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News | April 22, 2021

Take your child to work day – pandemic edition

By Jason Shamberger DLA Disposition Services Public Affairs

The pandemic has had a profound effect people’s lives around the globe. Many businesses and even entire industries have been forced to undergo significant changes to their daily operations, such as increasing the number of teleworking employees, including the Defense Logistics Agency. 

daughter sits on mothers lap in home office displaying a rainbow fan with good vibes written on it
Amahre Major, 9, shares good vibes with her mother, Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Resource Analyst Elaine Major, while visiting her mom’s home office in San Antonio, Texas.
daughter sits on mothers lap in home office displaying a rainbow fan with good vibes written on it
Daughter visits mom's home office
Amahre Major, 9, shares good vibes with her mother, Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Resource Analyst Elaine Major, while visiting her mom’s home office in San Antonio, Texas.
Photo By: Courtesy photo
VIRIN: 210406-D-D0441-500

The considerable change also proved true for schools, as virtual learning became the norm for students worldwide. With both parents and students occupying the same space at home, the traditional “Take Your Child To Work Day” has taken on a different look. 
 
Children previously unaware of their parents’ daily routine have gotten a front-row seat to just what mom or dad are up to when they go off to work every day. 

Elaine Major, a DLA Disposition Services resource analyst in San Antonio, Texas, is one of many DLA employees teleworking while performing parental duties, as her 9-year-old daughter Amahrye can attest to. 

Mom with two kids hanging off her
Hillary Casari, a resource manager in Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services’ Battle Creek, Michigan, office, poses with her two children Izzy, 8, (left) and Caleb, 5 (right).
Mom with two kids hanging off her
Working from home
Hillary Casari, a resource manager in Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services’ Battle Creek, Michigan, office, poses with her two children Izzy, 8, (left) and Caleb, 5 (right).
Photo By: Courtesy photo
VIRIN: 201015-D-D0441-500
“Having her see in real-time what mommy (does) gives her an appreciation for what I’m doing to help keep her well taken care of,” Major said. “Also, it lets her know not to try and grow up too fast, because adulting is not always all it’s cracked up to be.” 
 
This firsthand observation of what their parents do can be eye-opening for some as they begin to understand how a parent helps DLA accomplish its mission. 

Hillary Casari, a resource manager in the Battle Creek headquarters office, said she has shared her daily job duties with her kids Izzy and Caleb, and they seem to understand the importance of her work. 

Regarding her mom, 8-year-old Izzy said, “You’re helping soldiers, but it seems pretty stressful.”  

To see a parent in action for the first time is helping Izzy and other DLA kids everywhere get a better understanding of not only what their parents do but also what DLA as an organization does. 

For those who don’t have the option of seeing the daily inner workings of DLA with their own eyes, viewing this brief video is a great introduction to the DLA mission: “What is DLA?”

04:24
VIDEO | 04:24 | What is the Defense Logistics Agency?

DLA Disposition Services personnel can help create additional understanding of what the agency does by sharing the newly released video overview: DLA Disposition Services - DOD’s Reverse Logistics Experts.   
 

04:12
VIDEO | 04:12 | DLA Disposition Services: DOD's Reverse Logistics Experts (open caption)