# DLA Indo-Pacific employees, Rapid Deployment Team Blue improve readiness on the Korean Peninsula

/ Published Oct. 19, 2021
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Korea, 
The Defense Logistics Agency Indo-Pacific team integrated with DLA’s Rapid Deployment Blue Team during the biannual Combined Command Post Exercise 21-2 which took place on the Korean Peninsula Aug. 16-26.

The exercise allowed DLA to train, evaluate, and test systems as well as educate customers on DLA’s capabilities and strategic global reach while strengthening the U.S.’s alliance with Republic of Korea. The DLA Indo-Pacific team established the Korean Synchronization Operations Center at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, where RDT Commander Air Force Col. Luther King along with DLA Indo-Pacific Military Deputy Commander Army Col. Brian Donahue and his team to plan, coordinate, and synchronize DLA support to the warfighter. 

Local DLA warfighter support representatives also worked with the team, which included employees from DLA major subordinate commands and DLA Information Operations, to offer the full range of DLA capabilities to the joint and combined forces. Other employees postured forward as liaison officers embedded with Marine Forces-Korea, Combined Naval Forces-Korea, and 7th Air Force. 

Army Maj. Catory Bradley, DLA Indo-Pacific’s exercise planner and operations officer, and Army Staff Sgt. Joseph Becker, DLA Indo-Pacific’s operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge and battle NCO, facilitated a smooth reception process that included direct coordination with the USFK COVID-19 Center to monitor virus testing upon the RDT arrival. Both earned praise from RDT members. 

The team member’s efforts were recognized across the joint force and Army Lt. Col. Marcus Perkins, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center Korea commander, praised the performance of Army Lt. Col. Joe Indeomenico from DLA Troop Support’s medical supply chain.

“Joe was a critical enabler throughout this exercise, which helped us see ourselves more holistically at each echelon,” Perkins said. “This was a win-win and the critical enabling deployable capability should be used across all the combatant commands.”

DLA Indo-Pacific Commander Navy Capt. Jason Adams honored two RDT members, DLA Land and Maritime Customer Support Representative Lisa Smitherman and Calvin Lawrence, LNO to 7th Air Force. Each received a commander’s coin. 

“Ms. Smitherman took on several projects in the KSOC, including two real-world supply support challenges,” Adams said. “She provided expert guidance and connected key U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command personnel with DLA Land Operations to get critical cable assemblies released, which had an immediate impact on the M1 fleet’s ‘fight tonight’ posture.”

She also trained other KSOC participants in several supply classes and the Defense Department requisition system.

Adams said Lawrence gained the confidence of the Air Force staff, who included him in command briefs alongside Air Force leaders.

“Mr. Lawrence briefed the 7th Air Force DLA logistics common operating picture directly to the USFK [logistics director], Air Force Brig. Gen. White, at the Joint Logistics Enterprise meeting,” Adams said, adding that Lawrence was the only LNO to do so.