Sailors assigned to the S-3 division of the Supply department aboard aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) have been unmatched for the third straight year as a winner of Navy Exchange Service Command's Best Ship's Store Retail and Services Excellence Award.

Sailors assigned to the S-3 division of the Supply department aboard aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) are used to receiving honors as the number one carrier for the east coast and Atlantic Fleet in retail and ship's services, but now they have been unmatched for the third straight year as a winner of Navy Exchange Service Command's Best Ship's Store Retail and Services Excellence Award.

"A year ago we didn't think it was even possible," said Senior Chief Ship's Serviceman Hilton Newton. "No ship has been able to pull it off three years in a row. It's very exciting, and I'm very proud of my Sailors."

To compete for these awards, ships are required to pass an inspection consisting of all aspects of their retail and ship's services abilities.

The Fleet Type Commander and Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) evaluate each ship's accountability profile, operational analysis, customer evaluation of service, financial reports, and its ability to sustain a high level of support using information from the inspection process. Each ship that meets or exceeds benchmark requirements receives an excellence award. From there, NEXCOM's Ship's Store program staff reviews the ships to choose one that stands out from the others as the best in the fleet.

"We've won these awards the last three years back-to-back," said Newton, Truman's S-3 division retail leading chief petty officer.

Newton said awards are not won based on inspections alone, but from the daily contributions of Sailors who work tirelessly to exceed the standard and provide excellent customer service. Scoring extremely well on the supply management inspection as well as the positive feedback of ship's crew surveys completed by NEXCOM, contributed to the ship's third big win in a row.

"Customer service and satisfaction is everything for us," said Ship's Serviceman 2nd Class Kareem Morrison, Truman's S-3 division retail supervisor. "As a division, we have a lot of pride in what we do. We serve with a smile every day and we are very good at maintaining a professional environment."

Recognition as "Best in the Fleet," highlights Truman's supply department's excellence across the board through daily service and inspections, as well as the level of teamwork throughout the whole division, to include the ship's store, laundry, barber shop, coffee shop and vending machines.

Cmdr. Christopher Kovack, Truman's newly-appointed Supply Officer, said his department's recognition for their daily contributions to the ship brings a sense of accomplishment.

"It feels good to join a team that has consistently set high standards across the fleet and continues to provide valuables services to Truman Sailors," said Kovack. "I'm very proud of my Sailors and we will continue to reach that same standard for years to come."

Truman is currently undergoing a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for maintenance and refurbishment of shipboard systems to prepare for future operations. For more news from USS Harry S. Truman, visit www.navy.mil/local.cvn75

For more Navy news, visit
www.navy.mil,
www.facebook.com/usnavy, or
www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), visit www.navy.mil/.