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# DLA Distribution Expeditionary team provides real world logistics support to Exercise Saber Strike and Operation Atlantic Resolve  

By Diana DawaDLA Distribution

                POWIDZ, Poland  –              
After nearly two years of planning, DLA Distribution’s Deployment Expeditionary Team deployed to Powidz, Poland in support of Exercise Saber Strike 18 and Operation Atlantic Resolve. Saber Strike is the platform to validate U.S. forces collective capability to rapidly respond to and reinforce Allies in a time of crisis.  Operation Atlantic Resolve is a real-world multinational training and security cooperation activity taking place in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.

“This exercise is a perfect example of the rapidly deployable, battle tested expeditionary capability we call DDXX,” said Rear Adm. Kevin M. Jones, commander, DLA Distribution.

According to Joe Cassel, director, Distribution J3, the planning began with the combatant command and what they are trying to achieve in the European theater. “We’re working off their exercise schedule and they’ll go through a planning cycle – one that DLA is very aggressive about supporting, because we know that in any major military operation, they’re going to need us.”

“What that means for DLA Distribution is we’ll send the DDXX team forward to do basic distribution functions there. But not only is the planning happening back here in the J3 the J5 and other shops, our other commands are simulating or actually achieving what they would do in war, although to a much smaller scale. That’s why we do a lot of these things, to test and validate our concepts, to show our forward deployed customers that they can depend on DLA and our distribution and transportation capability to get them what they need.”

Cassel reiterated, “It builds credibility. From a commander’s perspective, logistics is a risk, and they need to have confidence in us, so they don’t have to worry about what’s happening in the rear – that we will get them what they need and they can focus on what’s in front of them.”

Jared Crain, J3 Operations, said the deployment planning phase took months of preparation. 

“Part of what the DDXX and our staff has done is figured out the level of support needed by calls with the customers and DLA Europe and Africa. We then developed the support needed into a requirement and then worked with the entire staff and the team down at DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania to get our team ready to deploy downrange in order to be able to support the mission.  Lots and lots of planning which culminates in support to the combatant commander on the ground.”

According to John Heikkinen, Distribution J3 DDXX planner, a full equipment set deployed prior to the fully operational capability (FOC) date. “The set included nine pieces of rolling stock – those big items that don’t fit in containers like forklifts and trucks; 12 40-foot containers; light sets of smaller forklifts; two expanding warehouses; tents; warehousing equipment – just about everything you need for a distribution center in a box,” said Heikkinen. 

In addition to the equipment sets, all with stand-alone power generation, a hardened operations cell expandable container also deployed – all completely modular.

“One of the job qualifications of our experts is a life-long interest in LEGOS®,” joked Cassel.

A typical ocean shipment from the U.S. East Coast to Europe with inland transport can take as long as 30 days. But for this exercise, the equipment deployed early, taking into consideration the complexity of moving oversized equipment.   

Elise Holtan, mobilization planning specialist, Distribution Logistics Operation Center, coordinated transportation efforts from disparate supporting organizations.  “Because of the nature of the equipment – how large it was – we did a lot of pre-planning and we deployed the larger items out earlier to ensure that they made it.”

They did.  

Then came the team members. 

The team was ready to accept materiel once they set up their internal receipt, processing, and shipping infrastructure and communications were up and running, according to Cassel.  

“Once the theater sets up transportation routes and distribution lanes, and we can meet our metrics, we are FOC – fully operational capable,” said Cassel.

While the Saber Strike exercise was a two week window for maneuver forces, the DDXX was on ground prior to the start of the exercise to support the annual rotation of CONUS forces supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Army Maj. Grant Thimsen, Operations Officer-In-Charge of Distribution Depot Powidz, Poland, said nearly 60 personnel deployed to support DDPP and Saber Strike over the course of the deployment

“DDXX team members came from Susquehanna, Pennsylvania; Red River, Texas; and San Joaquin, California. DLA Distribution Navy reservists from Susquehanna; Norfolk, Virginia; Warner Robins, Georgia; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma also supported the effort. The Navy reservists make up the Expeditionary Distribution Support Units that augment DDXX’s civilian workforce and capabilities.”

One of the challenges Thimsen experienced was explaining DLA Distribution’s purpose of support to the Warfighter in the operational area.

“There are so many different military organizations involved with the exercise and we’re supporting so many different customers, so it’s figuring out who is who, and how all the support relationships tie together. Integrating DLA into tactical operations required educating supported units on DLA Distribution’s roles and capabilities. Many of DDPP’s customers had little experience dealing directly with DLA in the past. DDPP hosted numerous visitors, both U.S. and foreign services, to provide awareness of DDPP’s mission, DDXX capabilities, and larger DLA participation in Saber Strike 18.”

For Operation Atlantic Resolve, Thimsen noted DDPP provided support from DLA Distribution Sigonella, Italy, through Powidz, Poland, to the USS Mount Whitney at the Port of Klaipeda, Lithuania.

“DLA Distribution was able to ship materials through its organic distribution depots, tie in with established Army transportation networks, and deliver materials to a Navy ship as it arrived at port call.”

To that end, Thimsen expressed how proud he was of the DDXX team and their operational support and professionalism.

“I am most proud of the team’s flexibility in conducting the operation. DDPP conducted strategic-level logistics and distribution, directly to tactical units conducting training and operations. This was truly a multi-service operation; all services were represented at some point during DDPP operations. DDPP received pallets from Air Force C-130s; Navy equipment from Sigonella, Italy; and shipped out materials and supplies via Army ground and rotary-wing platforms. The strategic-to-tactical execution demonstrated DLA’s role as the Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency in a forward-deployed environment.”

Everywhere You Go...DLA On the Ground for Saber Strike 18 (Open Caption)

https://youtu.be/7VwW1X1p55g

Everywhere You Go...DLA On the Ground for Saber Strike 18

https://youtu.be/8KDByl5KguA

DLA expeditionary teams are ready when the call comes to support the warfighter. For Saber Strike 18, DLA sent a team of professionals to Powidz, Poland and their mission was to get materials to the troops faster, so equipment stays up, and they get the commodities they need to complete the mission, recover, and redeploy to home. For more information about DLA and our Regional Commands, visit: www.dla.mil

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DistributionSaber Strike 18