PHILADELPHIA –
From meals-ready-to-eat to the boots they wear, the support Defense Logistics Agency provides makes Marines successful on the battlefield, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps said during a visit to DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia Feb. 17.
Sgt. Maj. Ronald Green was welcomed by DLA Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Charles Hamilton and senior leaders from its five supply chains: Subsistence, Clothing and Textiles, Construction and Equipment, Medical and Industrial Hardware.
“I wanted to come up here for two reasons: to see what you do for us and how you do what you do for us, and to thank you for what you do,” Green said. “Because we can’t do what we do without you.”.
Green was joined by Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Steven Hunt, Jr., senior enlisted advisor, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Howard Long, command senior enlisted advisor to the director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and U.S. Strategic Command Center, DLA Headquarters Marines liaisons and DLA Senior Enlisted Leader Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Tobin.
“On behalf of (DLA Director Air Force) Lt. Gen. Andrew Busch, I want to thank you for taking time out of your schedule to see what this phenomenal workforce does for the Marines (and other military services) out there,” Tobin said. ”It means so much to us.”
Hamilton said it was an important day for DLA Troop Support because Green was the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps to ever visit the organization.
Hamilton talked to Green about Troop Support’s priority to support the warfighter. While discussing Troop Support’s capabilities, Hamilton gave anecdotes of previous support the organization provided to its customers, including its ability to leverage existing contracts to extend support.
“When you call, I really can’t think of anything we can’t do,” Hamilton told Green. “It may be painful, it may seem a little bureaucratic, and we hope not. But for the most part, we can almost make anything happen, getting things to (service members) and Marines on the frontline.”
During his visit, Green also toured C&T’s Flag Room, where the presidential and vice presidential flags are made. He also visited Crown Clothing in Vineland, New Jersey, a C&T contractor that makes Marine Corps green and blue dress coats.