Army reservists boost Joint Force readiness at DLA Distribution Susquehanna

More than 40 Army Reserve soldiers were honored Sept. 28 at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, for a rapid-turn mission that cleared major supply backlogs and bolstered readiness across the Joint Force, according to DLA officials.

Mobilized from the 377th Theater Sustainment Command and the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, the reservists spent roughly six weeks embedded with the depot’s civilian workforce, concentrating on inventory integrity, stock readiness and material remediation inside the Eastern Distribution Center. Since beginning their rotation Aug. 19, the team resolved more than 5,800 Supply Discrepancy Report lines valued at more than $200 million, including more than 300 Army-specific lines worth more than $59 million.

Addressing the soldiers during an award ceremony, Army Brig. Gen. Kevin Cotman, commanding general of DLA Distribution, said, “When you walk into that warehouse and see the vast rows of material on the shelves, you are looking at the backbone of Department of War logistics. You didn’t just come here to fill a seat. You make DLA Distribution Susquehanna better, you made the Army better and you make the Joint Force better. That directly translates to getting supplies out the door and into the hands of the warfighter.”

A core five-soldier team was assigned to rapidly identify, mark and stage high-priority items in dedicated areas, taking on physical sorting and material handling equipment operations so civilian specialists could focus on technical system processing.

“Operating the Department of War’s largest distribution facility requires continuous momentum, and the energy, precision and agility these Army Reservists brought to Susquehanna delivered immediate, tangible results,” said Army Col. Christopher Urynowicz, commander of DLA Distribution Susquehanna. “By stepping into high-demand material handling and inventory roles, they freed our civilian team to accelerate critical processing and cleared significant supply backlogs. The Army Reserve is an indispensable force multiplier, and their seamless integration here directly boosted stock readiness specifically for the Army, but also for the Joint Force. They ensured our warfighters around the globe get the critical supplies they depend on every single day.”

Beyond discrepancy resolution, soldiers on the East Bulk facility’s Special Action Team conducted bin and location audits on nearly 2,000 National Item Identification Numbers, improving inventory accuracy across bulk storage areas.

Cotman credited the team’s sustained focus on execution. “Our guiding philosophy every day is simply to get 1% better,” he said. “Through your hard work, accuracy and initiative, you accomplished exactly that. You set a standard that ensures our warfighters have what they need, when they need it.”

Several soldiers were singled out for contributions that leveraged expertise from their civilian careers. Army Pfc. Augusta Kettler, an emergency medical technician, was recognized for disciplined initiative and routinely tackling complex warehouse tasks with minimal supervision. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jamal Adams provided logistical oversight while troubleshooting administrative, travel and pay issues across multiple commands. Army Staff Sgt. Salma Duffault led daily team management to align personnel with shifting operational needs. Army Staff Sgt. Jong Lim, a social worker, served as the warehouse noncommissioned officer in charge, correcting reporting shortfalls and tightening accountability. Army Sgt. James Cervantes, represented by 2nd Lt. Stephanie Santiago, led the Eastern Distribution Center staging team, sustaining morale, accountability and mission focus.

Cotman said the dual-career proficiency of Army Reservists gives DLA a critical edge. “You bring expertise from the civilian sector and combine it with military discipline,” he said. “That versatility makes our entire enterprise more resilient.”

As the soldiers return to home stations nationwide, DLA leaders said the results at Susquehanna establish a blueprint for recurring Reserve component support at depots worldwide. Cotman urged the troops to consider future tours across the agency’s global network. “Your performance here sets the stage for future follow-on Reserve support missions across DLA Distribution,” he said. “Take pride in the uniform you wear, take pride in what you delivered for the warfighter and carry that excellence back home.”