BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
My name is Meranda Grafmyer, and I am currently a member of the Defense Logistics Agency’s Pathways to Career Excellence program.
Prior to coming to DLA in 2012 I was working for an Amazon warehouse in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as a packer/picker for shipping packages to customers like you and me. One day I overheard a co-worker explaining that she accepted a job with DLA. I had no clue what that meant or what the agency did until I did my research. As I discovered more information about DLA, I became very interested in applying – as the idea of supporting the warfighter caught my attention.
Applying for a position within the agency took a couple of months – and a few tries – but I was finally accepted in 2016. I started as a Wage Grade 5 in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, with DLA Distribution.
In 2018, I began my career with DLA Disposition Services as a WG6 material examiner and identifier and a year later became a wage grade 7 ME&I for local stock number verifier.
After spending a couple of years as a LSN verifier I felt it was time for a change of pace, so I took on the challenge of applying to the PaCE program and I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the program.
This program has given me great opportunities to grow and learn within Disposition Services. With my Distribution background combined with my current Disposition Services knowledge I have been able to see the entire property process within the government from beginning to end.
Even though I came from a field site, I didn’t have a clear understanding of exactly what our agency did with the property being processed for shipment to a centralized demilitarization center. That changed when I was able to make a visit to Anniston, Alabama.
Anniston is a three-house facility, which means that they are a field site, demilitarization center and a serialized small arms demilitarization center. During my visit, I was able to see and work property from ‘cradle to grave;’ focusing on the process of kind, count and condition of property that was being turned in; as well as induct 1348’s into the Distribution Standard System.
The team at Anniston was very welcoming and knowledgeable – providing my group and me with detailed information about their site operations. My team and I appreciated their kindness and would like to acknowledge them for that.
The focus for myself on this trip was the demilitarization process, where I was able to witness property going through this procedure. You may ask why this is so important and that’s because DEMIL property must be destroyed to protect national security – by ensuring controlled property is not used for its originally intended offensive or defensive purposes.
Seeing property that I once received in the warehouse and watching it be destroyed amazed me. I finally felt like it completed the puzzle. I am now able to understand the importance of ensuring that property is coded correctly with the supporting documents – such as inert or drain and purge certifications – as these prevent safety mishaps involving our employees and contractors.
I have gained a wealth of knowledge on the end life of property through the DEMIL process. I am spending the next couple of months finishing the PaCE program and eventually heading to Susquehanna, Pennsylvania - where I am excited to help others learn what I had the chance to experience firsthand.
Editorial Note: If you are interested in learning more about the PaCE Program, you can find it at https://www.dla.mil/Careers/Join-Our-Team/Programs/PaCE/. Additionally, if you are looking for opportunities to join the program, keep an eye out on USAJobs.com during the Spring and Fall seasons when positions are typically available.