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NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Sailors Clean Up Local Japanese Community
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka Sailors volunteered their time during a community relations clean-up event Sept. 27 in the Honcho neighborhood of Yokosuka, which is a five-minute walk outside the gates of Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka.
In a gesture of goodwill, the volunteers collected litter and debris for several hours along the narrow streets and alleyways that make up one of the city's most popular locations for tourists and locals alike.
These efforts brought the logistics Sailors directly into their Japanese neighbors' community in an effort to keep their shared hometown beautiful, as well as build service and leadership expertise for the Sailors.
"We did this because last week there were a lot of storms blowing trash around; so we thought it would be nice to help the community and build a better relationship with our Japanese hosts," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Giovanni Vanniel, a clean-up volunteer.
The host-nation citizens were grateful to meet their helpful American neighbors, and many shopkeepers and passersby waved and shook hands to greet the Sailors and say "thank you."
"I'm proud to be a part of the Yokosuka family, whether it's volunteering in the community or just having a good time," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Jefferson, a clean-up volunteer. "Volunteering is important to the Navy. We're supporting each other and we are able to lean on each other, because nobody can do too much on their own -- which is why people come together and great things tend to be achieved."
At the end of the day, hard work, sweat, and the desire to help their host nation community members led the group of Sailors back through the gates of the Yokosuka naval base, knowing they made a positive impact on their local community.
"I believe Japan is my home now; like I said, it's been good to me and I want to give back," said Vanniel. "I believe in good karma -- what comes around goes back around -- and the Navy has been good to me and I just want to keep continuing grow as a Sailor."
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 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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