diff --git a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/kernel/NativeJDBCSeq.java b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/kernel/NativeJDBCSeq.java
index b1beb7eee..fae8d80f9 100644
--- a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/kernel/NativeJDBCSeq.java
+++ b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/kernel/NativeJDBCSeq.java
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ import serp.util.Strings;
 /**
  * {@link JDBCSeq} implementation that uses a database sequences
  * to generate numbers.
+ * Supports allocation (caching). In order for allocation to work properly, the database sequence must be defined
+ * with INCREMENT BY value equal to allocate * increment.
  *
  * @see JDBCSeq
  * @see AbstractJDBCSeq
@@ -73,9 +75,11 @@ public class NativeJDBCSeq
     private DBIdentifier _seqName = DBIdentifier.newSequence("OPENJPA_SEQUENCE");
     private int _increment = 1;
     private int _initial = 1;
-    private int _allocate = 0;
+    private int _allocate = 50;
     private Sequence _seq = null;
     private String _select = null;
+    private long _nextValue = 0;
+    private long _maxValue = -1;
 
     // for deprecated auto-configuration support
     private String _format = null;
@@ -203,29 +207,76 @@ public class NativeJDBCSeq
     public void endConfiguration() {
         buildSequence();
 
-        DBDictionary dict = _conf.getDBDictionaryInstance();
-        if (_format == null) {
-            _format = dict.nextSequenceQuery;
-            if (_format == null)
-                throw new MetaDataException(_loc.get("no-seq-sql", _seqName));
-        }
         if (DBIdentifier.isNull(_tableName))
             _tableName = DBIdentifier.newTable("DUAL");
 
+        DBDictionary dict = _conf.getDBDictionaryInstance();
         String name = dict.getFullName(_seq);
-        Object[] subs = (_subTable) ? new Object[]{ name, _tableName }
+
+        if (dict.useNativeSequenceCache){
+            if (_format == null) {
+            	_format = dict.nextSequenceQuery;
+            	if (_format == null)
+            		throw new MetaDataException(_loc.get("no-seq-sql", _seqName));
+            }
+            
+            Object[] subs = (_subTable) ? new Object[]{ name, _tableName }
             : new Object[]{ name };
-        _select = MessageFormat.format(_format, subs);
+            _select = MessageFormat.format(_format, subs);
+        }
+        else {           
+        	String format = dict.nextSequenceQuery;
+            if (format == null) {
+                throw new MetaDataException(_loc.get("no-seq-sql", _seqName));
+            }
+            
+            // Increment step is needed for Firebird which uses non-standard sequence fetch syntax.
+            // Use String.valueOf to get rid of possible locale-specific number formatting.
+            _select = MessageFormat.format(format, new Object[]{name, 
+                String.valueOf(_allocate * _increment)});            
+        }       
         
         type = dict.nativeSequenceType;
     }
     
     @Override
-    protected Object nextInternal(JDBCStore store, ClassMapping mapping)
+    protected synchronized Object nextInternal(JDBCStore store, ClassMapping mapping)
         throws SQLException {
+        DBDictionary dict = _conf.getDBDictionaryInstance();
+        
+        //To maintain existing behavior call allocateInternal to get the next 
+        //sequence value, which it stores in _nextValue, and simply return the value.
+        if (dict.useNativeSequenceCache){
+        	allocateInternal(0, store, mapping);
+        	return _nextValue;
+        }
+        
+        if (_nextValue < _maxValue) {
+            long result = _nextValue;
+            _nextValue += _increment;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        allocateInternal(0, store, mapping);
+        long result = _nextValue;
+        _nextValue += _increment;
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Allocate additional sequence values.
+     * @param additional ignored - the allocation size is fixed and determined by allocate and increment properties. 
+     * @param store used to obtain connection
+     * @param mapping ignored
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected synchronized void allocateInternal(int additional, JDBCStore store, ClassMapping mapping)
+        throws SQLException {
+    	
         Connection conn = getConnection(store);
         try {
-            return getSequence(conn);
+            _nextValue = getSequence(conn);
+            _maxValue = _nextValue + _allocate * _increment;            
         } finally {
             closeConnection(conn);
         }
@@ -300,9 +351,7 @@ public class NativeJDBCSeq
         try {
             stmnt = conn.prepareStatement(_select);
             dict.setTimeouts(stmnt, _conf, false);
-            synchronized(this) {
-                rs = stmnt.executeQuery();
-            }
+            rs = stmnt.executeQuery();
             if (rs.next())
                 return rs.getLong(1);
 
@@ -327,13 +376,12 @@ public class NativeJDBCSeq
      *  Where the following options are recognized.
      * <ul>
      * <li><i>-properties/-p &lt;properties file or resource&gt;</i>: The
-     * path or resource name of a OpenJPA properties file containing
-     * information such as the license key	and connection data as
+     * path or resource name of an OpenJPA properties file containing
+     * information such as connection data as
      * outlined in {@link JDBCConfiguration}. Optional.</li>
      * <li><i>-&lt;property name&gt; &lt;property value&gt;</i>: All bean
      * properties of the OpenJPA {@link JDBCConfiguration} can be set by
-     * using their	names and supplying a value. For example:
-     * <code>-licenseKey adslfja83r3lkadf</code></li>
+     * using their names and supplying a value.</li>
      * </ul>
      *  The various actions are as follows.
      * <ul>
@@ -373,7 +421,7 @@ public class NativeJDBCSeq
     }
 
     /**
-     * Run the tool. Return false if an invalid option was given.
+     * Run the tool. Returns false if an invalid option was given.
      */
     public static boolean run(JDBCConfiguration conf, String[] args,
         String action)
diff --git a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DB2Dictionary.java b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DB2Dictionary.java
index 62252d54c..a52d8cfaf 100644
--- a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DB2Dictionary.java
+++ b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DB2Dictionary.java
@@ -225,12 +225,15 @@ public class DB2Dictionary
         }
     }
 
-    public String[] getCreateSequenceSQL(Sequence seq) {
-        String[] sql = super.getCreateSequenceSQL(seq);
-        if (seq.getAllocate() > 1)
-            sql[0] += " CACHE " + seq.getAllocate();
-        return sql;
-    }
+    public String[] getCreateSequenceSQL(Sequence seq) {    
+    	String[] sql = super.getCreateSequenceSQL(seq);
+    	
+    	if (seq.getAllocate() > 1 && useNativeSequenceCache){    	
+    		sql[0] += " CACHE " + seq.getAllocate();
+    	}
+    	
+   	return sql;
+    }   
 
     @Override
     protected String getSequencesSQL(String schemaName, String sequenceName) {
diff --git a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DBDictionary.java b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DBDictionary.java
index a5bf393a5..6665bb7b8 100644
--- a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DBDictionary.java
+++ b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DBDictionary.java
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ public class DBDictionary
     public String sequenceNameSQL = null;
     // most native sequences can be run inside the business transaction
     public int nativeSequenceType= Seq.TYPE_CONTIGUOUS;
+    public boolean useNativeSequenceCache = true;
 
     protected JDBCConfiguration conf = null;
     protected Log log = null;
@@ -3402,6 +3403,14 @@ public class DBDictionary
         buf.append(seqName);
         if (seq.getInitialValue() != 0)
             buf.append(" START WITH ").append(seq.getInitialValue());
+
+        if (seq.getIncrement() > 1 && useNativeSequenceCache){
+        	buf.append(" INCREMENT BY ").append(seq.getIncrement());
+        }
+        else if ((seq.getIncrement() > 1) || (seq.getAllocate() > 1)){
+            buf.append(" INCREMENT BY ").append(seq.getIncrement() * seq.getAllocate());
+        }
+
         if (seq.getIncrement() > 1)
             buf.append(" INCREMENT BY ").append(seq.getIncrement());
         return new String[]{ buf.toString() };
diff --git a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/OracleDictionary.java b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/OracleDictionary.java
index 57c718a47..0388863d3 100644
--- a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/OracleDictionary.java
+++ b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/OracleDictionary.java
@@ -997,12 +997,15 @@ public class OracleDictionary
     }
 
     @Override
-    public String[] getCreateSequenceSQL(Sequence seq) {
-        String[] sql = super.getCreateSequenceSQL(seq);
-        if (seq.getAllocate() > 1)
-            sql[0] += " CACHE " + seq.getAllocate();
-        return sql;
-    }
+    public String[] getCreateSequenceSQL(Sequence seq) {    
+    	String[] sql = super.getCreateSequenceSQL(seq);
+    	
+    	if (seq.getAllocate() > 1 && useNativeSequenceCache){
+    		sql[0] += " CACHE " + seq.getAllocate();
+    	}
+    	
+    	return sql;    	
+     }
     
     /**
      * Return the preferred {@link Types} constant for the given
diff --git a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/PostgresDictionary.java b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/PostgresDictionary.java
index 8563fa5cf..989c9ba10 100644
--- a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/PostgresDictionary.java
+++ b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/PostgresDictionary.java
@@ -365,8 +365,11 @@ public class PostgresDictionary
     @Override
     public String[] getCreateSequenceSQL(Sequence seq) {
         String[] sql = super.getCreateSequenceSQL(seq);
-        if (seq.getAllocate() > 1)
+
+        if (seq.getAllocate() > 1 && useNativeSequenceCache){
             sql[0] += " CACHE " + seq.getAllocate();
+        }
+
         return sql;
     }
 
diff --git a/openjpa-persistence-jdbc/src/test/java/org/apache/openjpa/persistence/generationtype/TestNativeSeqGenerator.java b/openjpa-persistence-jdbc/src/test/java/org/apache/openjpa/persistence/generationtype/TestNativeSeqGenerator.java
index 349a681b4..64e41cfab 100644
--- a/openjpa-persistence-jdbc/src/test/java/org/apache/openjpa/persistence/generationtype/TestNativeSeqGenerator.java
+++ b/openjpa-persistence-jdbc/src/test/java/org/apache/openjpa/persistence/generationtype/TestNativeSeqGenerator.java
@@ -62,4 +62,34 @@ public class TestNativeSeqGenerator extends SQLListenerTestCase {
         assertTrue("Next value should depend on previous genid", nextId >= genId + 1);
         em.close();
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Asserts native sequence generator allocates values in memory
+     * and requests sequence values from database only when necessary.
+     */
+    public void testAllocationSize() {
+        //Run this test only if the user has elected to not use the Native Sequence Cache.
+    	if (supportsNativeSequence && !dict.useNativeSequenceCache){
+	        // Turn off statement batching for easier INSERT counting.
+	        dict.setBatchLimit(0);
+	        em.getTransaction().begin();
+	        resetSQL();
+	        for (int i = 0; i < 51; i++) {
+	            createEntityE2();
+	            em.persist(entityE2);
+	        }
+	        em.getTransaction().commit();
+	
+	        // Since allocationSize has a default of 50, we expect 2 sequence fetches and 51 INSERTs.
+	        assertEquals("53 statements should be executed.", 53, getSQLCount());
+	        String[] statements = new String[53];
+	        statements[0] = ".*";
+	        statements[1] = ".*";
+	        for (int i = 2; i < 53; i++) {
+	            statements[i] = "INSERT .*";
+	        }
+	        assertAllExactSQLInOrder(statements);
+	        em.close();
+    	}
+    }
 }
diff --git a/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/jpa_overview_mapping.xml b/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/jpa_overview_mapping.xml
index b59dee2e5..9b6914410 100644
--- a/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/jpa_overview_mapping.xml
+++ b/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/jpa_overview_mapping.xml
@@ -967,10 +967,11 @@ default.
                             allocationSize property
                         </secondary>
                     </indexterm>
-<literal>int allocationSize</literal>: Some databases can pre-allocate groups
-of sequence values. This allows the database to service sequence requests from
-cache, rather than physically incrementing the sequence with every request. This
-allocation size defaults to 50.
+<literal>int allocationSize</literal>: The number of values to allocate in
+memory for each trip to the database. Allocating values in memory allows the JPA
+runtime to avoid accessing the database for every sequence request.
+This number also specifies the amount that the sequence value is incremented
+each time the sequence is accessed. Defaults to 50.
                     </para>
                 </listitem>
                 <listitem>
diff --git a/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_dbsetup.xml b/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_dbsetup.xml
index 80479c736..d98c996c4 100644
--- a/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_dbsetup.xml
+++ b/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_dbsetup.xml
@@ -1914,8 +1914,9 @@ create a generated name. The default value is the underscore <literal>"_"</liter
                     </indexterm>
 <literal>NextSequenceQuery</literal>: A SQL string for obtaining a native
 sequence value. May use a placeholder of <literal>{0}</literal> for the variable
-sequence name. Defaults to a database-appropriate value.  For example, 
-<literal>"SELECT {0}.NEXTVAL FROM DUAL"</literal> for Oracle.
+sequence name and <literal>{1}</literal> for sequence increment.
+Defaults to a database-appropriate value. For example, 
+<literal>"SELECT {0}.NEXTVAL FROM DUAL"</literal> for Oracle database.
                     </para>
                 </listitem>
                 <listitem id="DBDictionary.NullTypeName">
diff --git a/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_optimization.xml b/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_optimization.xml
index 9d772f497..88f1afba2 100644
--- a/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_optimization.xml
+++ b/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_optimization.xml
@@ -301,8 +301,7 @@ it can become a factor.
                     </entry>
                     <entry colname="desc">
 For applications that perform large bulk inserts, the retrieval of sequence 
-numbers can be a bottleneck.  Increasing sequence increments and using 
-table-based rather than native database sequences can reduce or eliminate 
+numbers can be a bottleneck. Increasing sequence allocation sizes can reduce or eliminate 
 this bottleneck. In some cases, implementing your own sequence factory can 
 further optimize sequence number retrieval.
                     </entry>
diff --git a/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_runtime.xml b/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_runtime.xml
index 166d1728b..bb62c268b 100644
--- a/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_runtime.xml
+++ b/openjpa-project/src/doc/manual/ref_guide_runtime.xml
@@ -1661,8 +1661,11 @@ properties:
                     </listitem>
                     <listitem>
                         <para>
-<literal>Allocate</literal>: Some database can allocate values in-memory to
-service subsequent sequence requests faster.
+<literal>Allocate</literal>: The number of values to allocate on each database
+trip. Defaults to 50, meaning the class will set aside the next 50 numbers each
+time it accesses the sequence, which in turn means it only has to make a
+database trip to get new sequence numbers once every 50 sequence number
+requests.
                         </para>
                     </listitem>
                 </itemizedlist>