An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | Dec. 23, 2022

Troop Support dishes out Christmas turkey, cakes and pies

By Michael Hong DLA Troop Support Public Affairs

As the Department of Defense’s premier logistics agency, the Defense Logistics Agency, specifically DLA Troop Support, relies on early planning to meet warfighter needs across the globe. 

Even though orders are generally forecasted by June for the winter holidays, technicians at DLA Troop Support Subsistence have the flexibility and experience to support the warfighter’s needs as they emerge.  

DLA Troop Support relies on long-standing relationships with vendors around the globe and an industry experience spanning over half a century to meet the requirements of commanders wherever they are stationed. 

This Christmas, military members will be treated to even more dessert and eggnog than what they saw at Thanksgiving. From 40,270 lbs. of pies and cakes in November to 45,700 lbs. by the end of December. Troops will get a whopping 136 more cases-- that’s 408 gals—of eggnog for Christmas from 933 gals at Thanksgiving. 

Thanks to early preparation, the bulk of the holiday orders proceed well on schedule and much of the Christmas orders are typically received before December.  

“Most of the Christmas items arrive at warehouses alongside the Thanksgiving orders so the experience of delivering Christmas supplies is different,” said Lauren Austin, Customer Operations Branch Chief at DLA Troop Support. “But our team still closely monitors airlift and regular surface shipments to ensure all the other orders arrive in time for Christmas.” 

This year, DLA Troop Support customers included those who are currently forward-deployed in Europe—trained and equipped for a variety of missions to deter aggression and to reassure and defend Allies. 

“Being away from home over the holiday season is difficult, and the servicemembers are always grateful to have meal that brings them a little bit of comfort while away from friends and family over the holidays,” said Austin. “Customers expressed gratitude to us for ensuring holiday meal items were delivered in time for their holiday.”

DLA Troop Support, located in Philadelphia, is a major subordinate command of the Defense Logistics Agency, with a global presence including offices in Europe & Africa and the Pacific regions. It is responsible for four supply chains that provide our nation’s military and government partners with: food and feeding equipment; clothing and textile items; construction and equipment materiel; and medical materiel and pharmaceuticals.