# Expeditionary teams close out DEFENDER ’24 field ops

/ Published May 17, 2024
GERMERSHEIM, Germany, 
Defense Logistics Agency expeditionary personnel disestablished field operating sites at the U.S. Army Depot in Germersheim, Germany, May 17, concluding roughly two weeks of overseas deployment as part of the DEFENDER 2024 exercise.

Approximately 50 agency expeditionary civilians and DLA Joint Reserve Force servicemembers took part in the exercise, traveling to Germany from home sites all across the U.S. For DLA Distribution Expeditionary participants, the deployment was a chance to develop greater familiarity with moving material across the European theater. For DLA Disposition Services, it provided a chance to assemble an Expeditionary Site Set, test DLA’s Warehouse Management System in an expeditionary environment, and provide hands-on instruction to its uniformed Disposition Support Unit members.

Some DEFENDER participants shared their perspectives on exercise accomplishments, the deployment teams, and visiting Germany.

                240514-D-GV919-1125                            U.S. Navy Chief Logistics Specialist Idoreyin Esenyie is a DLA Joint Reserve Force servicemember assigned to Disposition Support Unit 2 at the DLA Disposition Services site in Anniston, Alabama.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jake JoyVIRIN: 240514-D-GV919-1125

**U.S. Navy Chief Logistics Specialist Idoreyin Esenyie, Disposition Support Unit 2, Anniston, Alabama**

*This was my first DLA exercise, so I didn’t really know what to expect. The team was forced to overcome and adapt to a variety of challenges, and I love seeing that. It did what an exercise is supposed to do – shake things loose to see what works and what doesn’t. The team was awesome, coming from all different locations and backgrounds. You could tell that everyone wanted to make it work and had a common goal. Everyone has been very welcoming in Germany, and everything I’ve eaten has been fantastic. Everyone is super friendly and helpful if they see you struggle to understand something.*

                240513-D-GV919-965                            Brandon Alford moves freight at the DDXX deployment site in Germersheim, Germany, as part of the U.S. Army’s DEFENDER 2024 exercise May 13. Alford has been part of the DDXX team as a deployable distribution process worker based out of Tracy, California, for the past two years.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jake JoyVIRIN: 240513-D-GV919-965

**Deployable Distribution Process Worker Brandon Alford, DLA Distribution San Joaquin, California**

*This exercise allowed us to really see our capabilities as a mobile processing center. It was good practice for being in a real theater. We’ve blended with the other DDXX site personnel previously, so there were some familiar faces, but it’s always good to reconnect. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we mesh pretty well. It’s my first time abroad, so for me, doing it in Germany was a great opportunity to see how the Germans go about their daily lives. We visited a big spring festival and saw some of their traditions. It was nice to experience another culture.*

                240514-D-GV919-1119                            DLA Disposition Services Equipment Specialist Robert Small is an agency expeditionary civilian assigned to the property disposal site in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jake JoyVIRIN: 240514-D-GV919-1119

**Equipment Specialist Robert Small, DLA Disposition Services Susquehanna, Pennsylvania**

*This is my third exercise, but it’s a different experience being in theater, there’s a more troop-oriented feel to doing it away from Battle Creek. The team worked together well to get the site established in a short, timely manner, which is always good. The Germans were great to work with and there’s lots to see and do here in your off hours. It was a good opportunity for me.*

                240514-D-GV919-1143                            U.S. Navy Logistics Specialist 1st Class Rolando Flores is a DLA Joint Reserve Force servicemember assigned to the DLA Distribution San Joaquin site in Tracy, California.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jake JoyVIRIN: 240514-D-GV919-1143

**U.S. Navy Logistics Specialist 1st Class Rolando Flores, DLA Distribution San Joaquin, California**

*Everyone has been great – from the major down to our lowest ranking personnel, everyone’s contributed. I was impressed that people from different places were able to gather, put their heads together and focus on the mission and share their expertise and brainpower. I love doing the exercise here, I love the atmosphere in Germany. The roads are nice, the people are friendly, I can’t complain.*

                240514-D-GV919-1130                            DLA Information Operations Network Technician Derrick Butler is part of the agency’s J6 Contingency IT Operations team assigned to Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jake JoyVIRIN: 240514-D-GV919-1130

**Network Technician Derrick Butler, J6 Contingency IT Operations Team, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia**

*The teams were very professional and proactive. They dove headfirst into doing whatever they needed to accomplish their missions. This is my first exercise, and my J6 team has been great, giving me training where needed, but also letting me work so I could apply what I’ve previously learned. They were great mentors and teammates. It’s nice to do this in Germany. The weather has been on and off, but we’ve gotten out to do some sightseeing and I’ve only had good impressions.*

                240513-D-GV919-931                            Aric Chaparro moves portable lockers with a sit-down forklift during DEFENDER 2024 at the U.S. Army Depot in Germersheim, Germany, May 13. Chaparro is a deployable distribution process worker with the DLA Distribution DDXX team at the San Joaquin site in Tracy, California.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jake JoyVIRIN: 240513-D-GV919-931

**Deployable Distribution Process Worker Aric Chaparro, DLA Distribution San Joaquin, California**

*This exercise was good. We showed we can set up the AirBeam, establish a [Theater Consolidation and Shipping Point], manifest cargo and get property sent over to the warehouse for processing – it was a perfect flow and everyone did what they needed to do to get the mission done. Things the San Joaquin personnel didn’t know, DDXX members from Pennsylvania helped out with, and vice versa, so the team was well-rounded and came together. Doing it in Germany was nice, with new scenery and new places to explore. I liked it a lot here, personally.*

                240514-D-GV919-1100                            DLA Disposition Services expeditionary personnel from sites across the U.S. pose for a team deployment photo during the U.S. Army’s DEFENDER 2024 exercise in Germersheim, Germany, May 14.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jake JoyVIRIN: 240514-D-GV919-1100