During a recent visit, Diane Morales, deputy under secretary of defense for logistics and material readiness, applauded the F/A-18E/F Integrated Readiness Support Teaming (FIRST) achievements and presented a citation congratulating the team for its support of the Super Hornet fleet and its 97.5 percent sortie completion rate during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We in the DoD think Boeing is doing a wonderful job,” Morales said. “We’re very grateful for your support and your performance. The high standard of contractor support that you established in Operation Iraqi Freedom is highly deserving of special recognition.”

FIRST is a joint government-industry team that enables fleet readiness and reduces total ownership costs by incorporating best practices and streamlined processes. By ensuring aircraft are mission ready, pilots can strike more targets with fewer sorties.

Boeing provides the retrograde assets and repair material to U.S. Navy depots, while the depots supply the management and labor. The customer buys the asset’s availability and the contractor pays for the repairs. This innovative approach leverages the strengths of the U.S. Navy Depot’s repair expertise with Boeing’s commercial practices and transportation infrastructure.

Under FIRST, Boeing’s Supply Chain Services provides warehousing services for stocked assets and transportation services for stocked and point-of-use assets. Boeing is responsible for managing inventories, forecasting demands and procuring spares.

In addition, FIRST information systems are integrated so that decision-makers and customers are provided the right data at the right time via a secure Internet interface to enable informed decisions pertaining to asset placement and allocation. Integrated information systems provide real-time data aimed at reducing repair turn-around times, logistics response times, and allows visibility of assets within all areas of the supply chain.