Nearly 20 military, civilian and family member volunteers from Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka, Site Singapore partnered with local Singaporean volunteers as part of the annual International Coastal Cleanup Nov. 21 at Marina East Coast in Singapore.

The International Coastal Cleanup is an annual event conducted in nearly 100 countries worldwide, coordinated by the US-based agency, The Ocean Conservancy, which is a non-profit organization.

The program aims to remove and collect data on the debris from the shorelines, waterways and beaches of the world's lakes, rivers and oceans, said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Shuva Chowdhury, a member of Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific and fellow event volunteer, adding that this information serves to educate the public on marine debris issues and to encourage positive change by submissions to governmental and international organizations that will reduce debris in waterways and enhance aquatic environments.

For the NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, Site Singapore volunteers it was all about community.

"We are all part of the community we live in and should share in the responsibility of making this community a better place to live in, work in and raise our families," said Ruth Brock, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, Site Singapore, deputy site director. "Volunteering makes that happen."

The volunteers battled heat, insects, broken glass and other sharp objects in order to clear nearly 1-ton of bottles, plastic debris and litter, which was gathered into trash bags and properly disposed of. Additionally, the group cleared from the beach several large tires, oil drums, wood pieces, pallets, rope and pipes.

"It was devastating to see how much trash was everywhere on the beach when we arrived," said Brock. "Upon our departure, everyone had a sense of accomplishment, the beach was clean and we all knew that it could now be safely enjoyed by the local community and we had prevented this trash from reaching the water and causing damage to the local marine life."

These efforts brought together the U.S. naval community with their Singaporean neighbors in an effort to better the environment that they both call home.

"We are guests in Singapore and it is important to contribute to the society that we live in," said Brock. "Volunteering on this project was very rewarding."

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 all across Japan, to Sydney, Singapore, Guam and even Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean with a mission to serve the Asia Pacific Region's forward deployed maritime warfighter with around-the-clock logistics support.

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.

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

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