NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Yokosuka, Japan, successfully navigated a U.S. Transportation Command policy change to ensure critical blood shipments make it to customers across Japan and the Philippines.
On September 2024, a DLA Distribution satellite site in Okinawa, Japan, received a request for support to assist the Armed Services Blood Bank Center in Okinawa with blood shipments to Misawa, Japan, and to the Philippines.
The ASBBC is the premier source of Food and Drug Administration licensed blood products for the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.
For over 20 years the ASBBC used a private company for shipping. However, a new policy from US TRANSCOM made the shipping documentation non-compliant, resulting in a suspension of blood shipments. With no other service providers in the local area able or willing to handle the shipments DLA Distribution Yokosuka, Japan, was contacted to lend their logistics experience.
“Our team is composed of a wide range of professionals who all see to the mutual interests of the United States and our Japanese allies,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Daniel Maldonado III, commander, DLA Distribution Yokosuka, Japan.
After reviewing all the necessary policies, and ensuring all regulatory requirements were met for the safe and effective transport of blood, the DLA Distribution Yokosuka, Japan, team tested a shipment of blood products to the Iwakuni satellite site.
The shipment was successfully completed to the satisfaction of all stakeholders with no defects or lapse in regulatory requirements.
As a result of this test shipment DLA Distribution Yokosuka, Japan, was able to facilitate 35 blood shipments to six different countries in support of operation Talisman Sabre and Cobra Gold 2025. It also ensures the future success of moving necessary blood products throughout the Indo-Pacific Command region in support of the warfighter.