DLAs Kuwait depot proves cost effective for taxpayers, OIF troops
These initiatives resulted from DLAs partnership with U.S. Transportation Command as the Department of Defenses Distribution Process Owner.
DLA supplies the food, clothing, medical and spare parts for Americas armed forces and continues to develop solutions to distribute materiel quickly to U.S. war fighters while reducing overall costs to the taxpayer to support the global war on terrorism.
As of March 31, operations at the DLAs forward distribution depot in Kuwait, DDKS, have avoided approximately $45.7 million in airlift and shipping costs by using less expensive surface transportation methods.
Activated Aug. 30, DDKS stocks approximately 18,511 items, such as repair parts, barrier material and clothing, which are in high demand for Americas armed forces serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Stocking materiel closer to the theater of operations has been a win-win situation for DLA and its customers.
Now DLA can ship the equipment stocked in the region by surface, reducing the demand on scarce airlift capabilities. The strategic position of DDKS cuts the time it takes customers to receive its essential supplies while reducing the overall costs to the American taxpayers.
The depot has allowed DLA and the military services to eliminate a backlog of containers and pallets of equipment that flow through the Kuwait ports.
DLAs Defense Distribution Center transferred its existing forward-stocking capabilities in Bahrain to stand up DDKS. To make sure that DLA is prepared to better support military operations anywhere in the world, DDC has launched additional forward stocking capabilities in Korea, Guam and Sigonella, Italy.
DDKS is just one of DLAs many efforts in the integrated distribution pillar under the distribution process owner partnership with the United States Transportation Command.
DDC, headquartered in New Cumberland, Pa., has oversight of 26 distribution depots worldwide. Its mission is to distribute, store and manage materiel and information, enabling a seamless, tailored worldwide DOD distribution network that provides effective and efficient support to the combatant commands, military services and other agencies -- in theater and out -- during war and in peace.
DLA provides supply support, and technical and logistics services to the U.S. military services and several federal civilian agencies. Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., the agency is the one source for nearly every consumable item, whether for combat readiness, emergency preparedness or day-to-day operations.
Follow Us On:
