Reservists ready weapon in DLA arsenal: nearly 100 support OEF directly.

As DLA responded to the nation's needs during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Reservists worked alongside their DLA civilian and active duty colleagues, often leaving families and jobs and traveling great distances to do their part.

"We are professional logisticians trained to support DLA's missions worldwide," said Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Joseph Thompson, Director, Joint Reserve Forces, J-9. "DLA's Reserve members are proud to work along side the active and civilian work force to accomplish the increased demands put on DLA for war-fighter support."

For those who volunteered, the reasons were often personal.

"I have a deep love of my country and my way of life," said Naval Reserve Supply Corps officer LCDR Marcor Platt, who left his self-run ranch and family in Arizona and led a Defense Logistics Agency Contingency Support Team (DCST) to Uzbekistan. "I was proud to serve and have a deep appreciation and regard for the soldiers who are willing to sacrifice, even their lives, for what most of us take for granted."

In support of OEF, DLA mobilized 66 Reservists for up to one year and another 21 using other short term options, all coordinated and executed by the Joint Reserve Forces Directorate of DLA (J-9). All services contributed to support DLA; among the 66 partial mobilizations were 30 Air Force, 19 Navy, and 17 Army.

Some Reservists were mobilized to support increased operations or surge requirements, both stateside and overseas in locations such as Germany, the Pacific, Kuwait, Bahrain, and other Middle East locations. Others met the primary requirement to support Commander, U.S. Central Command through DLA's Contingency Support Teams (DCSTs). DCSTs deploy to the theater of operations to direct logistics support for all the goods and services DLA provides, including all types of fuel, medical supplies, ammunition, repair parts, food and water, and uniform and personal items. Initial deployment preparations began through DLA's Joint Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) soon after the 9-11 attacks. Items needed for OEF ranged from fighter aircraft and ground vehicle spare parts to saddles and feed for special operations cavalry-type operations to humanitarian daily rations for the people of Afghanistan.

The Reserve role in DCSTs reflected what Navy Supply Corps Reserve RDML Fenton Priest, Director of Reserve Readiness, called "a niche of J-9: to help prepare the DLA work force to go forward in a hostile environment."