Philadelphia, PA – The U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, New Jersey, marked a significant milestone with the opening of its new Uniform Distribution Center (UDC) on February 23, 2022. This event, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighted the strong partnership between the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support and the Coast Guard, aimed at optimizing uniform issuance for recruits.
The ceremony witnessed the participation of key figures including William J. Kenny, Executive Director of Contracting and Acquisition Management at DLA Troop Support, Rear Adm. Carola List, Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics, and Cmdr. Brad Conway, Executive Officer of Training Center Cape May. Leaders from Clothing and Textiles (C&T) also joined the celebration, underscoring the collaborative effort behind this achievement.
Kenny emphasized the dedication and long-term vision that led to the UDC’s establishment. “This event is a testament of many years of planning, hard work and partnership,” he stated. He further elaborated on the Clothing and Textiles team’s longstanding support for Coast Guard recruits, and their crucial role over the past two years in upgrading the uniform issuance infrastructure. This included the transition of nearly 1,200 national stock number-listed items from Coast Guard to DLA ownership, streamlining the supply chain.
The new Uniform Distribution Center is designed to significantly improve efficiency and accountability. Kenny detailed key improvements, such as reduced uniform issuance time for recruits and enhanced stock accountability, leading to more effective demand planning. He also noted that this enhanced inventory management system aligns with DLA’s best practices in supporting uniform logistics at recruit training centers across other military branches. Recruits began benefiting from this modernized uniform management process in November 2021, even before the official opening of the center.
Lt. Cmdr. Sonya Leibowitz, Deputy Chief of the Office of Logistics Program Management Division, who served as the ceremony’s mistress, acknowledged the extensive collaboration that made the UDC a reality. “Standing up this facility has been a valiant effort of partnership and collaboration between the Coast Guard, Defense Logistics Agency, Coast Guard Exchange and our dedicated vendor partners,” she affirmed.
Rear Adm. List and her logistics team visited DLA Troop Support headquarters in Philadelphia prior to the ceremony. This visit served to explore further opportunities for synergy between the Coast Guard and DLA beyond uniform distribution. “My logistics team here … we’re looking for opportunities that we can leverage with DLA,” List commented, suggesting that the success of the Uniform Distribution Center could pave the way for broader collaborations. “I think uniforms here, what we’re doing at Cape May, is just one part of it.”
The launch of the Uniform Distribution Center represents a significant step forward in ensuring Coast Guard recruits are effectively equipped from day one, thanks to the robust partnership between DLA Troop Support and the U.S. Coast Guard.
