Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka conducted a two-week joint postal supervisor training event, which culminated in a graduation ceremony for Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Soldiers and civilians in attendance Sept. 23 at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka.

"This is the first time the postal supervisor course was conducted in the overseas Pacific region and the first time for the Navy in either the Pacific or Atlantic OCONUS (outside contiguous United States) postal operations," said Otilio Santos, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka region postal manager, adding the event was a unanimous success story.

The postal supervisor course provided students the training and basic knowledge to successfully conduct business upon return to their respective work sites across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, said Santos.

Instructors from the InterService Postal Training Activity (IPTA) based out of Fort Jackson, South Carolina, provided the training.

Course subjects included identifying military postal service responsibilities, operating automated military postal system (AMPS) database, assuming custodian of postal effects (COPE) responsibilities, performing retail system software (RSS) functions, and inspecting a military post office.

"What we do is 100-percent customer service," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Earl Norwood, IPTA postal instructor. "The goal is to improve how the students operate, to leave a message with them that it's not about this package; it's not about this statistic. Inside of the little package, inside of the envelope, there's people's stuff, there's people's things, there's people's contact from home and we can never forget that."

The mission of the military postal service does not change for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who utilize it across the world, said Norwood.

"I have letters in my office dating back to 1945 from my great uncle, and he's sending his letter back to his wife thanking her for all the care packages that she'd sent him," said Norwood. "Today in Afghanistan, there are Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines sending messages back to their families saying thank you for the care packages; it hasn't changed."

The 23 joint service students who graduated the program also appreciated the level of knowledge that was shared with them and where excited to utilize their newly-acquired skills back at their local post offices.

"The most helpful thing was that we were able to get into the instruction, and actually see what the regulation states and apply it to example situations to see how to run the post office according to the regulations," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Shelly Bishop, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka logistics specialist, adding the customer was her number one priority.

"I really like the customer service aspect of my job," said Bishop. "I know mail helps bring customers a little piece of home although they are here in Japan, and it's an honor to be a part of that."

After the training was complete, the graduates traveled back to their different post offices, commands, services and countries with more information on how to best serve their military customer.

"It was tough training, but on the other side it was very nice to have the experience," said Son-Yong Cha, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, Site Chinhae postal clerk. "I am really honored to be part of the postal world."

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), is the Western Pacific region's largest U.S. Navy logistics command. Headquartered just 26 miles due south of Tokyo, the enterprise networks more than 20 sites from Misawa, Japan, to Sydney, Australia; Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to Guam with a mission to deliver supply and logistics solutions that enable deployed maritime warfighter readiness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of approximately 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide, providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

The NAVSUP and Navy Supply Corps team as a whole shares one mission -- to deliver sustained global logistics and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. NAVSUP/Navy Supply Corps' diverse team of more than 25,000 civilian and military personnel oversee a diverse portfolio including supply chain management for material support to Navy, Marine Corps, joint and coalition partners, supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, security assistance, and quality-of-life issues for our naval forces, including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods. The NAVSUP/Navy Supply Corps team forms a vast network of professionals who deliver unparalleled products and services to customers in the fleet and across the world.

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For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.