The Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) San Diego Fleet Assist Team trained dozens of junior officers in ship's store and supply operations during a training course held Oct. 18-20 in San Diego.

The ship's store officer training course -- one of several held throughout the year -- was open to Sailors assigned to shipboard retail and services divisions and covered topics such as item procurement and pricing, financial systems training, branding and merchandising, avoiding unmatched expenditures, personnel issues, records keeping, and auditing procedures.

"With anything you see in the ship's store, someone had to order and process it, receive it, and price it correctly, and make sure it's something people are actually going to want," said Chief Petty Officer Dashka Celestin. "There's a lot that happens behind the scenes just to get that candy bar or bottle of shampoo on the shelf."

By providing the extended training to junior officers running the operations, the team has a direct impact to Sailor morale in nearly every corner of the globe.

"At the end of the day, when Sailors are on deployment they have nowhere else to go," said Celestin. "It's our job as logisticians to make sure we can provide them with a little piece of home, whether they're pierside or sailing through the waters in the Middle East. If they know they can go to the ship's store and find exactly what they need or want, it brings them joy."

The Navy has been working hard to bring first-class shopping experiences to shipboard Sailors, implementing new branding initiatives which aim to make ship's stores more closely resemble the more aesthetically pleasing Navy Exchange stores they'd have access to at their home bases.

"When you're on deployment, there are certain items you can't just get out in the middle of nowhere," said Celestin. "We train these officers to effectively manage and balance their finances, plan ahead for their crews, anticipate their needs, and to be able to execute a load-out order appropriately, before the ship ever leaves the pier."

Revenue from ship's store operations goes directly to each ship's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) program, funding Sailor quality of life programs and activities.

"The support we strive to provide does help the crew streamline their supply operations and pass inspections, but it will also ensure the Sailors are happy," said Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Phaff. "The morale levels on board ships can really make all the difference in the world to the Navy's warfighting readiness. In the end, that's what it's all about."

NAVSUP FLC San Diego, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other joint and allied forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 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.

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