Reservists ready weapon in DLA arsenal: nearly 100 support OEF directly

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Mary Hanson

As DLA responded to the nation's needs during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Reservists worked alongside their DLA civilian and active duty colleagues, often leaving families and jobs and traveling great distances to do their part.

"We are professional logisticians trained to support DLA's missions worldwide," said Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Joseph Thompson, Director, Joint Reserve Forces, J-9. "DLA's Reserve members are proud to work along side the active and civilian work force to accomplish the increased demands put on DLA for war-fighter support."

For those who volunteered, the reasons were often personal.

"I have a deep love of my country and my way of life," said Naval Reserve Supply Corps officer LCDR Marcor Platt, who left his self-run ranch and family in Arizona and led a Defense Logistics Agency Contingency Support Team (DCST) to Uzbekistan. "I was proud to serve and have a deep appreciation and regard for the soldiers who are willing to sacrifice, even their lives, for what most of us take for granted."

In support of OEF, DLA mobilized 66 Reservists for up to one year and another 21 using other short term options, all coordinated and executed by the Joint Reserve Forces Directorate of DLA (J-9). All services contributed to support DLA; among the 66 partial mobilizations were 30 Air Force, 19 Navy, and 17 Army.

Some Reservists were mobilized to support increased operations or surge requirements, both stateside and overseas in locations such as Germany, the Pacific, Kuwait, Bahrain, and other Middle East locations. Others met the primary requirement to support Commander, U.S. Central Command through DLA's Contingency Support Teams (DCSTs). DCSTs deploy to the theater of operations to direct logistics support for all the goods and services DLA provides, including all types of fuel, medical supplies, ammunition, repair parts, food and water, and uniform and personal items. Initial deployment preparations began through DLA's Joint Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) soon after the 9-11 attacks. Items needed for OEF ranged from fighter aircraft and ground vehicle spare parts to saddles and feed for special operations cavalry-type operations to humanitarian daily rations for the people of Afghanistan.

The Reserve role in DCSTs reflected what Navy Supply Corps Reserve RDML Fenton Priest, Director of Reserve Readiness, called "a niche of J-9: to help prepare the DLA work force to go forward in a hostile environment."

Army Reserve Col. Frank Daniels, who led DCST operations in Central Command in Kuwait, had learned from two previous deployments to "prepare for and be prepared to see almost anything." That experience helped him to seek out and address trouble spots and to lead his team in adapting to challenging circumstances and get the job done.

"Seeing the operation from the consuming end versus the ordering end is an eye opener," said Daniels, who normally works as an operations research analyst at Defense Supply Center Philadelphia. "Everyone who works at DLA should get the opportunity to see the real fruits of their labor this way."

More than 20 Reservists were recalled to work at DLA headquarters at Fort Belvoir, many to join the Crisis Action Team (CAT) of the LRC. Many Reservists not formally mobilized rescheduled their weekend drills or quickly arranged short-term active periods. Navy Reserve Supply Corps officer CDR Mike Krebs, was perhaps the first Reservist to show up at the CAT.

"I got the call at 3 p.m. Sept. 11," said Krebs, the executive officer for the Navy unit that drills at HQ and a corporation income tax auditor for the State of Maryland. "I was on board the next day."

Navy Reserve LCDR Dan Conrad, who is assigned to Krebs' unit, left his job as a national technical assistance program manager at USDA for a nine-month recall to the CAT.

"It was one of the extremely rewarding and interesting experiences of my working career," he said. "We wrote daily operational briefs that captured the highlights of the entire supply system. Sometimes I saw on CNN the very things I read the night before. Inside the CAT, we were in-the-know."

Conrad felt trepidation about returning to his civilian job after such a long absence but was pleased to fred that "my boss not only welcomed me back, but expressed appreciation for my service to the country--even though I left a hole when I was mobilized."

Air Force Reserve Maj. Kurt Guyer, mobilized to the CAT for 10 months, was also pleased with his employer's support. Like many Reservists, Guyer's income decreases if mobilized. His company, which manages large-scale projects for both commercial and government agencies, paid the salary differential for several months and continued his health benefits. "They deserve more than kudos," said Guyer.

Guyer was also impressed with how quickly the CAT was activated after 9-11 and with the support of mobilized Reservists. "DLA did a great job of accommodating the influx of Reservists," he said. "They supported us, trusted us, and allowed us to make key decisions."