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# $2.85M meals airlifted to Germany in support of NATO allies

By Michael HongDLA Troop Support Public Affairs

                PHILADELPHIA  –              
From February 2022 to October 2022, the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Subsistence supply chain faced unique challenges in response to thousands of warfighters deploying to Eastern Europe in support of NATO allies. 

Feeding such a surge of armed forces was reflected in more than a 50% increase in demand for Unitized Group Rations Heat and Serve orders—which feed 50 people per unit.  

Typically, each UGR H&S order to Europe gets delivered after 90-120 days from ordering via truck, rail and cargo ship from DLA Distribution in San Joaquin, California to a warehouse in Germany.  

With the sudden increase in demand, Nancy Thomas, Group Rations & Equipment branch chief, and her team had to innovate and explore airlift options to tighten the delivery time to 21 days to promptly replenish warehouse inventory. 

“There were challenges that we faced since airlift is not the normal shipping practice,” said Thomas. “Product availability, assembly rates based on previous demand averages, and customer demand outside of Europe, all contributed to the difficulties of shipping an excess of 57,000 units via airlift.” 

For nine months, 2.85 million meals were airlifted to Germany, representing $6.9 million, in addition to Meals Ready to Eat and other meal types. 

To accomplish this, Thomas and her four team members had to devise a new process to airlift mass quantities of UGR H&S orders. 

“There were a lot of lessons learned from the beginning in February,” said Thomas. “But we knew what we had to accomplish and probably by our second or third airlift we were able to finalize a delivery timeline.” 

By October, Nancy and her team resumed their regular surface shipment methods. 

“Nancy Thomas and her dedicated team’s performance is high visibility for a reason,” stated Cmdr. Patrick Amundson, DLA Troop Support Subsistence division chief.  “They aren’t regionalized; they are worldwide, and masterful in bringing that capability.  Aggressive coordination with DLA Europe & Africa and Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin continually ensures UGR H&S theater delivery functions effectively and on schedule.”   

UGR H&S components are thermally processed, pre-prepared, shelf-stable foods, and currently packaged in hermetically sealed, half-size steam table containers. The container also serves as the heating pan and serving tray. 

The five breakfast and 10 lunch/dinner menus contain all food items and disposable items necessary to feed 50 individuals with the exception of the addition of mandatory supplements, such as bread, milk and cold cereal. 

The DLA Troop Support Subsistence supply chain provides food support for the military all over the world. From individually packaged meals in a soldier's ruck sack, to a ship's galley and to full-service dining facilities on military installations, Subsistence gets that food there. 

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