Wasp Receives Best Ships Store Retail and Services Excellence Award
Marking the third year in a row, the first-in-class amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), Wasp’s S-3 division came home with the illustrious title of Best Ships Store Retail and Services Excellence again for fiscal year 2025.
The Ships Store Retail and Services Excellence Award, sponsored by Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUPSYS) and Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), formally recognizes contributions of ship’s service members to the quality of life of afloat Sailors and Marines by evaluating their performance in daily operations and services, customer surveys, and performance trends. The criteria for the excellence award are: accountability, sustainability, inventory management, storeroom validity, merchandise arrangement, customer service satisfaction, ship’s store operations, ship’s laundry operations, and the ship’s barbershop operations.
“Winning this award for three consecutive years is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the dedication, professionalism, and teamwork of our S-3 division,” said Capt. Cedric Nelson-Williams, Wasp’s supply officer. “Achieving this distinction once is an accomplishment: sustaining it for three years in a row reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring our Sailors receive the best customer service and demonstrates a consistent standard of excellence that I am incredibly proud of.”
Type commanders select the best ship store winners based on supply departments that exhibit superior service and exceed the established retail and service benchmarks. It takes a skilled and diligent team to accomplish this task, pushing junior and senior Sailors alike to perform their duties beyond what is expected. The award was presented by Director, Fleet Ordnance and Supply/ Fleet Supply Officer Rear Adm. Milton Troy.
“I have no doubt in my mind that WASP will win it a fourth year in a row,” said Troy. “Retail Specialists give Sailors a moment of peace, whether that’s by doing their laundry, getting a haircut, or restocking the vending machines. Thank you for your excellence.”
Morale is a vital component for building a cohesive working environment on a ship at sea. Wasp’s retail specialists provide a multitude of outlets to improve quality of life while deployed, some of which allow Sailors and Marines to experience a sense of normalcy, and others which connect them with friends and family back home. These key services boost morale command-wide and provide reprieve for everyone onboard.
“Receiving this award again is a tremendous honor,” said Retail Services Specialist 3rd Class Tyrome Chatman, vending machine supervisor. “Our team takes pride in their work, and it means a lot to be recognized again for all of the hard work and dedication that we put in to ensuring products and services are available to the crew and contribute to their well-being and morale.”
Wasp’s S-3 department has received the Ships Store Retail and Services Excellence Award for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Wasp is currently homeported in Naval Station Norfolk.
You can follow USS Wasp’s adventures on Facebook and Instagram (@usswasp_lhd1).
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