Embedded logisticians sharpen skills at annual ‘homecoming’

Cacophonous laughter and boisterous greetings echoed through the halls of the Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support Headquarters as forward presence personnel gathered in a small conference room for their annual Maritime Customer Operations' "Homecoming" training event Aug. 17-20.

The event had the air of a class reunion as the small but mighty group reconnected after a year apart, offering a welcome respite for customer logistics site specialists and customer support representatives who serve as the conduit between DLA and the nation's maritime forces.

By being directly embedded in shipyard maintenance facilities and logistics hubs both stateside and overseas, the team's diverse technical expertise is essential to keeping supply lines flowing.

"We do what we do to keep freedom alive," said Terrance Taylor, a customer support representative at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. "Our direct support to the warfighter is the reason we are here."

For Navy Capt. Danny Ewing, director for Maritime Customer Operations, the team's impact on the warfighter out in the field cannot be understated.

"Working largely behind the scenes, these logistics professionals are the unsung heroes of fleet readiness," he said. "Their dedication and attention to their craft is critical to getting ships out to sea on time to defend America's interests."

Throughout the recent integration of DLA Land and Maritime and DLA Aviation into DLA Weapons Support, the forward presence team's effectiveness has not skipped a beat, providing seamless support that has not gone unnoticed by leadership.

DLA Weapons Support Commander Navy Rear Adm. Julie Treanor noted the embedded nature of their jobs is key to the team's effectiveness.

"As we continue to transform into DLA Weapons Support, we set out to capitalize on what we do well, and your support is one of those things," she said. "You are hand-in-glove with our customers, and I always get tremendous feedback on your responsiveness."

Acknowledging the geographic isolation of the team, Treanor emphasized the value of getting together in person to collaborate with their support teams and each other.

"Beyond our routine communications by phone and computer, the opportunity to meet face-to-face and synchronize as one unified team is incredibly important," she said.

Maritime Customer Operations has hosted annual homecoming events over the past several years to provide career development and networking opportunities for its cadre of forward presence logistics professionals. They are designed to set each individual up for success in their customer centric positions facing the fleet.

Throughout the course of the week, the group gained insights into organizational changes and explored new methods and processes designed to improve warfighter support.

"Being able to interact and network with the rest of the team enables us to share experiences, improve our jobs and better support the fleet," Taylor said. "I don't get to see my team at all; they only know me via email. Putting a name with a face builds a much deeper relationship."

Jessica Cameron, a new customer logistics site specialist at Trident Refit Facility Bangor in Washington, said the week armed her with a close-knit network she can leverage instantly.

"I feel like I'm already closer with this group in just three days than the past 11 years in my previous position," she said.

Customer Logistics Site Specialist Willie Strickland, who traveled from Japan, said the week offers tangible insights that he leverages often while working at the Navy Ship Repair Facility in Yokosuka and the Japan Regional Maintenance Center in Sasebo.

"To be able to have deep meaningful discussions about the different processes and experiences that we have out in the different areas is invaluable," he said.