Commander, Joint Region Marianas, presented submarine tender USS Frank Cable's Command Religious Ministries team the 2015 Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship award April 22.

Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar presented the award during a ceremony at U.S. Naval Base Guam's theater.

The Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship, sponsored by Commander, Navy Installations Command, recognizes commands engaged in exemplary voluntary community service activities that promote academics, life skills, and civic education for youth.

"We focused on making a definable difference," said Lt. Cmdr. Louis Lee, Frank Cable command chaplain. "We chose volunteer opportunities with a specific purpose to directly affect individuals and cause visible progress in community development."

Two hundred seventy-five Frank Cable Sailors volunteered more than 821 hours during more than 20 community outreach functions on Guam and multiple countries around the Western Pacific.

"Frank Cable Sailors giving back to the community highlights the importance of being part of the community," said Capt. Drew St. John, Frank Cable commanding officer. "These Sailors are making our Navy and nation a better place and the things they are doing everyday are nothing short of impressive."

Frank Cable volunteers have been and are still focusing their community development efforts where the need is strongest. Whether it is volunteering at Guam Memorial Hospital's Children's Ward on holidays, or visiting multiple elementary schools and youth-centered programs Sailors said they feel they are making a lasting impression.

"I want to leave this community better than when I arrived," said Religious Programs Specialist 2nd Class Marcus Bonner, an active volunteer and community relations event coordinator. "If people don't have an outlet of service where they are freely giving, I feel that we can get so absorbed and forget, especially as Sailors, we are part of another community."

Command leadership recognizes the importance of community involvement and makes a point to regularly recommend service beyond self.

St. John said, "I encourage the Frank Cable team to continue giving back to the community because it makes a difference; both for those they are helping and for the Sailors involved."

Frank Cable, forward deployed to the island of Guam, conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

For more news from USS Frank Cable (AS 40), visit www.navy.mil