The White Falcon - 16.10.1992, Blaðsíða 4

Keflavfk Commissary
Top performers recognized in worldwide competition
SHSN Woolcock checks the arrival dates and makes sure it gets on the display floor.
Story and photos by J02 Sue Hallden
The job of ordering, storing, unpacking and
restocking shelves is an endless one for the 26
military personnel assigned to the Commis-
sary. Recently two local sailors were recog-
nized for the effective job they perform.
SHC Jim E. Marino, Deputy Commissary
Officer was named the Region Senior Enlisted
of the Year and SHSN Alex Woolcock, Pro-
duce Manager, was named Region Junior En-
listed of the Year for the Northeast Region.
SH2 Robert N. Rinehart was the runner-up in
the E-4 - E-6 category.
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA)
established an awards program to recognize
their outstanding enlisted personnel from each
of the seven regions.
The competition is divided up into three
categories, E-l through E-3, E-4 through E-6
and E-7 through E-9. Each entrant sent a
package in that went before a board of senior
enlisted personnel assigned to DeCA. They
were graded on a point system based on job re-
sponsibilities, collateral duties, awards and a
narrative written by each entrant.
“I’m responsible for ordering, receiving,
proper storage and merchandising the pro-
duce,” said Woolcock. “I also am in charge of
setting up the produce display and breaking it
down every, week. We try to find out what
people want in order to satisfy every cus-
tomer.”
Managing the store is even a trigger job.
SHC Marino is responsible for the day-to-day
operation of the store. “I oversee all the de-
partments," said Marino. “Presently we’re
averaging more than $7 million in sales annu-
ally.” Since becoming a part of DeCA in
1991, Marino said that produce sales have
increased 20 percent. “Having two produce
flights each week instead of one has had a
tremendous effect on the operation.”
DeCA consolidates all the Army, Air Force,
Marine Corps and Navy Commissaries world-
wide under one agency. Keflavfk became part
of DeCA in October 1991 and recently transi-
tioned from the European region to the North-
east region mainly due to the fact that their
main supply distribution now comes from
Mechanicsburg, Penn.
Marino, Woolcock and Rinehart were up
against people from 50 other stores. The
Northeast region consists of Iceland, New-
foundland, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hamp-
shire and Maine.
“This is the first competition I've seen where
Navy senior enlisted can be recognized for
their job performance,” said Marino.
When the results came in neither Marin
Woolcock were present to hear the ncw.sfl^^H
was scared,” said Woolcock. “They play^Ur
joke on me. I had left for the day and then was
called back to the store. I immediately began
thinking that something was wrong. I got to the
office and the master chief was very serious,
then he told me that I had won first place in my
category. I was really shocked and surprised.”
SHC Marino was on leave in the states at that
time. “I remember getting a call on the answer-
ing machine that told me to call back to Iceland
right away. I thought that something bad had
happened. When I finally got a hold of the
masts' chief, he told me that I had won in my
category.
“It’s a great honor,” said SHCM Jose M.
Ramos, Commissary Store Officer. “We just
transferred to this region and this award lets
people know that Iceland is out here and we're
doing our job. We have a great staff here and
I’m proud of all of them.”
“I believe this award distinguishes the *
Keflavfk Commissary as one which has top
performers,” said Marino.
Marino and Woolcock went on to world-
wide DeCA competition earlier this month in
SanFrancisco, Calif. Here they were up against
only six other people in their respective cate-
gories. Each regional finalist received a plaque,
general's coin and certificate of commendatiori
signed by Maj. Gen. John P. Dreska, Dirt^flhx
of DeCA, for being named the best in
region.
SHC Marino checks the expiration dates on products on the display floor.
4
The White Falcon