Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Bahrain Fleet Post Office (FPO) extended its customer service hours to provide exceptional, tailored service to its customer base, Dec. 19-25.

Like most post offices, NAVSUP FLC Bahrain's postal operations experienced an increased amount of outgoing and incoming mail during the holiday season.

To accommodate the increasing demand, Bahrain FPO increased its customer service hours by 2 hours every day. Additionally, in an effort to provide mail services to customers 7 days a week, the FPO is open for the first time every Friday, a regular day-off in the region, during the month of December until Christmas Day.

"We support all tenant commands at four different military sites, which includes supporting at any given time a deployed Carrier Strike Group, an Amphibious Ready Group, and 20 locally assigned USS, USNS and USCG vessels," said Chief Petty Officer Vincent Aldrich.

"To give you an idea on the amount of volume we see, the Fleet Mail Center (FMC) processes an average of over 400,000 pounds of mail every month," said Aldrich.

Mail is moved via commercial and military air transportation. The local FPOs are serviced by contracted ground transportation from the FMC daily.

As the postal hub for the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), FLC Bahrain FPO provides fleet and expeditionary logistics capabilities and quality of life services to joint and coalition forces deployed and homeported within the U.S. Central Command AOR.

"We are really noticing the increase now since the return of dependents to NSA Bahrain. During the holiday season our volume increases easily over 50%," says Tim Lynch, FLC Bahrain's regional postal manager.

"It's just too easy to turn on your phone, push a few buttons and make an online order. If it's under 70 pounds, chances are the USPS will ship it, and that means our team here is lifting it, loading it, scanning it, sorting it, and delivering it," said Lynch.

FLC Bahrain Postal division personnel include four DoD civilians, 15 Navy uniformed personnel, two USMC uniformed personnel, and 16 local nationals who process the region's mail.

"We are also heavily supported by the Navy Reserve forces that play such a huge role not just here, but at Navy post offices worldwide, especially around the holidays," Lynch said.

"Our customers on the ground see us every day, they are used to seeing the familiar faces behind the counter and at mail call, but what they don't see every day is what happens behind the scenes here and at the FMC. That's where the heavy lifting gets done," said Lynch.

On any given day the FMC is making pier side deliveries to every ship in port, doing huge bulk mail load outs on Combat Logistic Force vessels or preparing mail for transport to locations in UAE, Oman and Djibouti, or direct delivery by aircraft to ships at sea.

"The dynamic teamwork in this region is fantastic!" said Dan Bernaiche, the FMC superintendent.

The FMC works hand-in-hand with CTF-53 air routers, load planners, and beach detachments and the FLC Bahrain Logistics Support Center to meet the ever-changing requirements to move mail to any given location at any time.

"Mail can easily backup this time of year, but communication and proactive decision making with the Navy mail routers, the Joint Military Postal Activity in Chicago, and other NAVSUP regional mail managers ensures mail continues to flow and prevents delays," said Lynch.

"The last thing we want to see is your mail either arriving too late or not being delivered on time. All of us in this business are in it because we believe in customer service, that's what we are here for. It's what defines NAVSUP," said Lynch.

NAVSUP FLC Bahrain has more than 160 military and civilian personnel providing logistics support in the region. The command is one of eight FLCs worldwide in the NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS) Enterprise.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,500 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.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support, visit http://www.navsup.navy.mil/navsup/ourteam/navsupgls/news/ or http://www.facebook.com/navsupgls/.

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

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