LESSON 1
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
1-1.
INTRODUCTION
As a veterinary food inspection specialist, you will encounter the term Defense
Personnel Support Center (DPSC) many times while performing your duties. Defense
personnel support center is a subordinate element of the Defense Logistics Agency
(DLA). A general knowledge of the mission of both DPSC and DLA will help you
understand how subsistence (food items) are bought (procured) for the United States
(US) Armed Forces and where the veterinary food inspection specialist fits into the "big
picture".
1-2.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
The DLA was established 1 October 1961. It is directly responsible to the
Secretary of Defense for providing supplies and services used in common by all the
Armed Forces. The DLA HQ is located at Cameron Station, Alexandria,
Virginia and is jointly staffed by personnel of the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force
(USAF), US Marine Corps, and supporting civilian personnel. The DLA headquarters
exercises direction and control over the agency as a whole and is responsible for policy
development.
1-3.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY ACTIVITIES
The DLA is responsible for field activities located at strategic points throughout
the country. The DLA field organization consists of six supply centers, four defense
depots, six service centers, and nine Defense Contract Administration Services Regions
(DCASRs). We will discuss each of these briefly and concentrate upon those of most
interest to us as veterinary food inspection specialists. Of the six DLA supply centers,
the one of the most significance to food inspectors is the DPSC. The remaining five
supply centers are as follows: Defense Electronic Supply Center (DESC); Defense
Industrial Supply Center (DISC); Defense Construction Supply Center (DCSC); Defense
General Supply Center (DGSC); and the Defense Fuel Supply Center (DFSC). The
titles of these centers give some idea as to the broad spectrum of DLA supply
responsibilities.
1-4.
DEFENSE PERSONNEL SUPPORT CENTER
The DPSC is the largest of the DLA field activities. The mission of DPSC is to
procure and distribute wholesale stocks of subsistence, clothing, and medical supplies
to the US Armed Forces worldwide. The DPSC is the key link between the Armed
Forces and the food industry by supplying the food needs of the military. In addition,
DPSC procures and distributes more than 30,000 items of clothing and textiles plus
MD0705
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