DLA delivers Christmas meals to deployed service members
Dec 21, 2016, 11:19 ET
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Service members deployed this Christmas will still enjoy a traditional holiday meal, with all the trimmings, thanks to the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support.
More than 26,000 pounds of turkey and 530 gallons of nonalcoholic eggnog were delivered in time for troops in Afghanistan to enjoy their holiday meals.
"Wherever our nation's military are serving around the world, DLA Troop Support is committed to providing quality, nutritious and delicious meals to them," said Anthony Amendolia, with DLA Troop Support's Subsistence supply chain. "If they can't be home for the holidays, we'll bring the holidays to them."
The combined amounts of food provided through DLA Troop Support for service members deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan and Kuwait include:
- 90,727 pounds of turkey
- 39,970 pounds of beef
- 22,830 pounds of ham
- 1,079 gallons of eggnog
- 4,704 pounds of marshmallows
- 2,774 gallons of sparkling cocktail juice
- 27,792 pounds of shrimp
- 4,812 pies (cherry, pumpkin and more)
- 477 pumpkin cheesecakes
DLA also ensured that service members at sea and other locations around the world will be able to enjoy their holiday meals. Subsistence employees began gathering holiday meal requirements from the military services in May so that they could order and transport the food in time.
They're already working to ensure service members will be able to celebrate other important events in the near future, including the Super Bowl, Easter and Passover, said Amendolia.
"While we try to ensure our military members get a great meal every time they go to the dining facility, we're committed to making sure they're not forgotten during those holidays," Amendolia said.
DLA Troop Support supplies America's armed forces with $14 billion annually of food, uniforms, protective equipment, medicine and medical supplies, repair parts, and construction and equipment.
As a Department of Defense combat support agency, DLA provides the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, other federal agencies, and joint and allied forces with a variety of logistics, acquisition and technical services. The agency sources and provides nearly 100 percent of the consumable items America's military forces need to operate, from food, fuel and energy, to uniforms, medical supplies, and construction and barrier equipment. DLA also supplies more than 88 percent of the military's spare parts.
Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, DLA has about 26,000 employees worldwide and supports more than 2,430 weapon systems. For more information about DLA, go to www.dla.mil, www.facebook.com/dla.mil or http://twitter.com/dlamil.
Photo available at the following link:
https://media.defense.gov/2015/Dec/22/2001328327/-1/-1/0/131225-A-ZT122-085.JPG
Task Force Lifeliners Lt. Col. Octave V. MacDonald, support operations officer in charge, 1st Lt. Charlee R. Warford, strength manager officer, and Lt. Col. Eric J. Sloughfy, deputy commander, serve Christmas lunch Dec. 25, 2013 at the Koele Dining Facility at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. As tradition has it, senior military leaders served their troops a feast worthy of the Holiday. Service members around the world can enjoy a traditional Christmas meal thanks to the Defense Logistics Agency. Army photo by Sgt. Sinthia Rosario
SOURCE Defense Logistics Agency