Deborah Daye, a benefits specialist in Duke Human Resources, is in on military leave in Kuwait as part of the U.S. Navy Reserve. 

A Navy reservist for 18 years, she took a bit of Duke to Kuwait when she left home in April 2011: the Flat Blue Devil. 

On Tuesday, Working@Duke received a photo of her with the Flat Blue Devil, along with this note:

". with Iraq closing down we have been busy here.

This is my fourth deployment - 2 on active duty and 2 as a reservist. In the picture, I am in front of the Armory and that is all I can tell you about the equipment.

My current deployed unit is Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Forward (NAVELSG FWD) MIKE Rotation. We are currently deployed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Our mission is to deliver expeditionary logistics capabilities with mobilization-ready Navy Reserve Force Sailors and equipment to combatant commanders in support of the national military strategy. 

NAVELSG Supply supports operations of the staff, establishes policy and provides funding to units, as well as supporting the mobilization, training and outfitting of 1,200 reserve and active duty personnel annually. Challenges faced by the supply department involve berthing and outfitting personnel.

Though NAVELSG is part of the United States Navy Reserve, it includes both active duty and reserve components. NAVELSG commands can be deployed all over the United States and with any branch of the US Armed Services. Due to their focus on rapid response in any environment, NAVELSG is one of the most flexible supply groups in the military.

We are known as the "Combat Stevedores" of the Navy. NAVELSG provides a wide range of supply and transportation functions critical for peacekeeping, crisis response, humanitarian, and combat service support missions.

NAVELSG, an Echelon IV command directs five Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiments (NELR) (Echelon V) and their subordinate Navy Cargo Handling Battalions (NCHBs) each battalion composed of one Headquarters Company, four Surface Companies, one Air Cargo Company, one Cargo Transfer Company, one Fuels Company and one Expeditionary Support Company. Additionally, each NELR has an Expeditionary Communications Detachment (ECD).  

I have been in the reserves for 18 years and with this unit since October 1999. During that time I have been with the Reserve Center in Raleigh, NC where I served with two very different units: the Chaplain unit as a Religious Petty officer and also with the Hospital Corps Unit where I was the Captain's Administrative Assistant. In my current unit I drill in Charlotte, NC and our Head Quarters in is located in Charleston, SC. I have served as a stevedore, radio operator and as Leading Petty Officer in Admin. 

I plan to retire in 13 months. The Navy has been an adventure for me but it is time for this ole salt dog to retire. 

Tell every hi for me and that I am excited to get back home. No matter where I go in the world, getting back to NC is always a joy for me. I miss home more and more as I get older."  

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