‘IH Troopers’ give added meaning to warfighter support

Photo By JOHN DWYER | DLA Troop Support Industrial Hardware employees and “IH Troopers” Temecca Baen, Terry Piper and Ron Griffith, left to right, place items in a “Trooper Treat Box” care package March 6, 2019 in Philadelphia. The IH sensing team, known as “IH Troopers” packed the treat boxes for deployed troops and networked with other IH employees. Photo by John Dwyer III.  

PHILADELPHIA, PA, UNITED STATES

03.07.2019

Story by JOHN DWYER 

Defense Logistics Agency   

Supporting the warfighter may be the first of the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support’s main efforts, but one group of employees gave it new meaning, culminating a month-long donation drive with the preparation and shipping of care packages for deployed service members March 6 in Philadelphia.

The DLA Troop Support Industrial Hardware’s sensing team, known as the “IH Troopers,” assembled and shipped more than 25 care packages, or “Trooper Treat Boxes,” containing a variety of items including sanitary wipes, toothpaste, foot powder, non-perishable snacks and crossword puzzle books, to deployed service members.

The Troopers, dedicated to motivating the IH workforce through special events that promote areas such as networking and warfighter support, used this event as a way to both bring employees together and support the warfighter in a more personal way.

“That’s the idea,” Gail Kolb, IH purchasing agent and IH Troopers chairperson, said. “You can get to know people in another section of Industrial Hardware, and you get a feeling of satisfaction knowing that the items you donate or pack are going to make a service member’s day.”

Kolb and the Troopers collected donations for the Treat Boxes from all areas of the IH workforce throughout the month of February, giving the workforce a chance to be involved in the project and make a deployed warfighter’s day, Kolb said.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jamar Whitehead, Troop Support’s assigned Human Resources noncommissioned officer, shared the positive impact care packages like these have on deployed soldiers.

“Having previously deployed, I thought it was always really special for folks back home to take their time to send us packages,” Whitehead said. “The packages, letters and messages make you greatly appreciate the support and builds your morale – especially after a long duty day.”

The IH Troopers’ mission is to motivate employees and raise morale in IH throughout the year, and to encourage networking and event participation for the entire IH workforce.

• Date Taken: 03.07.2019
• Date Posted: 03.07.2019 15:26
• Story ID: 313392
• Location: PHILADELPHIA, PA, US