Building a Culture of Ingenuity: Space Force and the DLA Advantage

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -

The nation's newest military branch, the U.S. Space Force, is building its identity and culture, and its basic military training leaders are turning to a familiar partner to stretch resources and sharpen readiness: Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services.

At Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, Space Force is using excess military property obtained through DLA Disposition Services to enhance training for its new recruits while saving taxpayer money.

Darin E. Elkins, a retired Army noncommissioned officer who now serves as the holistic health integrator for Space Force basic military training, said the organization has acquired thousands of dollars' worth of excess equipment from DLA.

Elkins' familiarity with DLA's reutilization mission dates to his time at Fort Sam Houston, where he served as an Army instructor and worked with what was then known as a local Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office, or DRMO, to both turn in excess equipment and acquire items for training.

Today, excess equipment can be turned over to DLA Disposition Services from military units. DLA makes that property available to military commands and government agencies that reutilize the excess property instead of purchasing new items. By transferring serviceable equipment already in the federal inventory, the program reduces procurement costs and ensures taxpayer-funded assets remain in use.

Co-located with Air Force recruit training, Space Force trainees originally trained under a largely Air Force-centric model. But as the service matures, leaders are creating a distinct culture that balances its high-tech mission - including cyber, intelligence and satellite operations - with the foundational physical and tactical standards expected of all service members.

"Our role is focused on ensuring that new Guardians are physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for the operational demands of the U.S. Space Force mission," Elkins said. "This preparation is not limited to physical fitness but extends to resilience and holistic health."

As the holistic health integrator, Elkins leads a Guardian Resiliency Team that supports the physical, mental and emotional readiness of trainees throughout the program.

Among the items Elkins and his team have obtained from DLA are rucksacks and a shipping container. They are also working to acquire two tactical vehicles.

The rucksacks have allowed instructors to incorporate regular ruck marches into training - something trainees experienced for the first time during their field training exercise, known as Pacer Forge.

"We've substituted one of our PT training events with a ruck march," Elkins said. "By the time they get to Pacer Forge, they're equipped, they're ready - they are exceeding the standards."

The additional training not only increases rigor but also helps reduce injury risk by progressively conditioning trainees before major field events.

The shipping container has increased storage area, freeing up limited space and improving efficiency within the shared training environment.

The two vehicles will improve safety during field exercises.

"This acquisition will enhance our ability to conduct training more independently from the Air Force, allowing the U.S. Space Force to manage its training pipeline with greater flexibility and autonomy," Elkins said.

By leveraging DLA Disposition Services, Space Force leaders have demonstrated how smart stewardship of excess property can both increase readiness and safeguard taxpayer dollars - proving that building a new military culture does not require starting from scratch.