tape, and a sharpie marker to stencil with, and a $10 flashlight set (Smith and Wesson Xenon w/ holster; I ordered mini-maglites and got these instead).

Having innundated my division with tools, it is now only the new people who come to me needing anything. All the shops have been issued multiple full sets of both socket sets required by their pms cards(28pc and 13pc), inspection mirrors, and flat blade 6" screwdrivers.

Woe unto the person who walks up to me now and says they can't do the work because they don't have tools!

<evil maniacal laugh>

ELVIS,
Glad to see you are being proactive on getting your tool control program squared away. We need more RPPO's like you! Great job, keep up the good work..it is sad that you have to do this but it is what the fleet needs to do to get this problem under control.
I haven't even touched on search and recuse swimmers that have everything specially fitted who walk away with fins, swimmers bag, wet suits, gloves, watch, knife, mask, snorkel and all that other stuff. It is not cheap to fit a search and recuse swimmer. If tax payers only knew what goes on behind the scenes-LOL

[tmurphy]

Originally Posted by CDE

"The Times stirring Sh*t"....oh what a dandy response that is...we are not talking about pens and pencils here!

- When I was a Divo in Japan I used to go to the 100Y store and get all kinds of awesome office supplies...ok, I am talking pens and pencils.
- I heard a sea story about a CO buying an $8000 commercial radar for his ship because he was so angry with his surface search radar always having to be CASREPed
- I think the HTs on my first ship used to pay out of pocket for gold paint because they couldn't get it from supply for some reason
- I've seen a couple guys that had their own personal tool boxes that they could lock up

Sir,
They couldn't get the gold spray paint because it is HAZMAT and it must be authorized on the SHML (Shipboard Hazardous Material Listing). If you want to get it from Home Depot/Lowe's it is an open purchase request and the C.O. has to sign off on it, along with the HAZMAT PO, dept. head and the SUPPO. Too much paperwork and headaches so most HT's just buy it UNAUTHORIZED and hide it until a inspection comes around. Most of them play stupid and say they didn't know how it got there. It is truly a two way street...can't go home/liberty until the maintenance is done but the work center can't do the maintenance without the tools/hazmat. This is the biggest problem with gun decking PMS.
Surface ships probably have it better--but imagine buying unauthorized paint on a submarine and damaging the air system.
Just a thought.

[CDE]

I know we're sort of off track here but...

1. Do the color scheme rules for valve handles require gold?
2. Is gold paint available in the supply system?

* They were not using spray paint.