PHILADELPHIA –
New hires from the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support participated in the annual Troop Support Academy, a two-day orientation program designed to provide incoming employees with a broad understanding of the agency's mission and operations May 20-21.
The academy exposed employees to information about the DLA enterprise, the military warfighters it supports, and the scope of DLA Troop Support's supply chains.
Led by the DLA Command Support office, the event highlighted each of Troop Support's supply chains: Medical, Subsistence, Clothing and Textiles, and Construction and Equipment. Presentations were also given by representatives from the Product Test Center, Operations and Plans, Internal Review, and Procurement Process Support, as well as members of the military, they will be supporting in their new jobs.
Commanding General of the Army’s 28th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Michael Wegscheider spoke with attendees about the importance of logistics in the military, especially in contested areas where service members can face daily threats.
“It is so important that the things that come out of DLA are straight, work, get to the soldiers that use them, and get there on time,” he said. “And in my experience that is generally true.”
Subject matter experts and former Troop Support employees emphasized the importance of the organization's mission: to deliver optimal, global supply chain solutions to enable ready, lethal warfighters and our other valued partners. Presenters highlighted the vast influence of Troop Support's processes on the experiences of warfighters.
Jen Buongiorno, Construction and Equipment supply chain logistics program specialist, went over the various logistics programs her supply chain provides to customers and gave advice to the new employees.
“Welcome. We’re happy you are here,” she said. “This is an excellent agency to work for. I highly recommend you get involved and read your emails from the command admin. There are tons of leadership development opportunities to take advantage of.”
Nicole Sheleva, a management analyst with the Command Action Branch, said the event was a highly valuable experience that explained the foundation of Troop Support’s purpose and clarified how the employees’ contributions align to providing America’s warfighters, and other entities, with full-spectrum logistics support.
“As an active-duty airmen for 30 years, I lived the mission and was on the receiving end of the support,” she said. “The Troop Support Academy reinforced that pride in knowing that our team is always contributing to something bigger than ourselves, whether as a military member or civilian, we feel that same sense of duty. It’s not just a job, it’s a commitment.”