# DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic

/ Published Aug. 17, 2022
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.“This exercise was an opportunity to provide the DDXX teams an opportunity to work through the required tasks to deploy, establish and operate an expeditionary distribution site in response to a contingency,” said Jim Howard, joint exercise planning branch DLA Distribution.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation efforts placing constraints on overseas deployments and national response support, the DDXX team was unable to conduct live, in person training exercises since March 2020. This opportunity to conduct training brought teams together from DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, and DLA Distribution San Joaquin, California, to hone their skills in a working field environment.

            SLIDESHOW | 12 images | DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                    The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                            DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            1 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            2 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            3 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            4 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            5 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            6 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            7 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            8 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            9 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            10 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            11 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                                            12 of 12                                        The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team conducted a live training exercise, the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 18 to July 29. The exercise took place at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, and in conjunction with DLA Disposition Services.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                    

“There was training value across the board,” said Howard. “There was training for the planners as well, from initial concept and design, through execution and assessment; with room to improve in all areas.”

Site surveys had to be conducted prior to arrival. Travel had to be arranged for everyone. Material and equipment had to be moved. And every step had to be done with safety and accountability as priorities.

For COREX-22, the planners were faced with the task of finding material to use for the purpose of processing and moving, but to make it cost effective, efficient and no impact to DLA Distribution customers. Any training exercise, just like daily operations, should be invisible to the end customer with no impact to readiness or effectiveness.

                Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team members Amelia Pedilla, left, supervisor and distribution process worker and Ingrid Ramirez, right, distribution process worker, came together from opposite coasts for in-person training under a deployed environment to simulate processing material for delivery to DLA Distribution customers as part of COREX-22 at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, July 25, 2022. Photo by Matthew Mahoney.                            DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                            Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary team members Amelia Pedilla, left, supervisor and distribution process worker and Ingrid Ramirez, right, distribution process worker, came together from opposite coasts for in-person training under a deployed environment to simulate processing material for delivery to DLA Distribution customers as part of COREX-22 at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, July 25, 2022. Photo by Matthew Mahoney.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Matthew MahoneyVIRIN: 220725-D-VQ057-0028

The solution came in working with DLA Disposition Services. DDXX was able to use material that was already set to be delivered to DLA Disposition Services but route it through the COREX-22 DDXX site, acting as a theater consolidation and shipping point. In this way, DLA Disposition Services simulated being the warfighter abroad, or whole of government partner that DDXX would normally serve.

In a true overseas expeditionary mission, DDXX would expect to serve multiple US military services and forward based warfighters. For this exercise, the support was limited, however, DDXX also simulated material processing center operations as they train to tailor their expeditionary support to serve multiple customers and meet each of their unique needs.

In testament to the ability of the DDXX team to rapidly process and move material, Navy Rear Adm. Grafton Chase, commander of DLA Distribution, was onsite observing the process. By day four of operations, the DDXX team had established a highly efficient workflow, leaving only limited multipack shipments to process as a demonstration.

The DDXX team consisted of 17 personnel from DDSP and 17 from DDJC, coming together from opposite coasts, to establish a presence and begin the task of receiving, processing and moving material. The teams were able to exchange different methods and tactics used to accomplish the mission as well as develop the unity necessary for a successful deployment.

                Army Lt. Col. Edward Strzalkowski, left, commander of DDXX, and Ben Boone, right, DDJC DDXX lead, discuss the COREX-22 exercise with Navy Rear Adm. Grafton Chase, commander of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, July 25, 2022. Photo by Matthew Mahoney.                            DLA Distribution Expeditionary team conducts first field training exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic                            Army Lt. Col. Edward Strzalkowski, left, commander of DDXX, and Ben Boone, right, DDJC DDXX lead, discuss the COREX-22 exercise with Navy Rear Adm. Grafton Chase, commander of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution at Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, July 25, 2022. Photo by Matthew Mahoney.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Matthew MahoneyVIRIN: 220725-D-VQ057-0015