VINELAND, New Jersey –
Defense Logistics Agency’s senior enlisted leader Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Tobin lauded a long-time uniform manufacturer during his visit to three DLA Troop Support Clothing and Textiles vendors Aug. 19.
Tobin thanked management and employees for their support making military clothing items while visiting DeRossi & Son and Crown Clothing in Vineland, N.J., and the Federal Correctional Institution at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst N.J.
“I wish every single soldier had the opportunity to see the operation here,” Tobin said while at DeRossi & Son. “History starts right here.”
DeRossi & Son has manufactured U.S. military clothing since World War II, its president, Donald DeRossi, said. It currently manufactures the men’s Army dress coat, which takes 152 operations to make.
Tobin, C&T Director Air Force Col. Patrick Owens, Supplier Operations Director Roy Dillard and other DLA military personnel toured each vendor site from their respective fabric cutting to sewing and packing areas.
Crown currently makes the Marine Corps green and dark blue dress coats and FCI is one of DLA Troop Support’s vendors that manufacture the Army Physical Fitness Uniform.
“We’ve made a little bit of everything since 1986 and we’re glad to do it,” Crown Manager Rusty Cander said. “And we’ve never had a complaint from the field.”
Tobin said seeing the factories gave him a different perspective on uniforms and he plans to bring other military senior leaders to see them, including DLA Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Andrew Busch.