DLA Troop Support Subsistence feeds fight against Ebola

Photo By Dale Greer | Aerial porters from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group push pallets of humanitarian aid from the cargo hold of 747 aircraft onto a waiting Halvorsen Loader at Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, Nov. 2, 2014. The cargo, which includes medical supplies and troop-support equipment, will be staged in a nearby cargo yard before being airlifted to Liberia aboard U.S. Air Force C-130s in support of Operation United Assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development-led, whole-of-government effort to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)  

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

12.01.2014

Story by William Addison 

Defense Logistics Agency   

MONROVIA, Liberia - American service members deployed to help stop the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa are not doing so on an empty stomach, thanks to Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Subsistence.

More than 408,000 meals, ready to eat, 4,500 unitized group ration modules, and 1.3 million liters of bottled water have been delivered to Monrovia, Liberia, for service members supporting Operation United Assistance, the Defense Department operation supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development-led effort to contain Ebola in the region, said subsistence customer operations chief Rich Faso.

DLA also shipped more than 70 cases of hardy fruits, such as bananas, apples and oranges. The agency processed orders for an additional 16,000 UGR modules and 1.2 million liters of water. Each UGR module feeds 50 people, Faso said.

Faso added that subsistence support in West Africa began with MREs before shifting to UGRs with a compliment of prime vendor items, such as cereal, milk, bread and fresh fruit.

“That’s really the model for entering any theater of operations,” he said. “Our MREs and group rations help ensure service members are enjoying nutritious and tasty meals from the moment they arrive in theater.”

The prime vendor is ready to provide full food support for dining facilities as soon as needed, according to garrison feeding branch chief for Europe and the United Arab Emirates region Joe Zulli.

“The subsistence prime vendor contract in place for southern Europe allows for support to African countries,” he said. “We are ready when the military services say they need support with prime vendor items.”

Being ready does not simply require alerting the prime vendor of the need, but ensuring there are adequate warehousing facilities in the area to support the request. Zulli said the prime vendor’s warehouses in Monrovia were inspected in early October and have been supporting OUA since early November. Additionally, the subsistence prime vendor will house and distribute food, construction and equipment, and medical materials.

• Date Taken: 12.01.2014
• Date Posted: 12.02.2014 10:26
• Story ID: 149161
• Location: MONROVIA, LR