The Defense Logistics Information Service's mission is to provide interoperable, integrated, quality logistics data and IT solutions across the Department of Defense, federal agencies and international partners. These solutions optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of the supply chain.
FORWARD SUPPORT
With the Defense Logistics Agency's increased emphasis on forward support to the warfighter, there is a critical need to be able to access the latest logistics information to support DLA personnel deployed to forward areas.
Members of in-theater DLA Contingency Support Teams and Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) sites must have the latest data to fulfill their missions as key advisers and service providers of critical logistics functions for the combatant commands and their front line commanders.
Helping commanders get the "right item to the right place at the right time" means being able to access real-time asset visibility information, coordinate complex disposal operations and maintain contact with the DLA, the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS), and other DLA activities that assist representatives in theater.
To keep this information flowing, the Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS) established a contingency support capability to plan, develop and implement information technology (IT) solutions to ensure deployed personnel receive the communications support they need.
Support for forward-deployed personnel includes offering an IT contingency support package capable of voice and data support. Since each area where personnel deploy offers different operational scenarios, flexibility must be a key component of the IT solution design.
TACHYON BROADBAND SATELLITE
Among the possible solutions is the Tachyon Broadband Satellite. Coupled with the Secure Traffic Accelerator Remote and Secure Traffic Accelerator Central, Tachyon provides fast, secure end-to-end delivery of encrypted data to and from DLA local area networks and remote LANs.
The Tachyon is capable of providing real-time data connectivity, Voice-over-IP and video teleconferencing. These units are currently available for deployment in the United States, Europe, Southwest Asia and Central Asia.
Tachyon systems are already in service at DRMS sites — Logistics Support Area Al Asad and Anaconda in Iraq — and they have been very successful. A third system was recently deployed to the DRMO in Bagram, Afghanistan. Service is currently not available in Africa or East Asia (China and Korea). East Asia service is expected to be available during the second quarter of fiscal year 2006.
These systems have been extremely reliable and continue to meet the needs of our customers. Four additional systems have been procured and will be staged at DLIS Battle Creek, Mich., to support future contingency operations.
DLIS SUPPORT
Contingency support efforts are another example of how DLIS uses its expertise in information operations to assist all areas of DLA in accomplishing its mission of serving the warfighter.
For more information on DLIS, visit http://www.dlis.dla.mil or call (877) 352-2255.
DLA provides supply support, and technical and logistics services to the U.S. military services and several federal civilian agencies. Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., the agency is the one source for nearly every consumable item, whether for combat readiness, emergency preparedness or day-to-day operations. More information about DLA is available at http://www.dla.mil/.