COOPEX makes comeback for Disposition Services

Annual training is vital to the continuity of operations within the military services and other Department of Defense agencies. Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services recently conducted a training scenario testing its' ability to keep operations up and running in the face of environmental adversity.

Members of the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center, in Battle Creek, Michigan, were required to leave the area and resume work in a different location as part of the Continuity of Operations Plan. This iteration of COOP training simulated a weather-related event causing HDIFC to notionally shut down after sustaining damage.

"This is a first step in one of the General Simerly's overall strategy," said Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon. "This training [helps us determine] if you can do your mission and support the warfighter when you're fighting the environment and mother nature"

The solution to this fictional scenario was relocation coupled with the rest of the facility teleworking. In the event environmental conditions prove too extreme for employees to report to work, this training helps to ensure Disposition Services remains the nation's reverse logistics and printing center of excellence.

"COOP is important because we have to be able to support the warfighter when our facilities or the places where we work do not allow us to do our normal work," said Craig Barrett, the COOP program manager.

The last time a full-fledged COOPEX took place was 2015, as last year's training consisted of a table-top exercise and simulated movements. While repeating this method of training was an option, COOP organizers felt it important to put tactics into action and have the situational report prep team, emergency relocation group and crisis management teams physically relocate.

"This type of training is exactly in line with our overall strategy," said Cannon. "You want to practice so that when the real [situation] comes, it's comfortable and you're not learning while doing."

Barrett expressed that for those participating, the real-world value taken from this iteration was evident and that the results were positive with everyone conducting daily work smoothly after the relocation.

"The continuity of operations plan is in place so that we have a plan when we need one so we can continue to do our mission essential functions and we recommended testing the effectiveness of physically relocate this time," Barrett said. "I think for the most part we dealt with this scenario well. Everyone mustered and relocated and got to work quickly."