PHILADELPHIA –
Nearly 700 government and manufacturing stakeholders met for Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support’s Clothing and Textiles supply chain’s annual Joint Advanced Planning Brief for Industry Nov. 15-16 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Clothing and Textiles leadership and military service representatives briefed industry on future requirements and business opportunities for clothing and individual equipment during the ninth annual event.
“The JAPBI is an opportunity not just for information-sharing, but for on-the spot problem solving and collaboration among DLA, the services, and industry,” said Donna Pointkouski, event curator and C&T Strategic Material Sourcing Division chief.
DLA Troop Support Clothing and Textiles Director Air Force Col. Matthew Harnly’s opened the event encouraging attendees to ‘know their why’ in the significant support they provide to servicemembers.
“It's clear to me that the ‘why' we bring, is that the warfighter enters their day seamlessly,” Harnly said. “Never thinking about how or if they’re protected as they go into a mission. I’m optimistic we have the right communities and right people here to ask the right questions and blaze the right paths.
“To keep that positive trend moving that keeps our warfighters warm and dry, sheltered and protected, whether is upon their arrival at their first duty station, or as seasoned veterans making their way home,” Harnly said.
Army Col. Tony Lindh, project manager for Soldier Survivability at Program Executive Office Soldier echoed his sentiments.
“We’re doing this for all the right reasons, and it’s because America’s sons and daughters deserve the best,” Lindh said. “If our hearts are in the right place and we’re all aligned, there will be tough times, but we’ll get through it.”
Key topics included current uniform needs, joint uniform modernization and the Berry Amendment, a federal requirement for American-made items.
As each military service respectively briefed to the audience, Marine Corps Systems Command Clothing and Equipment Product Manager J.F. Augustine expressed what the Marines needs from industry.
“Everything that we want to develop in the kit for the Marine Corps from utility uniforms that go into the seabag to overgarments, even the loadbearing and carriage items,” Augustine said.
C&T’s new Director of Supplier Operations Leighann Mazoki encouraged vendors to reach out if they’re having challenges meeting the Berry Amendment requirement.
“Berry [Amendment] is something we follow very closely,” Mazoki said. “If you think you’re going to have challenges, communicate. It’s better to be forthright with us so that we can look to come up with a solution.”
Following the first day of briefings, attendees participated in breakout sessions respective to uniform support programs including dress clothing, combat uniforms and body armor.
“The event takes a lot of hard work to pull together and make it appear effortless, and I’m gratified by the comments over the years about how worthwhile it is to others,” Pointkouski said. “My co-workers, counterparts in the [military] services, and long-time or brand-new vendors tell me it’s the single best opportunity to learn and network with each other.”
Learn more about the annual JAPBI here.