3 & 2, Module II, Logistic Support and Financial Control,  NAVEDTRA  287-02-45-81.  Most  logis- tic  support  functions  of  the  CRP  can  be  conducted smoothly  by  adhering  to  procedures  outlined  in the above publication and other pertinent direc- tives  issued  by  the  command. NAVY  SUPPLY  SYSTEM At  any  given  time  there  are  more  than  20 million separate stock numbers assigned to items within the Navy supply system. One of the main purposes of the Navy supply system is to ensure that  the  Navy  has  access  to  items  on  the  open market that are needed to maintain naval forces in the highest possible state of readiness. Guns, paper, motors, beans, uniforms—you name it, the Navy needs it. OPEN  PURCHASES Occasionally  a  piece  of  equipment  may break down and require a repair part that is no longer  stocked  in  the  Navy  supply  system (assigned   a   national   stock   number).   There   is probably a legitimate reason for this. For example: (1)  According  to  statistics,  since  the  part  fails  only once every 17 years and costs ,000 to replace, Navy  supply  officials  have  determined  it  is  not cost effective to keep the part in stock. (2) If the part  does  fail  frequently,  it  is  now  cheaper  to replace the entire piece of equipment rather than to  buy  the  new  part.  (3)  The  company  that originally manufactured the part has gone out of business  or  has  stopped  producing  the  part. This  same  line  of  reasoning  may  apply  to consumables   used   in   the   Command   Religious Program. They may no longer be stocked by the Navy supply system, because (1) they are obsolete, (2)  stocking  them  is  no  longer  cost  effective, (3) the company has stopped producing them, or (4)  there  is  currently  little  demand  for  them. Whenever  this  situation  arises,  RPs  and chaplains  should  check  with  the  supply  officer concerning  the  open-purchase  system,  whereby items may be purchased by the command on the open market. However, this system should not be used simply because it may be more convenient. In  order  for  the  Navy  supply  system  to  work smoothly,  it  must  not  be  circumvented. For   example,   if   the   Command   Religious Program needs 10 boxes of candles to use during religious  services  throughout  the  fiscal  year,  these candles are available through the supply system and  should  be  purchased  that  way.  Such  a procedure as picking them up on the way home or  buying  them  with  petty  cash  funds  is  not legitimate.  Such  an  authorization  by  the  chaplain may lead to much difficulty when paying the bill. On  the  other  hand,  when  ships  deploy overseas, some items needed for operation of the Command Religious Program may be difficult to obtain in any way other than by open purchase. One  such  item  is  sacramental  wine.  Although sacramental wine is available in the supply system, logistic  requisitions  of  large  shipments  (enough wine to accommodate a squadron of ships for an extended  deployment)  may  be  difficult  to  arrange. Again,  conferring  with  the  supply  officer  would be  the  best  approach  in  meeting  this  need. Leading  RPs  should  make  a  list  of  all  items needed  for  logistic  support  of  the  Command Religious  Program.    A  corresponding  list  of applicable  stock  numbers  should  be  compiled  to match this list. If there are legitimate items not available in the system but needed for the opera- tion  of  the  Command  Religious  Program,  these items should be identified and listed, and the list should  be  reviewed  often. Nonappropriated funds are not to be used for the open purchase of needed items. Appropriated funds are to be used by the Command Religious Program  managers  to  provide  necessary  logistic support. LOGISTIC   MANAGEMENT INVOLVING  OPERATING  FORCES The  logistic  support  already  mentioned  in  this chapter  would  apply  to  most  Navy  or  Marine Corps installations ashore, where deployed forces are not involved. This section pertains to support for  the  Command  Religious  Programs  of  opera- tional  forces,  such  as  the  Fleet  Marine  Force (FMF)  or  forward  deployed  ships. The  Squadron  or  Group  Chaplain Groups of ships or squadrons often form task forces and operate together as directed by their respective  fleet  commanders.  In  these  cases,  a chaplain  is  not  normally  assigned  to  each individual  ship,  but  a  squadron  or  group  chaplain is   usually   embarked   in   the   flagship   of   the squadron or group commander. The chaplain will normally visit ships of the force on a rotating basis to  conduct  worship  services,  perform  pastoral counseling,  and  provide  ministry  to  personnel. If  the  chaplain  is  to  move  around  from  one ship  to  another,  the  complete  itinerary  must  be 4-38