More than 70 Air Force Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Defense Logistics Agency Joint Reserve Force leaders recently joined in a two-day event to train, exchange ideas and broaden their skills, during the DLA JRF February Battle Assembly at the McNamara Headquarters Complex, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
IMAs, who are accountable to the Air Force Reserve Command, augment active-duty units throughout the Air Force and other government agencies, such as DLA.
“The event was open to Air Force IMAs from the six primary-level field activities and J-codes, the DLA director and command chief, DLA Joint Reserve Force senior leaders, joint team leaders, Reserve coordinators, [Joint Reserve Force] directorate leads, senior enlisted leaders and sister service personnel,” said Carisa Blanc, the JRF team lead for personnel administration. “It provided an opportunity to complete mandatory ancillary training and address questions or concerns regarding the IMA program and their roles and responsibilities within their respective PLFA.”
The event began with briefings from DLA Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Andy Busch; Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Tobin, the DLA senior enlisted leader; and Rear Adm. Deborah Haven, director the DLA JRF.
“This is a very, very powerful network,” Haven said. “The more we work together, the more we understand each other and the stronger DLA can be.”
Many briefers mentioned how important networking was during the All Call.
“Some of the briefs covered were MARPC Hot Topics, ARC Program Options, Education Programs, Green Dot Training, Resiliency and Suicide Prevention, Evaluations, Promotions, Developmental Education, Participation and Points, Credit and Retirements, RIO DET 7 Overview, Hot Topics, AROWS and DTS,” said Blanc.
Participants from all over the world assigned to DLA attended the inaugural event.
Overall, it was a great experience,” said Tech. Sgt. Mike Navarro, customer account specialist for counterfeit and detection avoidance at DLA Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio. “Getting to meet Lt. Gen. Busch and other DLA counterparts was refreshing.”
“When you put a name to the face, it makes it even more enjoyable to work and support the warfighter,” Navarro added.