# DLA Distribution supports Pacer Goose mission

/ Published July 21, 2021
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Norfolk, Virginia, provided support to the Air Force’s annual re-supply mission Pacer Goose Sustainment 2021, at Thule Air Base, Greenland.

Pacer Goose occurs during the months of July and August each year to re-supply the base with life-sustaining supplies and to remove of any waste from the remote base. Pacer Goose is one of the Arctic outpost’s few sources of food, spare parts and other items needed each year.

                Working with DLA Distribution Norfolk, sailors from Navy Cargo Handling Battalion Eight in Jacksonville, Florida, load a spool of electric power cable onto the SLNC Magothy July 16, 2021, as part of Pacer Goose Sustainment 2021, the annual resupply mission to Thule Air Base, a remote U.S. Air Force base in the Arctic region of Greenland. Photo by Bobby Blanson, DLA Distribution Norfolk.                            DLA Distribution supports Pacer Goose mission                            Working with DLA Distribution Norfolk, sailors from Navy Cargo Handling Battalion Eight in Jacksonville, Florida, load a spool of electric power cable onto the SLNC Magothy July 16, 2021, as part of Pacer Goose Sustainment 2021, the annual resupply mission to Thule Air Base, a remote U.S. Air Force base in the Arctic region of Greenland. Photo by Bobby Blanson, DLA Distribution Norfolk.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Bobby BlansonVIRIN: 210721-D-D0441-0002

This year, the Pacer Goose upload operation began on July 16, 2021, and the endeavor was successfully completed in just over 48 hours, thus allowing the SNLC Magothy to get underway on July 19, 2021, to make her journey northward.

Bobby Blanson, the director of IMH/CCP Shipping and Pier 8 Vessel Operations at DLA Distribution Norfolk, Virginia, stated that the mission must occur during the summer months to reach the port in Thule, Greenland.

“July through August is the only window for this mission because the ice is the thinnest during this time,” he said. “Once they finish loading the ship in Norfolk, it will meet up with a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker. Once they rendezvous, the icebreaker will lead the ship into the port.”

More than two hundred items will be sent by ship to the remote base. The items range from dry, chilled and frozen foods to water, sodas, cleaning supplies, construction materials, shoe covers, electrical equipment, refrigerators, washer and dryers, furniture, mattresses, bedding items and a high-speed custom fire truck.The life sustaining supplies weigh over 434 megatons, valued at approximately $2 million.

Navy Capt. Justin Lewis, commander of DLA Distribution Norfolk, Virginia, believes that Pacer Goose showcases a great show of teamwork between mission partners.“Team DDNV takes a lot of pride in this unique, but absolutely critical, annual re-supply operation to our Nation’s northernmost military base,” he said. Pacer Goose really demonstrates the global reach of DLA in Norfolk and is an event the entire team circles on the calendar each year. The operation generates a lot of excitement and provides us an opportunity to train with and ultimately support like-minded mission partners from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force.”

For such a large mission, DLA Distribution Norfolk, Virginia, partnered with the Space Force/Air Force in Thule, the Space Force/Air Force CONUS-Peterson Air Force Base, the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Military Sealift Command, Schuyler Line Navigation Company , Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, DLA Disposition Services, DLA Logistics Operations, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group N3 Operations, the Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 8 and the Army 1100th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group ) to ensure mission success.

                Navy Captain Justin Lewis, commander of DLA Distribution in Norfolk, Virginia, watches a fire truck onload to the SLNC Magothy, with George Brackett, DLA Distribution Pier 8 Stevedore Supervisor, left and Bobby Blanson, Director of the Intermodal Hub/Consolidation and Containerization Point Shipping and Pier 8 Vessel Operations, right, July 16, 2021. The onload is part of Pacer Goose Sustainment 2021, the annual resupply mission to Thule Air Base, a remote U.S. Air Force base in the Arctic region of Greenland. Photo by Matthew Progen, DLA Distribution Norfolk.                            DLA Distribution supports Pacer Goose mission                            Navy Captain Justin Lewis, commander of DLA Distribution in Norfolk, Virginia, watches a fire truck onload to the SLNC Magothy, with George Brackett, DLA Distribution Pier 8 Stevedore Supervisor, left and Bobby Blanson, Director of the Intermodal Hub/Consolidation and Containerization Point Shipping and Pier 8 Vessel Operations, right, July 16, 2021. The onload is part of Pacer Goose Sustainment 2021, the annual resupply mission to Thule Air Base, a remote U.S. Air Force base in the Arctic region of Greenland. Photo by Matthew Progen, DLA Distribution Norfolk.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Matthew ProgenVIRIN: 210721-D-D0441-0001