DLA provides Super Bowl fare for troops overseas
 By Shawn J. Jones
  When deployed troops watch the Super Bowl this year, they can have wings, pizza and other typical game-day foods thanks to the efforts of Subsistence supply chain professionals at the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support.  Supporting the warfighter is the primary objective of DLA Troop Support. And during American holidays and other important dates, the agency ensures deployed troops have a taste of home. Sailors celebrate while watching Super Bowl LI on the mess decks of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Feb 3, 2017. When deployed troops watch the Super Bowl this year, they can have wings, pizza and other typical game-day foods thanks DLA Troop Support.




DLA supplies Super Bowl fare to troops overseas
        GHWB is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2, which is comprised of the staff of CSG-2; GHWB; the nine squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8; Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 staff and guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS T
            Sailors celebrate while watching Super Bowl LI on the mess decks of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Feb 3, 2017. When deployed troops watch the Super Bowl this year, they can have wings, pizza and other typical game-day foods thanks DLA Troop Support.

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                    VIRIN: 170203-N-YL257-051  Army Lt. Col. Abel Young, the director ofthe Subsistence supply chain, said he knows from experience that meal time is a big deal for deployed service members, especially during holidays and other big events.  “It’s a testament to the effectiveness of our workforce to know that this Super Bowl Sunday, on every continent on the planet, American troops will have access to the same traditional game-day foods that they could expect at a Super Bowl party anywhere on Main Street, USA.”  While pizza remains a staple of sports-related parties, the consumption of chicken wings is growing. According to the National Chicken Council, chicken wings are the unofficial food of the Super Bowl. The council projects that Americans will eat 1.35 billion wings during Super Bowl weekend, an all-time high. That’s enough wings to circle the Earth three times.   In addition to chicken wings and pizza, the Super Bowl menus of American military dining facilities across the world will include chicken tenders, cheese sticks, jalapeno poppers and meatballs.  While serving in the sustainment service section ofHeadquarters Air Force Central Commandat Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Master Sgt. Harvey Greenwood plays a key role in food supply logistics for airmen stationed throughout the Middle East.  “When servicemen and women are away from their families and homes, we want and try to provide them with some comforts of home they are missing,” Greenwood said. “A few of those comforts are watching the Super Bowl and eating traditional football game-day foods. This provides the service member a relief and a sense of normalcy. “  Air Force Master Sgt. Thomas Tantius, who oversees food contracts for the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, said that he and his co-workers strive to leverage food programs to enhance their fellow Airmen’s morale every day. Special events like the Super Bowl provide them an opportunity to do something special.  “For the Super Bowl here, we are doing a tailgate party with sausage dogs, steaks, chili and spicy pre-cooked chicken thrown on the grill and tossed in the troop’s favorite sauce,” Tantius said.  DLA Troop Support’s Subsistence supply chain professionals acquired approximately $2.7 billion worth of food and food equipment for the warfighter and other government partners in 2017.