West Point logisticians visit Troop Support to discuss saber and shirt sustainment

West Point logistics officials met with Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support on June 8 to bolster long-term uniform sustainment for the U.S. Military Academy, part of an effort to maintain consistent support for the roughly 1,350 cadets who receive new uniforms each year.

The visit focused on shifting some sustainment responsibilities for select items from the Logistics Readiness Center–West Point to DLA Troop Support’s Clothing and Textiles supply chain. The agenda included tours of the Product Test Center Analytical and the Flag Room, along with a planning session with C&T staff on requirements and timelines.

At the lab, managers demonstrated how material sampling is converted into data and formal specifications, including a test tailored to the West Point ceremonial saber. During the planning meeting, Army Recruit Training Center Team Supervisor Timothy Schmidt, Technical Quality Division Chief Uraina Gray-Scully and Quality Assurance Team Supervisor John Mumbower discussed sustainment support expectations and shared examples of dress shirts now being provided for near-term needs, as well as fabric options for longer-range procurement.

To meet immediate demand ahead of Reception Day on June 29 for the Class of 2030, C&T placed rush orders totaling 4,320 men’s white shirts and 1,400 women’s white shirts. Additional deliveries include approximately 6,500 dark gray shirts by early July and 1,400 windbreaker jackets by September. West Point representatives also submitted sample items—black parkas, bathrobes and laundry bags—for research into potential long-term sustainment.

“Working with the DLA team is a partnership, one where we’re both focused on equipping the U.S. Corps of Cadets,” said Joe Scheff, director of the LRC- West Point. “While we’ve talked about short-term equipping strategies, the focus of this visit was long-term sustainment and provisioning of items to improve readiness.”

Scheff was joined by LRC-West Point Chief of Support Operations Shane Barnes, Chief of Supply and Services Ron Argus and Army Maj. Sandra Eerhardt of the U.S. Corps of Cadets.

Schmidt said the typical procurement lead time for new requirements runs 18 to 24 months, so both organizations are mapping out solutions that will support the Class of 2032 and beyond. “The closer [an item] is to something we’re already making, the better opportunity this can be a conversion of some type, or a new solicitation,” Schmidt said.

Next steps require LRC–West Point to submit supply request packages and technical data so C&T can initiate procurement actions, including industry solicitations, negotiations and first article testing. Army leadership will review the information and samples to finalize uniform features.