[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10900-S10901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       TRIBUTE TO THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE U.S. NAVY SUPPLY CORPS

 Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, I would like to commend the 
outstanding service of the U.S. Navy Supply Corps, which is celebrating 
its bicentennial 

[[Page S 10901]]
this month. The Supply Corps is charged with the responsibility of 
providing logistical support to all U.S. Navy ships. The Navy Supply 
Corps was created by Congress in the Naval Armament Act of 1794 and 
officially began its service to our Nation in 1795.
  The Supply Corps has seen many dramatic changes since the early days 
of its founding. During the late 1790's, each of our Navy ships was 
assigned a single warrant officer with the enormous responsibility of 
purchasing and providing all of the necessary equipment and provisions 
to maintain the ship's daily operations. A modern aircraft carrier 
serving with the U.S. Navy today may have as many as 15 supply officers 
aboard. The board variety of duties currently performed by supply 
officers require them to have detailed knowledge of accounting 
procedures, food service, foreign currency exchanges, and management of 
pay records. The Navy Supply Corps School currently trains about 3,800 
students per year to become specialists in business, inventory 
management, financial data processing, transportation, storage 
procedures, petroleum handling, and purchasing.
  I am pleased to note that the Navy Supply Corps School has been 
located in Athens, GA, since January 15, 1954. Every supply officer 
serving with the U.S. Navy has been trained at the Supply Corps School 
in Athens. In addition the school is home to the foreign officer supply 
course [FOSCO]. Since the course began its operations in 1955, it has 
graduated more than 1,200 international students/officers from over 50 
different countries. The foreign officer supply course serves the 
extremely important function of increasing the number of military 
contacts between the United States and other friendly governments. Such 
contacts enhance the level of understanding between nations and make 
significant contributions to the cause of peace. Recently, the Navy 
Supply Corps School received the prestigious ``E'' Award, which 
recognizes excellence in the field of training, from the Chief of Naval 
Education and Training.
  The outstanding relationship between the Navy Supply Corps School and 
the local Athens community should serve as a model for other military 
installations and host communities to follow. Many of the students and 
staff at the Navy Supply Corps School actively participate as tutors 
and mentors for local at-risk students in Athens area schools. While 
the students benefit from the interaction with much-needed positive 
role models, the participating service members receive a boost in 
morale that comes from the realization that they are making a 
recognizable improvement in the lives of their fellow citizens.
  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
U.S. Navy Supply Corps for its 200 years of excellent service. We wish 
it continued success in the future.


                          ____________________