Press Release
☷Latvians gain insight from Army logistics
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
May 02,2022
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Col . ErvĪns Kopeika and his team from the Latvian State Defense Logistics and Procurement Centre and Keli ' i Bright , along with members of his logistics team from the Logistics Readiness Centre - Italy observe a Soldier complete the procedure to check out the issued equipment that is assigned to her name . LERINO , Italy – Officials from the Latvian State Defense Logistics and Procurement Centre paid a visit to U . S . Army Garrison Italy recently to observe Army logistics at work Led by Col . ErvĪns Kopeika , the group stopped by the Logistics Readiness Center Italy , a unit of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade , April 20 , to see what systems and processes the Army uses to receive , inventory and issue supplies and equipment . Along with Kopeika , his team of leaders in warehouse management , data management and logistics planning were also in attendance . “The Latvian military is considering upgrades to their own way for acquiring and issuing supplies and equipment , ” Kopeika said . Inviting Latvian officials to see operations firsthand helps Latvian officials plan improvements to their logistics in support of allied forces . Supply Support Activity Branch Chief Ricky Hamrick explains the steps practiced by Logistics Readiness Center Italy using barcode technology to issue supplies and equipment to different units across Europe . “This trip is one of the greatest aspects of the partnership , ” Kopeika said , referring to the nearly three decades of cooperation between the U . S . and Latvia . Among logistics units , LRC Italy is unique as they provide support to more than just the Army in Vicenza and Livorno . Customers come from across the European footprint . The center’s work is essential to the units they support to ensure they maintain readiness at all times . During their time in Vicenza , Kopeika’s team discussed the policies and procedures at the Central Receiving and Shipping point , the Central Issue Facility , and the Supply Support Activity with Keli’I Bright , director of LRC Italy and representatives from each of his facilities . However , in true LRC Italy fashion , Bright took this opportunity to go a step further and maximize this trip for Kopeika and his associates . “We were able to take them to a Rapid Fielding Initiative to show them how our CIF can ' associate ' a piece of clothing or equipment to a Soldier ' s individual clothing record . CIF demonstrated how we can create a bar code for different types and sizes of equipment and connect that item to a Soldier ' s clothing profile via his or her Common Access Card , ” Bright said . In recent years , Latvia has sought new ways to improve their depot and warehouse systems and to make daily operations more efficient . Latvian officials are looking into a digitalization process by creating a barcode system – already in place at LRC Italy . “Despite our efforts , our speed through the transition to digitalization is still a little slow and with the current threats in the world , it must be improved , ” Kopeika said . Director of the Logistics Readiness Center Italy Keli ' i Bright , located in Vicenza , Italy , discusses the process of receiving , inventory and issuing items such as tactical vehicle tires with Latvian State Defense Logistics and Procurement Centre Activity Head Col . ErvĪns Kopeika and Ricky Hamrick , Supply Support Activity branch chief , at the Central Issue Facility . Moving forward , barcode technology will allow Latvia to receive , inventory and issue supplies and equipment and improve their daily operations in a much more efficient way , said Kopeika , who has been in the supply field for 28 years . “I’ve come to understand you cannot copy somebody else’s system one for one , ” Kopeika said . “But we work with our systems , with what we want to implement , with the differences we learn . ”
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