Richmond, VA –
Name: Amber Kramer
Organization: DLA Aviation-Cherry Point, North Carolina, Material Requisition Section, Components Material Support Branch, Material Management Division,
Years of Service: 5 years
What is your job title, and what do you do, specifically? As one of three customer support specialist leads, I helped stand up the new Material Requisition Section here at DLA Aviation-Cherry Point. I ensure my teammates know how to properly research unfilled orders utilizing the various DLA enterprise systems and websites. Part of my job is to also work alongside our teammates ensuring aggressive action is taken to expedite contract delivery dates and purchase requests. In this role, our team comes up with solutions to fill the customers’ sales orders until the contracts deliver by submitting emergency buys to procure surplus material, seeking lateral support from other units and working with the engineers to come up with possible alternative materials.
What kind(s) of training and education helps your work performance in your current role? The training I received at the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Supply School in Meridian, Mississippi and my 14 years of experience serving as an aviation supply specialist have helped me the most in my current role. I am essentially doing the same job just utilizing different systems. The Enterprise Business System Order Fulfillment 408 Course also helped me to better understand how to navigate through EBS and apply these skills to my current role as customer support specialist lead. In addition, I also have a Bachelor's Degree in transportation and logistics from the American Military University in Charlestown, West Virginia.
What aspect(s) of your current job gives you the most personal satisfaction? Why? The aspect of my job that I like most is providing training and giving guidance to customer support specialists as well as customer support technicians assigned to the Material Requisition Section. Watching others succeed grants me a huge amount sense of personal satisfaction. I am truly blessed to be a part of such a great, team filled with hardworking individuals that give all they’ve got to support the warfighter as well as the mission.
If you could speak directly to the warfighters you support, what would you tell them? Thank you for your hard work, dedication, long hours and the time away from your families. Thank you for also serving others and running into places most people run away from. No matter your role, know that you are courageous, brave and strong. Without you, we wouldn’t enjoy the liberties we do. Thank you for your service.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve in the workplace is lack of initiative, laziness, and people who say "that isn't my job." Some people need to have personal pride in the work and give it 110 percent.
What are some of your passions outside of work? My passion outside of work is watching my two daughters play softball for their schools and travel teams. My oldest daughter is currently a sophomore in High School and she has verbally committed to continue her softball journey throughout college.
Who is your favorite actor or actress and why? If I had to pick a favorite actor I guess it would be Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He is just a charismatic guy and I love his sense of humor.
What is your proudest accomplishment? Aside from my children being born, my proudest accomplishment was becoming a United States Marine. The experiences I went through, the Marines I served with and the core values the Marine Corps instilled in me has made me who I am today.