Sustaining the Fight: DLA’s Role in Ulchi Freedom Shield 24

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -

Defense Logistics Agency Indo-Pacific took center stage during the most recent Ulchi Freedom Shield 2024 exercise, integrating the agency's major subordinate commands into one of the most complex and dynamic military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region.

In this exercise, DLA ensured that critical supplies - ranging from food and medical supplies to uniforms and essential equipment - continued to flow to warfighters despite disruptions.

"UFS 24 was not just a test of military power, but a demonstration of DLA's ability to sustain combat forces in a simulated, high-stakes wartime environment, where logistics were actively contested by simulated adversarial actions," said DLA Indo-Pacific Deputy Commander Army Col. Dennis Williams.

"The seamless support provided by DLA Distribution, DLA Energy, DLA Aviation, DLA Land and Maritime and DLA Troop Support proved invaluable," he continued. "Each team worked tirelessly coordinating air and ground assets, so the warfighter remained ready, supported and operational throughout the exercise. The vital role of these MSCs during UFS 24 underscored their indispensable place in the DLA framework, ensuring military readiness and logistical continuity even in a simulated environment designed to challenge supply chains."

Williams, who also served as the DLA Support Team commander the exercise, emphasized the importance of exercises like UFS.

"The UFS and Freedom Shield series of exercises are critical to stress our thinking on how we operate today and how we will need to operate in a contested environment," Williams said.

Live and virtual training elements give DLA teams an opportunity to refine current operations and prepare for future conflicts. These exercises allow DLA to develop strategies to ensure logistics capabilities are preserved under such conditions where adversaries target logistics and supply chains.

Williams said that behind the scenes, the dedication of DLA's logisticians, planners and coordinators was evident.

"These professionals ensured every detail was meticulously planned and executed, allowing DLA to remain agile and responsive throughout the exercise," Williams said. "Their expertise ensured that the right supplies reached the right place at the right time. Whether ensuring the readiness of ground vehicles, refueling aircraft, or delivering essential supplies, the contributions of these logisticians kept UFS 24 running smoothly."

Coordination from the agency's MSCs and Headquarters helped ensure the exercise was an integrated logistics effort covering all operational domains. Live and simulated operations tested DLA's ability to respond to logistical challenges in real time.

"With every shift in the simulated environment, DLA planners adjusted and adapted, underscoring the agency's readiness for the evolving demands of modern warfare," Williams said.

UFS 24 provided a stark reminder of the importance of logistics in warfare, Williams said, highlighting how the exercise emphasized that no military operation can succeed without a reliable and resilient logistics backbone.

The DLA Indo-Pacific team will learn from the logistical challenges encountered during the exercise through the real-time insights into the agency's strengths and areas for improvement. The exercise allowed DLA to examine how well its teams could integrate into large-scale operations and how efficiently they could respond to simulated wartime demands.

"The ability to integrate live operations with virtual simulations pushes the boundaries of what we can achieve in training," Williams said, reflecting on the broader importance of these exercises. "It forces us to think critically about how we look at data to build endurance for the warfighter."

Williams highlighted that the professionals within DLA - logisticians, planners, and support personnel - are the unsung heroes of exercises like UFS. Their work doesn't stop when the exercise ends. Instead, it transitions into continuous analysis and improvement. By continuously refining logistics strategies the DLA Indo-Pacific team will remain ready to deliver logistical support under even the most contested and challenging conditions.

"In the aftermath of UFS 24, DLA Indo-Pacific emerges stronger and more agile, ready to face the logistical challenges of tomorrow," Williams said. "DLA Indo-Pacific's performance during the exercise was not just a demonstration of logistical capability but a clear signal of DLA's unwavering commitment to supporting the warfighter, proving once again that victory on the battlefield begins long before the first shot is fired."

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