DLA Distribution Bahrain hosts Navy, Army leaders for logistics support overview

Defense Logistics Agency Bahrain, Southwest Asia, recently hosted leaders from Naval Supply Systems Command and the Army's 1^st Theater Sustainment Command during the past few weeks.

Navy Cmdr. John Olabode, commander, Defense Logistics Agency Bahrain, Southwest Asia, hosted Francis Vredenburgh, James Smart, director, Mayport Logistics Support Team Director and Louis Costa, director San Diego Logistics Support Team, for a discussion about Littoral Combat Ships and Material Processing Center support. They were provided with a brief and tour of Defense Logistics Agency Bahrain, Southwest Asia's operations and warehouse functions at the sites Schmidt Complex location.

Later that day Defense Logistics Agency Bahrain, Southwest Asia, hosted Maj. Gen. Eric Shirley, commanding general, Army's 1^st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Central. The walking tour discussed the center's timeline for Re-posture and Material Processing Center operations in addition to a tour of the Operations and Warehouse functions at the Schmidt Complex location.

"Visits like these are important for building bridges of understanding, building strategic partnerships and showcasing the capabilities of DLA Distribution, Bahrain," said Olabode. "We serve as a Distribution Platform within the Fifth Fleet and Central Command area of responsibility and are improving care for stock in storage and providing efficiency to the Warfighter within a Warehouse Management System environment."

DLA Distribution Bahrain, Southwest Asia, maintains forward-positioned stock and provides multi-modal distribution to all branches of service operating in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Distribution Bahrain serves as the single Theater Distribution Platform within U.S. Central Command.

Located in Bahrain's capital city, Manama, the distribution center performs standard distribution operations to include receipt, store, ship, and issue as well as inventory control, care of stock in storage, packaging, and preservation. Providing tailored distribution services through its Material Processing Center in Bahrain, the MPC performs core business functions on fleet requisitioned materiel such as receiving, customized sorting, temporary storage, customized delivery options, expedited shipment tracking, and freight forwarding functions.

Materiel in storage includes Class IX repair parts and component items, clothing, housekeeping supplies, packaged petroleum products, and construction materials. DLA Distribution Bahrain, Southwest Asia, also offers Cold Chain Management capabilities and extensive mapping products, navigational aids for both land and maritime use.