# Central region team thrives despite adversity

/ Published Aug. 23, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., 
Among Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services locations in 20 states and seven countries, some of the most unique sites can be found in the Central region. With the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, the region’s remaining active sites include Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. From a military standpoint, the region looks very different today than prior to the drawdown of U.S. troops, but DLA’s property disposal team has no problems keeping busy. In fact, its operational tempo has yet to decline even after the reduced military presence in the surrounding countries.

                Jaron Williams Jr. performs property disposal specialist duties while on deployment at the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Kuwait site.                            Disposition Services Central team                            Jaron Williams Jr. performs property disposal specialist duties while on deployment at the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Kuwait site.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DLA Disposition ServicesVIRIN: 230823-D-D0441-1010“The rumors of a slower pace of operations in the region are not true,” said David Flietstra, the DSD Central director. “Afghanistan was set up by the major subordinate commands to be a self-sustaining area within DSD Central. Due to this structure, when the Afghanistan requirements went away there was little impact on the region’s overall property disposal requirements. Moving forward as the region resets and reorganizes, we will have to adapt to that new setting, which we are setting up for now.”

Central’s personnel rotate through from field sites around the agency to fill deployment billets. Central personnel interact daily with the military services, government civilians, contractors, and local nationals. The region’s diverse customer base is met with an equally diverse makeup of the DLA personnel serving them.

“The joint force concept allows us to leverage all the components together in an effort to accomplish the mission in the most efficient and effective way possible,” said Flietstra.

Region deployers experience different roles and responsibilities than at their home stations – enabling them to gain skills and better prepare them for future positions. Qatar-based Equipment Specialist Liam Golden‘s current daily workload is a little different now compared to his home station of San Joaquin, California.

“Here in Qatar, there are a lot of other things that need to get done,” said Golden. “I am also helping with the scrap contract, escorting trucks on the base, and picking up OCNs from the gate – things that I usually would never do – but I am learning a lot of different things.”

This ‘can-do’ attitude is common among the Central team, according to Golden, who said everyone typically helps each other to ease carrying the workload. This sentiment is shared by others, as teamwork is a trait that region leadership stresses perhaps more so than in any other part of the world.

“Here in Central region, we all work together to fill in gaps or cover for time off even though they may be in different countries,” said Jaron Williams Jr., a property disposal specialist currently deployed from the Jacksonville field site. “I definitely didn’t expect that, but it’s great because we are all a team regardless of where we’re at.”

The passion for being part of this team shows in the willingness of members who volunteer for assignment to Central and, in some cases, request extensions as well. Army Staff Sgt. William Walker, a scheduler from the San Antonio field site, is on his third voluntary deployment while Williams Jr. also volunteered for his deployment to Kuwait – and he has already signed on to extend his stay in country.

Not only are they willing to serve in unfamiliar roles, but they are also enjoying these new opportunities. But for many individuals, a Central region deployment presents the chance to do more than just learn new skills and practice teamwork in their support of defending the nation.

“One of my favorite parts of being deployed in Central is interacting with the customers and being hands on with the operations,” said Walker. “I also really enjoy the fact that I’m helping property get properly destroyed. To me, that’s the best part, because it prevents enemies and any other people trying to use those items to hurt others.”

The entire team works in unison to accomplish the daily mission while overcoming environmental and geographic obstacles. Despite temperatures that routinely reach triple digits, remote geographic locations and language barriers, members of the Central team display teamwork and coordination in support of the warfighter each day.

“The people that make up the team are amazing,” said Flietstra. “Being a part of a team that is so effective and efficient while enduring some hardship and adversity is a tremendous source of pride for me. We are all away from family and loved ones, the environment is not always pleasant, and the team always gets the job done in a safe and compliant manner.”