Building stronger relationships and exploring ways to improve DLA’s support for the global Special Operations Forces mission were the goals as Defense Logistics Agency and Special Operations Command leaders met for the second SOCOM/DLA Day at the McNamara Headquarters Complex March 1. The theme of the event was “Agile DLA Support for the Emergent Special Operations Forces Operational Environment.”
To get things done, it’s all about relationships, said DLA Vice Director Ted Case during his opening remarks.
“We know that the way Special Operations Forces do business around the world is unique and, in some instances, we can shift our way of doing business to better support SOF’s non-standard logistics requirements,” Case said. “We also recognize that some of our tactical logistic lines simply can’t reach you, but that does not mean we should stop trying.”
Leaders encouraged open discussion and sharing of best practices at the meeting. Subject matter experts delivered presentations on several topics including inventory control points, efficient and sustainable processes, recent research and development projects and improvements in information sharing between the two organizations.
All agreed that the world has changed a lot since the last SOCOM/DLA Day that took place in November 2014.
“Mission complexity is increasing, the number of missions they’re doing is increasing; the number of partners they’re engaging with is increasing; the number of environments they’re working in is increasing,” said James Geurts, acquisition executive for US Special Operations Command.
In such an environment, Geurts noted that his organization was seeking to be a global force—nimble and flexible in an “age of surprise.” More and more, special operations missions take the SOF to the world’s most austere locations, a situation that creates unique challenges for DLA support.
“Special Operations Forces have gone from being based in the United States and globally deployable to being globally deployed,” said Kevin Kachinski, SOF support national account manager. “DLA is continuing to find better, faster, more effective ways to support special operations forces in this new operational environment. This conference was another step forward in this effort.”
Relationships and reputation mean everything in the SOF community, Geurts added.
The second SOCOM/DLA Day went a long way in identifying direct support roles and significant ways DLA can make a positive impact in supporting the global SOF mission. Events like this are extremely helpful in deepening our understanding of the needs and capabilities of each other’s organizations, Kachinski said.