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U.S. Navy Supply Corps Celebrates 213th Anniversary

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080225-15
Release Date: 2/25/2008 3:44:00 PM

From Naval Supply Systems Command Office of Corporate Communications

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (NNS) -- In a series of events around the globe, the U.S. Navy Supply Corps celebrates its 213th birthday throughout the month of February.

"Our history is rich with stories of how our officer and enlisted community has superbly supported our Navy, Marine Corps and more recently our joint and coalition partners around the clock, around the world," said Rear Adm. Alan S. Thompson, commander, Naval Supply Systems Command and chief of supply corps.

The Supply Corps recognizes Feb. 23 as the official date of their birthday.

"We are positioned throughout our Navy's operating forces, whether afloat, in an expeditionary role ashore, with Naval Special Warfare forces, or embedded within the joint force. We currently provide substantial support to our nation's ground forces deployed in the United States Central Command area of operations. This proven track record of superior logistics support directly contributes to the Supply Corps being in even greater demand today than in the past," said Thompson.

Members of the Navy Supply Corps serve in critical acquisition positions focused on building the Navy of the future and in a wide array of logistics roles supporting today's Fleet readiness, as well as Sailors and their families.

"We truly deliver combat capability through logistics to our nation's warfighters," Thompson added.

Such work requires its more than 3,900 active and reserve component Supply Corps officers and 25,000 members of the supply enlisted community to be skilled in a wide array of disciplines such as supply chain management, contracting, information system management, fuels management, transportation, physical distribution, ordnance inventory management, and retail sales operations.

In February 1795 the Supply Corps was assigned the task of supporting six frigates. By 1845, the shift from sail to steam propulsion prompted the supply system to respond successfully with coaling stations, coal procurement and distribution. During World War II, the Supply Corps expanded dramatically and stepped up to meet the challenge of a global war by providing a wide-range of logistics and acquisition capabilities. By the 1960s, the Supply Corps had introduced cutting-edge technologies such as automation of Navy supply functions afloat and ashore.

The U.S. Navy supply community around the world will celebrate this special anniversary with commemorative balls from Norfolk to San Diego and from Tokyo to Naples, Italy along with cake-cutting ceremonies on nearly every Navy ship worldwide.

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