Issue 01: July 2019

1

Religious Supply Newsletter

Defense Logistics Agency, Office of the Chaplain

DLA Chaplain’s Message

Greetings from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) 

Chaplain’s Office. I am Chaplain Bob Wichman, the DLA 

Command Chaplain. At DLA Headquarters, I work with an 

outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer, Sergeant First Class

Apollo Stoewer and DLA Public Affairs; our Team at DLA 

Troop Support: Paul Diak, Chris Gaudio and Christine 

McCann from Clothing & Textiles Directorate and Harry 

Streibich and Joe Zanolle from Operational Rations. Our goal 

is to provide world-class support across the services and the 

“Whole of Government,” by delivering ecclesiastical supplies

and religious meals supporting regulatory and statutory 

religious requirements. The DLA Chaplain Newsletter is 

designed to help you in your mission through the following:

1. Advanced Planning. We will remind you of upcoming religious events. We will 

inform you of the lead time for delivery required for you to besuccessful. We will 

request your feedback to improve the planning process.

2. Featured Items. We will provide featured ecclesiastical items available at DLA. 

We will provide timely suggestions of religious support items and religious meals 

to support your mission.

3. Customer Service. Buying from DLA supports legal purchases and auditability. 

We have trained professionals and provide training to guide you through the process 

of purchasing from DLA, at home and abroad.

Visit our website at: https://www.dla.mil/HQ/Chaplain/Business/ to explore our catalogue and learn more 

about ordering from DLA. All of our DLA team members and I look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Chaplain (Colonel) Bob Wichman

Logistics is Readiness

The buzz word is readiness, but what does that mean for Religious Support 

Teams (RSTs)? Physical readiness and taking care of yourself and family 

should always be the top priority. From it flows your ability to accomplish all 

other missions. After getting on a workout schedule and prioritizing family 

events when you are able, each RST must decide what to work on next.

In this issue:

• DLA Chaplain's 

Message

• Logistics is 

Readiness

• Upcoming 

Religious 

Holidays and 

DLA Solutions

• DLA Customer 

Support

Chaplain (Colonel) Bob Wichman

Sergeant First Class 

Apollo Stoewer
Issue 01: July 2019

2

After multiple deployments and field exercises, I discovered logistics was important for my 

commander and for my section. The first product I was asked to contribute to the deployment 

standard operating procedures (SOP) was a list of supplies my team needed to be successful 

while deployed. The first time I was asked this, I had no idea what to bring. I had not been told 

about the Chaplain's Kit, consumables or what a National Stock Number (NSN) was. But this is 

not the case anymore; https://www.dla.mil/Chaplain is a one-stop shop for everything you need to 

build out your deployment kit with government-approved items that do not require bids and 

support federal programs that promote sustainability, small- and female-owned businesses, and 

Historically Underutilized Business Zone that bring jobs to areas with high unemployment. We 

have a customer support team dedicated to sustaining ecclesiastical supplies.

-SFC Apollo Stoewer

Upcoming Religious Holidays and DLA Solutions

DLA provides the highest quality items at the best price while meeting all federal regulations. To be 

good stewards of taxpayer money, DLA works with United States Transportation Command

(USTRANSCOM) to find the best way to ship supplies around the world. Perishable items like the 

Four Species and Palm Leaves shipments are expedited, but other items are shipped with standard

priority. Standard shipping for most items is 30 days for CONUS, 90 days for OCONUS. Consider 

funding cycles in your planning for purchasing upcoming holiday items. See below for some 

recommendations:

Rosh Hashanah

Begins sunset of Sunday, September 29, 2019, ends nightfall of Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Religious Support Items:

Ram horn (Shofar), NSN9925-01-466-1507 

Kosher wine - see catalog p.104 for options

Yom Kippur

Begins sunset, Tuesday, October 8, 2019; ends nightfall of Wednesday, October 9, 2019 

Religious Support Items: 

Ram horn (Shofar), NSN 9925-01-466-1507

Kosher wine - see catalog p. 104 for options

Sukkot

Begins sunset, Sunday, October 13, 2019; ends nightfall, Sunday, October 20, 2019

Religious Support Items: 

Four species (Palm Branch, Willow, Myrtle and Citron Set) NSN 9925-01-488-9309

Sukkah Booth, NSN 9925-01-532-0686

 Large, NSN 9925-01-532-0688

Kosher wine - see catalog p. 104 for options
Issue 01: July 2019

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Hanukkah

Begins sunset, December 22, 2019; ends nightfall, December 30, 2019

Religious Support Items: 

Heritage menorah, brass, 7.25 x 10 inches, NSN 9925-01-465-9311

Wax Remover, NSN 9925-01-460-0227

Kosher wine - see catalog p. 104 for options

Advent

Begins Sunday, December 1, 2019; ends Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Religious Support Items:

Advent Wreath - see catalog pp. 28-30 for options

Paraffin - see catalog pp. 35-36 for options

Communion Supplies - see catalog pp. 63-67 for options

Christmas Eve/Christmas

Tuesday, December 24, 2019; ends Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Religious Support Items:

Candles, Congregation, 100 each, NSN 9925-01-473-4087

Paraffin - see catalog pp. 35-36 for options

Communion Supplies - see catalog pp. 63-67 for options

DLA Customer Support

DLA Troop Support (All religious support items, excluding religious support meals)

POC: Christopher M. Gaudio

Customer Account Specialist, C&T 

Phone: (215) 737-6115

DSN: 444-6115

Mobile: (267) 254-1306

NIPR: christopher.gaudio@dla.mil

DLA Subsistence Support (Religious support meals)

POC: Joe Zanolle

DLA Troop Support Rations

Phone: (215) 737-5648

DSN: 444-5648

NIPR: joseph.zanolle@dla.mil

Chaplain (Colonel) Bob Wichman

Work Phone: 571-767-5249

DSN: 392-767-5249

Cell Phone: 571-789-6967

NIPR: robert.wichman@dla.mil

Sergeant First Class Apollo Stoewer

Work Phone: 571-767-2132

DSN: 392-767-2132

Cell Phone: 571-331-7109

NIPR: aloppo.stoewer@dla.mil
Issue 01: July 2019

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Welcome to our VA Partners

It is with joy that we welcome our Veterans Affairs (VA) chaplains and chapel teams. VA

healthcare facilities have chosen to partner with the Defense Logistics Agency on 

pharmaceuticals and other hospital supplies, saving the Defense Health Service money 

and manpower. In like manner, the DLA Ecclesiastical Support Division is here to serve 

you by providing best value religious support items to include religious meals in support 

of Jewish and Islamic VA patients. Allow us to provide the contracting services, no-cost 

shipping and customer support, freeing you to focus on providing world-class religious 

support to your VA beneficiaries.