From DLA:
“Defense Logistics Agency
Plans Ahead to Get Thanksgiving Meals to Troops Around the World”
Every Thanksgiving,
servicemembers around the world enjoy a holiday meal thanks to the hard work of
the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support and its Subsistence supply chain. Despite
the effects the COVID-19 pandemic is having on supply chains, planning and
communication, a dedicated workforce and strong relationships are the key
ingredients that help DLA Troop Support get food out in time for the holiday. "The
holiday meal should look more normal this year, with in-person dining returning
in many locations," DLA Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Eric
Shirley said. "I am so proud of the workforce here at Troop Support. They
work tirelessly for months to make sure this meal happens. Their advance
planning and communication with our vendors and customers prevented major
delays in getting the ingredients necessary for that traditional Thanksgiving
dinner. It truly encapsulates our dedication to the warfighter."
The planning and preparation for
the troops' holiday meal starts as early as March at DLA Troop Support. Many
ingredients for the meals are on hand at prime vendor locations by September,
and the overseas locations start receiving high-volume items, like the turkeys
and more than 192 tons of trimmings, in October. For more than 50 years, DLA
Troop Support has been providing traditional Thanksgiving food to field
kitchens, dining facilities and ship galleys in the United States, the Middle
East, Europe, Africa, Korea, Japan, Qatar, Philippines, Guam, Singapore and
other locations around the world where US service members are deployed. "Thanksgiving
is one of the most important meals we work on all year," Army Col. Larry
Dean, director of the Subsistence supply chain at DLA Troop Support said.
"Our entire team works on it for months, and we don't stop until the big
day. Our team works hard, and I appreciate their dedication not only as the
director of this supply chain, but as a proud member of the Army who has
enjoyed these meals when I could not be home with my family. It means so much
to have that taste of home on Thanksgiving when you can't be there."
This year, service members
around the world received an estimated:
5,706 whole turkeys
59,666 pounds of roasted turkeys
99,187 pounds of beef
51,994 pounds of ham
43,767 pounds of shrimp
38,400 pounds of sweet potatoes
68,465 pounds of pies and cakes
23,461 gallons of eggnog
And many other holiday treats
The Subsistence team worked
diligently with regional vendors both locally and across the globe to ensure
that military food service professionals had what they needed to prepare a
festive holiday meal for those away from home this Thanksgiving. "We are
currently dealing with the same supply issues that the commercial industry is
dealing with," Robin Whaley, DLA Troop Support's Subsistence chief of
customer operations for the continental United States said. "We have been
working with our vendors well in advance of the holiday to reduce chances that
the necessary items won't be available on the big day." DLA Troop Support
supplies America's armed forces with $21.5 billion annually of food, uniforms,
protective equipment, medicine, medical supplies, construction and equipment. As
the nation's combat logistics support agency, DLA has been managing the global
supply chain — from raw materials to end user disposition — for the U.S.
military around the world for 60 years. Today, DLA also leverages our unique
capabilities to support the growing whole-of-government mission with other
federal, state and local agencies and partner and allied nations.
^ There are around 200,000 US
Soldiers on 750 Bases outside of the United States right now (not including
their Spouses and Children.) Of course the vast majority of deployments don't
allow Dependents. It's great to see they will still celebrate Thanksgiving no
matter if in a remote base or a warzone. ^
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