SCOTT AFB, Ill -- The U.S. Army’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command and the U.S. Air Force’s 635th Supply Chain Operations Wing recently joined forces to establish a civilian developmental partnership program designed to broaden the logistics expertise of SDDC and SCOW civilian personnel through immersive learning and exposure to diverse environments, perspectives, and challenges.
The program's primary objective, according to SDDC’s deputy operations director Tye Beasley, is to enhance participants' understanding of each organization’s mission and functions, while fostering DoD-enterprise perspectives and deepening knowledge of sister service logistics functions. To achieve this goal, eligible employees from both organizations were selected to participate in a voluntary exchange.
“This strategic alliance cultivates an environment of knowledge sharing, ingenuity, and collective growth between SDDC and the SCOW,” said Kristina O’Brien, SDDC’s deputy to the commanding general.
The partnership demonstrated SDDC and SCOW's commitment to employee development and interagency collaboration. By sharing knowledge and expertise amongst their employees, both organizations can enhance their logistics capabilities.
“Through this innovative program, we bridge gaps, create unity of effort, and build logistics leaders equipped to tackle complex challenges in an ever-evolving landscape,” said Beasley.
For 30 days, Matthew Lindley, SCOW's chief of logistics operations and LaDonna Gragg, an SDDC transportation management specialist, gained new experiences through the exchange program at the partner organization.
Lindley said he connected well with SDDC staff, who were exceptionally friendly and welcoming, and that the program’s flexibility allowed him to adapt to real-world events providing unique opportunities. He gained insight into SDDC's inner workings through a G3 Operations introduction, understanding surface common operational picture and responsibilities through Battle Staff rotations, and receiving detailed briefings from various branches like Seaport Contract Management and Logistics.
He also visited the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point in North Carolina and toured sections such as Mission Assurance Programs and Domestic Movement Support which provided comprehensive overviews, clarifying critical aspects like registration, regulations, and financial operations, including the Transportation Working Capital Fund.
Lindley said he gained profound insight into Army and SDDC operations, fostering a deeper understanding of sister service logistics functions.
“The program was truly worthwhile,” he said. “I highly recommend future iterations to broaden the minds and perspectives of both SCOW and SDDC members. I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I am leaving with a better understanding of the monumental operation SDDC performs day in and day out.”
SDDC’s Gragg said she gained valuable insights into logistics operations across three key locations while with the SCOW.
Beginning with the wing staff, she learned about logistics operations, crisis management, and supply chain analysis, and was impressed by the team's expertise in tracking weather events and managing Enterprise Transportation Management System 2 and Command and Control Incident Management Emergency Response Application.
Next, at the 635th Supply Chain Operations Group, Gragg focused on stock control, Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts, and supply requests, gaining insight into MICAPs' impact on aircraft readiness. Finally, at the Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources Base, she witnessed vehicle maintenance, transportation management, and materiel management, benefiting from hands-on experience with equipment inspections and maintenance.
“I learned that the earth is not flat,” said Gragg. “I’ve always seen transportation and logistics from my own perspective, but there’s so much more to it than that.”
According to the feedback from both participants, the SDDC/SCOW Employee Exchange Program demonstrated such remarkable value in fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and employee development, that both SDDC and SCOW leadership hope to expand it to even more career fields in the future.
“Each organization benefits not only from the individual growth, but the organizations also benefit from the experience the participants bring back to their respective organization to spread the word and/or use this new experience to broaden insight into the command’s mission and functions; to develop DoD-Enterprise perspectives which improve warfighter support capabilities; and to increase the organizations’ depth and breadth of knowledge regarding their sister service’s logistics functions,” said SCOW’s deputy to the commander, Mark Hawley.
“It’s an amazing experience and I highly recommend anyone to try it,” said Gragg.
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