What does a unit supply specialist do?
In a manufacturing setting, a unit supply specialist is in charge of overseeing stocks and inventories to ensure smooth supply chain operations. Their responsibilities include establishing inventory guidelines, monitoring the supply and demand of products, performing research and analysis to identify new business opportunities, managing the procurement procedures, and developing strategies to optimize operations. Furthermore, as a supply chain specialist, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Unit supply specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real unit supply specialist resumes:
- Dispatch vehicles, maintains dispatch records, trip tickets and records in logbooks, manage the GSA vehicle fleet of vehicles.
- Experience with Microsoft office word, outlook, excel, and PowerPoint.
- Provide critical training of personnel and brigade soldiers on usage of military policies, and basic knowledge of PBUSE programs.
- Maintain records for outgoing and incoming stock through automation systems such as PBUSE, SAMS-1E, TPE planner, and ARMT.
- Prepare and present inventory training using Microsoft PowerPoint.
- Establish and maintain radio and digital communications during combat relate training scenarios.
- Maintain automated supply system for accounting of organizational and installation supplies and equipment and small arms and ammunition.
- Monitor all sensitive items and unit inventories and secure and control all sensitive items, including weapons and ammunition.
- Coordinate with depot item managers, program engineers and system program managers to resolve procurement bottleneck problems and expedite requisitions.
- Secure and control supplies utilizing FEDLOG and SAMMS to research and account for appropriate equipment and parts.
- Serve as the supply NCO whenever the company supply sergeant are not available.
- Conduct redeployment operations after the unit return from Iraq.
- Document findings in writing and provide recommendation to NCO in charge for relief of responsibility IAW supply regulations.
- Supervise and facilitate redeployment inventories while maintaining state specific property integrity.
- Provide customer support through research of FEDLOG and property automate accountability system for supply management information data as required.
Unit supply specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 35% of Unit Supply Specialists are proficient in Stock Control, Combat, and Organizational Maintenance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Unit Supply Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Stock Control, 35%
Developed and implemented protocol for ordering materials and equipment, and maintaining proper stock control.
- Combat, 24%
Maintained accountability and responsibility for over $28 million worth of equipment during garrison and combat operations with meticulous detail.
- Organizational Maintenance, 17%
United States Army National Guard Mount Holly, NJ Supervised operation and organizational maintenance of weapons systems and specialized equipment.
- Control Weapons, 9%
Secure and control weapons in security areas using the Army's standard.
- Ammunition, 7%
Monitored all sensitive items and unit inventories and secured and controlled all sensitive items, including weapons and ammunition.
- Logistics Management, 1%
Helped represented my senior logistics management specialist and higher level officials at command conferences to advise on current and future statuses.
Most unit supply specialists use their skills in "stock control," "combat," and "organizational maintenance" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential unit supply specialist responsibilities here:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a unit supply specialist to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "production, planning, and expediting clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, and production managers and need to communicate the firm’s scheduling needs effectively." Additionally, a unit supply specialist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "articulated property accountability/readiness issues convincingly in written and oral communications. "
Customer-service skills. Many unit supply specialist duties rely on customer-service skills. "stock clerks sometimes interact with customers in retail stores and may have to get the item the customer is looking for from the storeroom.," so a unit supply specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways unit supply specialist responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "provided customer service and logistical support to an organization of approximately 300 personnel in a soldier training environment. "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of unit supply specialists is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday unit supply specialist duties, as "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "monitored and supported the supply discipline program to monitor sensitive items; conducted detailed annual and cyclic inventories. "
Math skills. For certain unit supply specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a unit supply specialist rely on this skill, as "some material recording clerks use math to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what unit supply specialists do: "conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis of logistics operations using simulation models and other tools. "
The three companies that hire the most unit supply specialists are:
- Army National Guard257 unit supply specialists jobs
- National Guard142 unit supply specialists jobs
- A-dec4 unit supply specialists jobs
Compare different unit supply specialists
Unit supply specialist vs. Warehouse worker
Warehouse workers are employees assigned to handle tasks inside the company's warehouse. They are in charge of managing the entry and exit of goods inside the warehouse, ensure that the inventory is up-to-date, and check the quality of the goods that are stored. Warehouse workers receive the items that are delivered to the warehouse, ensure that the items are complete using the delivery list, and keep the items safe in the designated area in the warehouse. They also clear any items that will exit the warehouse by ensuring that only the items that are on the list will be removed from the warehouse, and checking if these items are safely packed before leaving.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a unit supply specialist are more likely to require skills like "stock control," "combat," "organizational maintenance," and "control weapons." On the other hand, a job as a warehouse worker requires skills like "pallets," "customer service," "basic math," and "electric pallet jack." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Warehouse workers really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $34,731. Comparatively, unit supply specialists tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $44,337.warehouse workers tend to reach similar levels of education than unit supply specialists. In fact, warehouse workers are 2.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Unit supply specialist vs. Warehouse clerk
A warehouse clerk is an employee responsible for the process of ordered goods while keeping the warehouse well-organized and clean. Warehouse clerks accept company products' deliveries, inspect them for any damages, and store them accordingly in the warehouse. Companies require their warehouse clerks to have many skills, such as an operating forklift or other machinery to transport large and heavy goods. Warehouse clerks must also possess abilities like knowledge in Warehouse Management Software programs and detailed-oriented capable of noticing small errors in orders.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that unit supply specialist responsibilities requires skills like "stock control," "combat," "organizational maintenance," and "control weapons." But a warehouse clerk might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "data entry," and "logistics."
Warehouse clerks may earn a lower salary than unit supply specialists, but warehouse clerks earn the most pay in the transportation industry with an average salary of $32,595. On the other hand, unit supply specialists receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $44,337.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Warehouse clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than unit supply specialists. In fact, they're 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Unit supply specialist vs. Warehouse assistant
Warehouse assistants oversee a warehouse's stocks and products. Their primary responsibilities include receiving and sending products from the warehouse. They move materials and inventory across the facilities. It's their job to sort, organize, and keep stock in the right location. They are also responsible for issuing materials and other supplies for storage in the central warehouse. The skills they must acquire include road transportation, packing, stocking, loading, shipping, and general labor.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a unit supply specialist is likely to be skilled in "stock control," "combat," "organizational maintenance," and "control weapons," while a typical warehouse assistant is skilled in "customer orders," "pallets," "industrial trucks," and "customer service."
Warehouse assistants earn the best pay in the transportation industry, where they command an average salary of $36,486. Unit supply specialists earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $44,337.Most warehouse assistants achieve a similar degree level compared to unit supply specialists. For example, they're 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Unit supply specialist vs. Inventory controller
An inventory controller is responsible for performing duties for the inventory department of an organization. Inventory controllers ensure the adequacy of the product and materials needed for daily operations. They maintain inventory reports, manage stock supplies, negotiate with third-party vendors for orders of quality products, monitor deliveries, verifying orders for shipment, handling the employee and customers' requests for supplies, and receiving orders efficiently. Inventory controllers keep receipts of all inventory transactions, as well as inspecting the quality of the inventory items, requiring them to have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Types of unit supply specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
