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News | Jan. 15, 2020

USAMMA team tours Distribution Susquehanna – gains insight into medical shipment process

By DLA Distribution Public Affairs

United States Army Medical Materiel Agency Distribution Operations Center personnel traveled to Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, to tour building 89 operations Dec. 17. 

Bryan Ward, supervisory supply technician, Distribution Susquehanna Special Commodities team, guided USAMMA and DLA Distribution Headquarters J4 Shelf Life Special Commodities team through building 89, providing an overview of cold chain management processing, medical kitting and control room temperature storage. 

During the tour the group witnessed the process of packing out five Fed-Ex Custom Critical “CSafe RKN” containers with 4,000 packages of Pyridostigmine Bromide tabs as a Stock Transfer Order to Distribution Yokosuka, Japan, per DLA Troop Support request. Ward explained that these containers are used for pharmaceuticals that have longer transit times and require active temperature control measures to maintain 2 degrees to 8 degrees Celsius. 

“It is great to have the opportunity to come and tour Susquehanna’s facilities to better understand the support DLA provides for our troops,” stated Army Lt. Col. Reeder, director, USAMMA DOC. “The knowledge and insight gained in this visit will enhance medical distribution operation discussions with our stakeholders.” 

Robert Garrettson, team lead, SLSC agreed. “DLA strives to incorporate best practices in medical operations and processing to ensure materiel is delivered to customers in a viable ready to use state. None of this would be possible without the dedicated workforce at our distribution centers globally, internal DLA partnerships and strong customer relations.”

“It’s always good to have the USAMMA team see DLA medical operations and how their materiel is handled,” said Garrettson, adding, “the team was excited to see some of the equipment used for larger temperature controlled shipments firsthand vice only in pictures and was glad to have this opportunity to see DLA’s medical operations on-site as it comes up in discussions frequently.”

“USAMMA was surprised at the scope and size of the operation,” said Garrettson, who summarized, “Reeder and I agreed these visits are a great opportunity to build on the solid relationship between the Army and DLA.”